OFFICE BOOYZ SK8 @ ASR: Contest Write-Up & Pic's!

OFFICE BOOYZ SK8: Showdown @ ASR – Let the Good Times Roll
The Contest, Results, Mayhem & Fun

His illustrious, yet illusively-bold chiseled features have shattered hearts of many for eons.  Only gaudy hues of heavenly-glossed gold will drape him.  An old school, Nash-style deck has never left his side.  His caddy, eighties-esque helmet and stench of cheap lacquer leave many cowering in jealousy.  The only platform he graces: slabs of thunder-sculpted marble tiered by satin-draped Corinthian pillars of red, white and blue.  Few have known him, yet none have forgotten him.  His name, Tropheus OB, otherwise known as the infamous OFFICE BOOYZ Trophy!

Desk jockies far and wide gathered Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009, at ASR in San Diego, Calif., in hopes of winning an OFFICE BOOYZ trophy at the U.S. debut of OFFICE BOOYZ SK8: Showdown @ ASR.  For those unfamiliar, OFFICE BOOYZ SK8 is a skate contest for full-time employees who work in the action sports industry.

OFFICE BOOYZ across the nation gathered to compete head to head against their fellow workers in the industry in hopes of taking home that sweet smell of victory, bragging rights around the office, and more than $700 CASH to be handed out – not to mention all the secret prizes to be given away.  This righteous mockery of a skate contest was based on shear fun, not performance, so anyone who showed up to skate – regardless of skill level – was a contender for the best prize.  And so the saga began.

OB kicked off with a 30 minute “jam session,” so all the old dogs put away their jitters, forgot about the bail gun, and simply had a good time skating with their peers.  The course included two boxes, two low manual pads, an OFFICE BOOYZ friendly flat bar (square and low), a 4ft tall by 8ft wide quarter, and yes, a ghetto-ass-barrel to slalom cone-course for any and all levels to enjoy.  The barrel, made of spool wire, painters plastic and bubble wrap, was a hot commodity on the course – as you’ll soon see.  Crap tricks and bangers were being thrown left and right.  Nonetheless, as long as you’re out having fun, it doesn’t matter whether you shred or suck at skating; that’s the beauty of OB.  Check out the slideshow of the contest below.

(Slide Show Tips: Press “Pause,” click Full Screen Icon [bottom right], click “Show Info” for details, and enjoy the show)



When the clock struck four and a half, contestants realized Malakye had an open bar with frosty, cold free beer and a mixed drink buffet – an appropriate lunch for a dignified OB’er.  Refueled, buzzed and ready to shred, they filtered their way back in with an ear-to-ear grin.

At this point, the contest switched gears and OB’ers were lined up for a giant OB Game of S.K.8.  The rules: one trick you’re out; no flip tricks allowed; and OB judges can banish any contender for no apparent reason.  Schizo, aka “John Tracy,” landed his no-comply 180, but the OB Gods weren’t diggin’ it so they exiled him for actually landing his trick.  Thanks for putting up with our crap Schizo - good times!

Once contestants started dropping like flies and it got down to around 10 skaters, a riders conference was held for the new rules which included the following: you get two letters, one number (S.K.8.); you get two tries on the last trick; you can weasel your way back in by doing something wicked amazing.  The final four included Chris Bodiford, aka “Bama,” from Black Box Distribution, Mike “The Fitz” Fitzgerald from Transworld, Patrick Webb, aka “Patillac,” from Element Skateboards, and Jason Rothmeyer from the Skate Park of Tampa.  When it came down to handling biz, it was Mr. Rothmeyer who stole the crown.  Deemed the OB Game of S.K.8. Champion, Rothmeyer was hoisted up by runners-up Bama and Patillac, and celebrated with cheers from the rest of the crowd.

Though Fitzy, Bama and Patillac thought the show was over, there was one more surprise in store for them: The Amper Race.  The rules: line up against the far right fence, race to the other side of the course, touch the wall, shoot the ghetto barrel on the way back, the first person to touch the fence at the original starting point wins, and anything goes.

“GO B*TCHES, GO!!!” yelled OB Commentator & Judge Josh Lewis with abrupt disdain – maybe a bit much, yet effective.  “It was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen; they looked super serious!”  They took off frantically like little kids racing for a deck at a skate demo.  Patillac, behind in third on the first straightaway, flung himself into Bama and Fitz once they reached the far wall.  With Bama and Fitz distraught, Patillac sensed the fear in his comrades eyes, charged the barrel, hopped on his skate and stole the lead.  It was a glorious day for Patillac, indeed.

(Slide Show Tips: Press “Pause,” click Full Screen Icon [bottom right], click “Show Info” for details, and enjoy the show)

After all was shred and the contest done, it was time for the judges to deliberate.  The panel included Josh Lewis and Chad Mihalick from Malakye.com, Eric Stricker of Transworld Skateboarding, Justin Cobb from New Era, Karl Fuhre from IS Eyewear (also President of OB), and Seumas Santoro, aka “Golden Voice,” from Podium Distribution.  All in all, a mountain of decisions lay before them, yet as the dust settled and the beers were flowin’, any task put before them was attainable.  Don’t forget, this is OFFICE BOOYZ, and all OFFICE BOOYZ handle their sh*t.

Desk Jockies Unite!

Pre-Show Pic's, After the Contest & The After Party
(Slide Show Tips: Press “Pause,” click Full Screen Icon [bottom right], click “Show Info” for details, and enjoy the show)

Malakye would like to thank all you helped bring OFFICE BOOYZ SK8 to life:

·         ASR – Dan Moylan, Paul Dillman, Lisha Baer & Crew

·         Jim Bell Skateboard Ramps/Aura Skateboarding Company – Thanks to Jim for hooking up the ramps for OB.

·         IS Eyewear – Karl Fuhre, the President  & Founder of OFFICE BOOYZ, for flying in from Vancouver Thursday morning to attend OB, then heading out the next afternoon.  Keep an eye out for Karl’s latest endeavor Party Snake.

·         FUEL TV – Thanks to Jeff King from FUEL TV’s Built to Shred for announcing, and John Stouffer for setting it up.

·         INK FX: Mike Machrone doing a great job on the tagless numbered OFFICE BOOYZ tees for the contest.

·         Spin Imaging & 118 Boardshop: Teddy Monney and Erik Bond can handle all your large-format printing needs.

·         XSI (Extreme Sports Insurance) – Jay Dutton for sponsoring OB and hooking up riders in the industry with affordable insurance.

·         Jo Show Promotions - Joanna Morse provided the OB Mugs for the event.  Now the OB’ers have a fine chalice for their coffee, and a perfect mug for dippin’ donuts.

·         Meridian Graphics – Erik Phillips, aka “Amper,” handed out the Amper Award worth $100 from In-N-Out.

·         Propaganda HQ – Ty Smith from PHQ joined the contest as a sponsor and a contestant.  Contact Ty for all your brand consultancy, advertising, design, audio/visual and event needs. 

·         686 Technical Apparel – Kristin Cusic set up the Manny Master Award, giving away a limited edition 686 x New Balance outerwear set up and boots.

·         Red Bull: Josh Greenberg hooked up the Desktop Destroyer with VIP access and a hotel for the Red Bull Soap Box Race in Downtown LA Sept. 26.  Click here to check it out!

·         ATM Skateboards & Iron Horse Griptape: Thanks to Kevin & John Falahee for sponsoring the contest, and Ed Devera for giving out his signature Faded Freddy Krunk Cup to Marty Shadoan, the Most Sauced category winner.

·         Jägermeister: Rick Zeiler, Steve Puente & Adam Grayer for supply Jager for pretty much ALL the prize category winners!

·         Powell Peralta: Elliott Rebuck from Skate One supplied copies of the world-renowned skate vid’ The Search for Animal Chin.

·         Dunkelvolk: Cody McCoy for taking on the Mongo Award and dishing out a giant box of Dunkelvolk clothing to be tossed out to the crowd, and a huge prize pack for Steven Puente, the winner of the division.

·         NHS/Creature: HMC (Heavy Metal Chuck) took on the Hesh to Death category and gave out a Creature Coffin Cruiser and a Hacksaw III Blader-Hater skate deck.