The great British weather, yet again, tried to spoil this one for us but the rain did hold off long enough to see most of the team riders get a couple of hours in and check out the plaza for themselves.

I spoke to Mark Appleyard and asked him his thoughts on the plaza and he said he'd seen photos of the place in mags before coming and was stoked on the place, thought it was a really good place to skate and said that he wished he had one where he lived!! Obviously not enough, though, to skate it but the rigors of skating Prissick and Leeds the day/night before AND the fact that he was taken surprise by a few beers and a dodgy curry saw him just chill!! Great to see him have time for the hoards of kids hounding him for autographs though- cheers mate!!

So, the session started with Matt Mumford, Philipp Schuster and UK's Daryl Cashman tearing up the 'steep-banks' with Daryl landing a nice smith on the top/ledge and Matt landing backside tailslides over the the block/bench!! Meanwhile, UK rider James Gardner was warming up around the laza, absolutely hammering the flat bar rails for starters!

After sessioning the banks for a bit, Matt Mumford then moved onto the 9-rail and 50.50'd it first go. Onto 5.0's then a nice front lip but then almost landed a front tail but snapped his board on landing!

The session then moved onto the falt-bank with the ledge at the top. Philipp Schuster and Daryl Cashman nailed a few bigguns into the bank. Switch pop-shuv, switch flip, and a sweet backside flip.

Paul Machnau then got tempted into the session and started cruising the plaza, checking out stuff to hit. He sized up a gap off the 4-set at the bowl and over the ledge/wall and into the Pier-7 area!!! After a few run-ups to check it out he threw down a couple and on his third go- cleared it........and the crowd went beserk!!!

The lads then took interest in the kicker to big, long ledge and Paul was backside 50.50ing it and trying well long 5.0's along it. Philipp nailed a manny all the way along and Daryl was hitting front tails on it and trying a few shuv-outs too.

At the 'Barca spot/hip' James Gardner was entertaining the masses with nollie bigspins- massive!!

It was then our friend the rain turned up and ended the session abruptly! At least we saw some good stuff go down and the team seemed to like the place and enjoyed it.

Thanks to all at Globe for checking us out at Stoke and bringing the team. Thanks to the riders for skating when we got a dry patch! Also, thanks to all who helped out getting the place brushed and cleaned in the morning- Cheers.

Mark.

More footage..........

Daryl Casman- switch pop-shuv into bank.

Daryl Casman- switch flip into bank.

Daryl Cashman- backside flip into bank.