Skateboarding Reviews - Videos & DVDs
Skateboarding DVD Video Review:Tony Hawk's Gigantic Skatepark Tour 2002 (Season 3)
Director:
Studio: 900 Films
Released: 2003
Rating: 4 Stars
Staring:
Bob Burnquist, Alex Chalmers, Jason Ellis, Mike Escamilla, Jesse Fritsch, Kerry Getz, Riley Hawk, Tony Hawk, Eric Koston, Bucky Lasek, Bam Margera, Kris Markovich, Sal Masekela, Colin McKay, Dave Mirra, Willy Santos, Kevin Staab, Brian Sumner, Rick Thorne, Mike Vallely, Shaun White, Barry Zaritzky and Robert Earl.
Season 3 of Tony Hawk's Gigantic Skatepark Tour series was filmed over the summer of 2002 and aired on ESPN in the form of six episodes. Now you can jam on all six hours along with great bonus footage in the privacy of your parent's basement (too bad there's no cable box down there).
So what happens when the largest names in professional skateboarding descend on your park? Mayhem. All the stops were pre-arranged, but some were billed as demos, others were just skate sessions (no anticipation of an amazing show). They all arrive in a big tour-bus and are mobbed by crowds of people - not just kids... a lot of families were there - all eager to catch the action.
I love this DVD! Awesome skating, a view of many parks around the USA and great introspective into some of my favorite skaters. Tony Hawk knows how to promote skateboarding. It shows in all the sk8 demos they did, the production value of this DVD and the humor. A great mix of everything you'd want from such a tour. If they didn't stop in your town, check out the places they did stop.
Don't feel bad... Tony's tour didn't stop in my town either despite all the heartfelt letters, and nude photos of my sister, that I sent him each week for eight months. I know he's busy, but he could have written me ONE lousy letter even if he couldn't detour the Gigantic Skatepark Tour into my town. Besides, my sister is hot!
Most SK8 videos show the best of the best in terms of rider's parts. They can film a trick over and over until it's nailed. That creates a tight, well orchestrated 40 minute video. What if you have six hours to fill? Well, you're bound to see some great skating and some mediocre skating - no surprises there. Sal Masekela MCs all the demos. One facet I really like is you feel as though these guys are just getting off a bus and giving it their all. There's no sense that they rehearsed things a hundred times. They're just going across the country trying to get people stoked on skating. Mission accomplished! Great tour!
Am I sucking up too much?
I'm a big fan of interviews (or anything that gives me a glimpse inside the skater). Interviews abound here as well as a lot of personal footage that lets you see the pros as human beings, not just pro athletes. Of note, Jason Ellis talks about the lack of skate spots where he grew up. He's being interviewed in a huge indoor Vans Skatepark. "You think the Vans parks are too commercial?" he asks, "Piss off!" He has a good point - if its skatable, skate it while you have it.
Tag-along, Robert Earl, acts as personal chef and part-time host. This time around, he officially bills himself as an author/chef, having completed his cookbook, X-treme Cuisine. In it he offers etiquette tips along with the favorite recipes of fifty extreme sport athletes.
What You Get
Two DVDs containing all six episodes and a wealth of cool bonus footage. The navigation is much better than previous releases. Each show is a chapter and each park they visit is selectable. Once you finish your marathon viewing session, you can easily find you favorite park and watch it all over again.
Disc one has the first four episodes and the second disc has episodes 5 & 6 along with great bonus footage - no skimping here.
Tour Stops
- Houston, TX
- Denver, CO
- Aspen, CO
- Las Vegas, NV
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Park City, UT
- Encitas, CA
- Pensicola, FL
- Jacksonville, FL
- Cornelius, NC
- Minneapolis, MN
- Chicago, IL
- Louisvill, KY
Bonus Stuff
Get ready - there's a lot and its good stuff!
- Rough Justice - Shaun White lights a stink-bomb by the pool of the resort they are staying at. Security can't find him, but the team captures him and covers him with food.
- Night on Bourbon Street - Drunken antics in the streets of New Orleans, LA.
- B-Team invades St. Paul, MN - Street skating.
- Robert Earl: Host of the Spa - The guys relax at the Aspen Club Spa where they all get massages and various other girly treatments. This is one of the few times you'll see Mike Vallely in a bathrobe.
- During the Kona Vert Demo
- Intro Out takes - the inability of skaters to introduce themselves on camera.
- Tooth Fairy Barry - The last thing anyone should want to see - Bam getting a tooth pulled.
- Prank Gone Bad - Sal and Markovich nearly trade punches after someone puts something in Sal's drink.
- One Night in Denver - Moshing on the tour bus after a night out drinking.
- DV Footage
- Sal's Song, Rob's Song, Mike V's Song, Bus Driver's Song - What do you do when boredom sets in with a few guitars laying about? make up ridiculous songs about your pals and the guy driving the bus.
- A Little Bit Faster - Kevin Staab offers a song to pass the time... in the hopes they get to a bathroom.
- Chef Boy Earl - Author/cook Robert Earl gets some scrutiny.
- Mirra's Spine Session in Kona
- Rider Profiles
The Bottom Line
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