Mike Owen...

So, I have a friend named Mike Owen, and he just skated in the Vans Protec Pool Party on Saturdei, May 21st, 2011. He moved from Chicago to San Diego and started doing skateboard lessons and even has a website for it. (name link) Since moving out there he has been getting noticed and having epic sessions at Lance Mountain's pool, Bucky Lasek's house, and the Creature dewdz at Rumble in Ramona just to name a few. Creature was doing a demo at 3rd Lair once and invited Mike to come skate with them in it, and he didn't even ride for them.

(Mike chillin' at Wilson Skatepark in Chicago)

Anyway, yesturdei he skated his ass off and the judges just wouldn't shut up about him, the were all gaga over him. He placed 1st in the pro qualifiers and ended up getting 8th in the finals.

I think he nay have even gotten the best trick award for his Alley Oop Fakie Nose Grind around the corner of the square bowl. I say "may have" because they never actually said if he did, I just know that the crowd and the announcers went ape shit when he landed, but when Duncan was calling out winners I swear he said "...and in ?th place Alex Perelson, won best trick..."

So, I dunno waht the verdict is. Can't seem to find any "full" results yet and no word of the actual best trick winner. As far as I remember nobody else landed anything.

But hey, mai video feed was choppy and judging from the pixelization prolly in 240p. 

(photo: ©MRZPhoto/ConcreteDisciples)

I remember when I first met Mike at an indoor Chicago skatepark called Drop-In, he was prolly no moar than 12-14 and the raddest thing was that his Dad started skating at the saem time he did, so this is prolly maybe 1998 'cuz I've only been to that park maybe 3 times. They had a mini-ramp with a 1 coping spine.

So I start talking to Dad and he told me that he just started skating when Mike did. That was an inspiration to me because at the time I was 24 and feeling like I was an old skater. He was Mike's biggest supporter, most Dad's would scoff at or just not even show any interest, but this guy just stood there next to him learning to drop in together, ollies, grinding truly bonding with no generation gap. 

We would end up being friends and going on weekly skate sessions to skate the park & bowl of a Northern Chicago suburb park called Triple R and then afterward all go out to eat at a local TGIFriday's and Mike would sneak sips of Dad's brew.

 (Lien Method @ Wilson in Chicago)

Every time I was skating at Wilson it was always a treat to see Mike come skate, not only to watch, but because he had a shitty job in the North Subbys waiting tables, if I remember correct, and he hated it. The look on his face when he would start talking about work was depressing, to see this talent have to endure such BS would almost bum me out. When he would put the board under his feet all that would disappear.

He'd usually bring his acoustic guitar with him and just sit on the bumper of his car with the trunk open or under the BBQ shade tree and play. The skatepark is like a 3 minute walk to the beach and soemtimes he'd just go hangout by himself there for a bit to relax and cool down from destroying the bowl.

He's so humble, just quiet and smiles a lot. We always told him to GTFO of Chicago and move to Cali. We're proud that he finally did.

 (Alley Oop Back Smith in Chicago. photo: Tony Francesconi)

I was there the dei that this trick (above) went down, he prolly tried it maybe 3 times and just pulled it soooo smooth and rode away, no high 5's, no hootin, just a shy smile. It's always a treat to see him skate DIY street spot with the saem effortless flow he possesses on vert or in a bowl.

Mike has since dropped his long-time board sponsor Character™ Skateboards to start riding for Prophecy and now just rides for Character™ Blue Collar Hardware.

As of the end of this post I am currently listening to "King Of Hearts" by Black Widow from the album "Come To The Sabbat: The Anthology (disc 2)" released in 2003.
Early 70's Satanic classic rock.