I must admit- I wasn't really looking forward to this jam at all, due to the fact I'd broke a bone in my hand 10 days prior to it while skating!! Goddamn pop shuv 50.50's!! Don't try 'em!!

So, you can imagine- the thought of a 9 hour day, running the jam and not being able to skate at all, was a bit of a turn-off!! I admit though, I did sneak a couple of 'cruise-a-rounds' just to get a feel!! It's so weird innit- you just can't stay off the damn thing can ya??!! In the end though, it wasn't too bad- I enjoyed the day, watching some rad skating going off and listening to loads of top tunes courtesy of Rob, Hippie, Lisa and Daz.

Anyway- to the jam!

Like I said- loads of top drawer skating! Great to see loads of talent coming through, Stoke's reputation for a breeding ground for new talent has got to be getting stronger??!!

I fancied doing the 'best trick' a bit different this time out- just for a change. I got the skaters to register themselves (so they were the only ones skating the driveway during this hour) and the entrants had to name their tricks. The judging was obviously on those who managed to pull off their 'named' trick and also on how well they did it etc!!

Some wicked stuff went down. Rich Boden was attempting switch 270 boardslides. Chris Albert was so nearly landing massive frontside flips off the driveway to flat- he's definitely one to watch out for. Jed Coldwell nailed a flip to boardslide down the rail and Mike Smith was attempting nollie flip lips!! Young Arto was almost landing super fast feebles an Chris Dulson landed a nice frontside board.

The top few tricks landed were given- joint third place to Ian Williams- switch heelflip to flat (Indy t-shirt) and Mark Hall- switch salad grind down the rail (Indy t-shirt). Second place went to Lee Sowerby- big varial flip to flat (Ricta wheels) and Jake Carter took first place with a well nice lookin' feeble across the top rail to boardslide down it- fakie out!! (SouthStar deck). A massive thanks to Drew at Dazed for sorting the prizes out - AGAIN!!!

The carnage did'nt stop there though. Si Davis, soon after the 'best trick' comp, landed a feeble across and down the rail to fakie-so smooth!!!!!!!!!!!! Also, Si Wilkinson landed a mad fast kickflip 50.50 down the rail!!

The usual fuss and chaos prevailed with the raffle and sticker toss and that was the jam!!!

Here's to the next one in September!! See you all there!!

Mark.