The Blueprint team, consisting of- Colin Kennedy, Mark Baines, Vaughan Baker, Nick Jensen, Danny Brady, Neil Smith, Chewy Cannon and Jerome Cambell, did a signing session in Dazed Skateshop before heading to the plaza, where a huge crowd had gathered to watch their UK heroes in action.

In usual fashion, the team started to scan the place out, checking for lines and generally warming up etc. Danny Brady seemed impressed with the plaza as his first impression was 'SHIT!', as he had tweaked his ankle earlier on the tour and was a bit gutted as he wasn't going to be able to get the best out of the place!

The small set of three at the bottom of the big-3 got sessioned early on with Nick Jensen trying switch nosegrinds fakie flip out on the top step. He tried for ages and eventually landed it to a massive shout from the crowd that had gathered there.

Colin Kennedy was ripping round like a maniac, landing loads of stuff all over the plaza while Neil Smith soon spotted the gap-2 which he kickflipped first go!! He then moved over to the rail in between the steep-banks where he set up by ollieing the gap from the bowl area, ripping down to the rail and lipslid it- super fast!! He then fancied a session at the paths where he landed a heelflip back lip on the 6-set rail!!

Meanwhile Jerome Cambell had a massive 5-0 on the bottom step of the big-3 and Chewy Cannon was landing stuff on the big block at the top of the big-3.

Colin Kennedy, spotted the steep-banks hip and started a session off there. He popped out huge backside ollies on it, with a few grabs thrown in for good measure, then kickflipped it virtually head height! Mark Baines was trying frontside varial heelflips over it, Vaughan Baker joined in the session and eventually landed a real nice frontside flip and Neil Smith followed with nollie heels on it- landing a few but slamming a few times so nasty- I don't know how he got up- HE IS NAILS! He even was trying it when it started to spit with rain, making the ride out really slippy but he kept on going!

After that session, and the rain died down- thankfully, he attacked the big-3 and kickflipped them, perfectly, first go! Ridiculous!! The crowd had started to disappear as they thought it was 'game-over'- for Smithy- it had only just started!! He backside heelflipped the big-3 then switch heeled 'em!! Taking into consideration we have had some major players at the plaza this summer- I have never seen the big-3 get shut down like that yet!!

After that a little comp was set up with the locs- best combo down the five and four, to win a board, which brought out some good tricks and of course the obligatory mad proddy toss followed with the usual carnage and punch ups occurring for a dvd!!!! Mental!!!!

A great way to wind down the tour season with some amazing skating from the team, proving that the UK has got what it takes to take on the big boys from anywhere!! Thanks to all at Blueprint for coming to Stoke- hopefully a first of many-CHEERS!

Mark.

Click for a mini-movie of the demo. (28.6mb)

pics:Peach.

video: MarkS.