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2007 - Farewell to Brian Kelly and the Last 2007 Session at Veterans Skate Park
On Saturday December 29th, we put together a last minute session to celebrate the end of 2007, and more importantly, to wish our good friend Brian Kelly and his family the best of luck as they move back to Phoenix, Arizona. As both the owner of Ride Skateboards shop and the driving force behind getting the Alabaster skate park built, Brian will be sorely missed in the Alabama skate scene. However, as Brian had said often enough, he never came to Birmingham to make deep roots but just to plant some seeds in the skate scene. Brian wanted to push for public skate parks and put on clinics and contests to get greater involvement into skateboarding by both kids and their parents. He accomplished that and now it's time for him to move on....and to bigger things from the sound of it. Due the amateur series he started and ran not to mention the pro contest he organized, he caught the eye of the World Cup of Skateboarding organization, and they have tapped him to start up their amateur series now. So, this day was to celebrate...for Brian, for our skate park (that is thankfully still in operation), and for the simple fact that we CAN come out and skate together. As for the session, the turn out was GREAT! It was one of the bigger sessions we have had there in a long time. The young guns and old guys all made it out. The skating was amped up all day, and at several points, there was a full on snake session in the bowl! Everyone seemed to be wanting to send 2007 out with a bang, and I think we all did that very well. Thanks again to all who made it out and a BIG thanks to Brian Kelly! Guess we all get to visit Brian out in Phoenix for some skating real soon!!!
Group photo
Group photo
Gettin ready to get down
Gettin ready to get down
early crowd on the street area
early crowd on the street area
line-up to hit the stairs
line-up to hit the stairs
Steven sticks a perfect k-grind
Steven sticks a perfect k-grind
Big view of our beloved bowl
Big view of our beloved bowl
another bowl overview
another bowl overview
view down the center line with Eddings in the shallow
view down the center line with Eddings in the shallow
view down the center with Eddings on the big end
view down the center with Eddings on the big end
our bowl in the final days of 2007
our bowl in the final days of 2007
the young guys watch as Danny drops in
the young guys watch as Danny drops in
Brian, Butch and Tim pad up
Brian, Butch and Tim pad up
the bowl session gets underway
the bowl session gets underway
Danny grinding the deep end
Danny grinding the deep end
Butch, Danny, Brian and Eddings
Butch, Danny, Brian and Eddings
Brian Kelly goes frontside in the deep end
Brian Kelly goes frontside in the deep end
Austin frontside rockin and rollin
Austin frontside rockin and rollin
Brian tickles the tiles with a long backside carve
Brian tickles the tiles with a long backside carve
FULL parking lot...too small already after they just closed it in
FULL parking lot...too small already after they just closed it in
bowl session line-up
bowl session line-up
Bryan Park in need of a razor and scissors...damn heshers haha
Bryan Park in need of a razor and scissors...damn heshers haha
Mark Eddings launchs frontside
Mark Eddings launchs frontside
Brian Kelly grabbing backside on a little grind
Brian Kelly grabbing backside on a little grind
Butch eyes his double trucker in the deep
Butch eyes his double trucker in the deep
Danny with a controlled frontside 5-0
Danny with a controlled frontside 5-0
Brad grinds through the shallow as the crowd looks on
Brad grinds through the shallow as the crowd looks on
Brian Kelly about to do damage to coping
Brian Kelly about to do damage to coping
Tim Spinosi in his trademark approach to coping
Tim Spinosi in his trademark approach to coping
Little Chris grinding at speed in front of the crowd
Little Chris grinding at speed in front of the crowd
Brad pops a nice ollie-to-tail in the shallows
Brad pops a nice ollie-to-tail in the shallows
Yes, that's Danny and yes, that's a frontside boneless...rock on!
Yes, that's Danny and yes, that's a frontside boneless...rock on!
Bryan Park pops a frontside disaster
Bryan Park pops a frontside disaster
Spencer Kelly floats a nice little hip ollie
Spencer Kelly floats a nice little hip ollie
Full on snake session at the bowl in full effect!
Full on snake session at the bowl in full effect!
Butch showing the young guys that carving at mach speed is real fun too!
Butch showing the young guys that carving at mach speed is real fun too!
Brad smith grinds in the shallows
Brad smith grinds in the shallows
Butch zips by as Austin and Chris look on (like the sky in this one!)
Butch zips by as Austin and Chris look on (like the sky in this one!)
Austin White styles a frontside rock and roll
Austin White styles a frontside rock and roll
Brian Kelly in a frontside layback
Brian Kelly in a frontside layback
Austin ollie tailslides around the corner
Austin ollie tailslides around the corner
Mark Eddings frontside grindage
Mark Eddings frontside grindage
Solomon back 50-50 in the deep end
Solomon back 50-50 in the deep end
Solomon rock and rolls in the deep
Solomon rock and rolls in the deep
Austin White launches over the hip
Austin White launches over the hip
Solomon pops around a Gay Twist attempt...the tuck is right but the land isn't there yet
Solomon pops around a Gay Twist attempt...the tuck is right but the land isn't there yet
Little Chris....this is not an ollie grab...it is an ollie grab 180 over the hip....that means landing FAKIE!
Little Chris....this is not an ollie grab...it is an ollie grab 180 over the hip....that means landing FAKIE!
Solomon in flight...another failed attempt...sadly no airs in 2007...2008?
Solomon in flight...another failed attempt...sadly no airs in 2007...2008?
Austin boosts another ollie grab over the hip
Austin boosts another ollie grab over the hip
Another 50-50 from Solomon
Another 50-50 from Solomon
Little Chris bringing an ollie grab 180 around to fakie
Little Chris bringing an ollie grab 180 around to fakie