Over the next four days, Tampa will be ground zero for what is considered the “Super Bowl” of amateur skateboarding events when the Skatepark of Tampa hosts the 21st Annual Tampa AM skateboarding competition from Dec. 4-7. SpoT will also be celebrating its 22-year anniversary.
“In terms of contests, it's the gnarliest events going with skaters from all over the world that attend,” said Eric McKenney, who is in charge of operations and events at SpoT. “For the skateboarding community, this large-scale event is what keeps things alive and evolving. It keeps Tampa on the skate scene as one of the major players.”
The Tampa AM is the culmination of Damn Am, which is the top amateur skateboarding series started by SpoT in 2001. The Damn Am consists of seven major amateur competitions held throughout the year at various venues in the country with skaters qualifying at each location.
McKenna said the competition will include 250 skaters and approximately 1,000 attendees each day. Some of the top skaters include Nassim Guammaz, 21, from the Netherlands, and Kevin Bradley, 22, from Los Angeles, as well as local favorites Zion Wright and Jereme Knibbs.
In addition to the plethora of athletic events during the skateboard competition, SPoT will stage “Deck The Walls” Art Show featuring artwork done by internationally-acclaimed and local artists.
$5, $10 admission for spectators. Below is a schedule. For more information, visit skateparkoftampa.com.
Thurs., Dec. 4
Welcome to Tampa Party
Deck the Walls Part I Art Show
a collection of decks featuring the artwork of our favorite artists, running the gamut from our local bros to the award winning celebrity skate artists of our time: Sieben, Bratrud, Jenkins...and hopefully Ed Templeton if he’ll return our calls.
$5 admission
Bowl Jam — 7 p.m.
Open Bar courtesy of PBR
at SPoT, 4215 E. Columbus Drive, Tampa
Fri., Dec. 5
9 a.m. — Doors Open / Open Practice
Noon — Street Qualifiers
Three skaters jams, three minutes each
Top 16 make the cut to Sunday
1st Place gets Golden Ticket to Finals
4 p.m. — Open bar courtesy of PBR
10 p.m. — Park Closes
$10 Spectator Admission
Welcome to Ybor City/Deck The Walls Part II Art Show — 8-10 p.m.
Newly created and collected decks delivered from within our local community of artists and collectors
at The Bricks 8-10 p.m.
Tampa Am Contest Official After Party — 10 p.m.
at Czar in Ybor City
"Filthy Richard" (filthyparty.com)
10 p.m.
SPoT VIP plastic Wristband = free access
18 years of age and up for admission
The Ritz, 1503 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City
Sat., Dec. 6
9 a.m.– Doors Open / Open Practice
10 a.m. – Old Man Bowl Jam
Noon – Street Qualifiers
Three skater jams, three minutes each
Top 16 make the cut to Sunday
1st Place gets Golden Ticket to Finals
Moat Race presented by Pharmacy immediately following Qualifiers
7 p.m. – Open bar courtesy of PBR
10 p.m.– Park Closes
$10 Spectator Admission
22-Year Anniversary Party at SPoT
Featuring Arctic (Figgy, Nuge, and Frex), Set & Setting — 8-10 p.m.
Set and Setting
9 p.m. — Cement Courtyard Session presented by Nike and Independent; Justin Brock, Cory Kennedy, Karsten Kleppen, Grant Taylor, and Ishod Wair at SPoT
$10 admission, unless you have a Tampa Am 2014 VIP or Saturday wristband
All ages
COMPETITION LIVE BROADCAST: 11 a.m. at skateparkoftampa.com
9 a.m. — Doors Open / Open Practice
Noon — Street Semi-Finals
30 skaters from Qualifiers joined by top two skaters from the Damn Am 2014 events
Gage Boyle, Jared Cleland, Yoshi Tanenbaum, Kevin Bradley, Nassim Guammaz, Hermann Stene, Cody Davis, Anthony Anaya, Jon Cosentino, Markus Jalaber, Axel Cruysberghs, Tyson Bowerbank,
Two one-minute runs, best counts
Top 10 advance to Finals to meet Golden Ticket winners from Friday and Saturday
3 p.m. – Street Finals
12 skaters, three one-minute runs, best counts
Open bar courtesy of PBR
4 p.m. – Independent Trucks Best Trick Immediately Following Qualifiers
Center stage obstacle; rails and bank to bank
5 p.m. – Awards
7 p.m. – park closes
