Saturday around noon, the experts started qualifying to determine the top five riders in each class. When the eliminations were over, the rest of the day (until 7:00 p.m.) was left for practice. At seven, the pro classes and the expert Mains began. Sunday was reserved for the novices and intermediates.
The factory teams had nearly all their riders on hand, but why shouldn't they? It was practically in their own backyard. In all, the ABA recorded 108 entries. It may not have been the biggest contest ever, but it drew more riders than any other ABA contest to date.
The $2700 pro purse was enough to finally draw out nearly all of the pros in existence.
The crowd was small, small, small. We don't know whether it was a lack of promotion or the $7 admission fee that kept them away, but the way freestyle has grown over the last two years, you'd think the crowds would be much larger. For the 200 or so spectators, finding a seat wasn't a problem.
Rick Allison got second in Pro Flatland; that's his best finish ever.
Woody Itson reverse trolley.
Pro flatland: 1.R.L. Osborn 2.Rick Allison 3.Dennis McCoy 4.Ron Wilkerson 5.Woody Itson 6.Pete Augustin 7.Martin Aparijo
18 & over expert flatland: 1.Derek Oriee 2.Robert Castillo 3.George Smoot 4.Brett Hernandez 5.Karl Rothe
16-17 expert flatland: 1.Jim Johnson 2.Tony Peterson 3.Jeff Cotter 4.Gary Pollack 5.Danny Hubbard
14-15 expert flatland: 1.Jeff Rugg 2.Ryuji Hora 3.Scott Freeman 4.Eric Wells 5.Dave Fox
13 & under expert flatland: 1.Tim Cotter 2.Phil Olsen 3.Johnathan Rugg
16-17 intermediate flatland: 1.Chris Hogg 2.Jack Costello 3.Jesse Puente 4.Adam Cortez 5.David Arovalo
14-15 novice flatland: 1.John Vincente 2.Stewary Aragon 2.Julio Martinez 4.Greg Salem 5.Eric Jackson
13 & under novice-intermediate: 1.Billy Boulton 2.Derek Diggs 3.Michael Curry
Ron's run was very good. but Mike Dornlnguez' was better. He pulled off a fakie over the channel, a 540 over that very same channel (in the five-to-six-foot range), and a one-handed, one-footed 540 (slightly extended). What about that 900 you've been hearing so much about? Well, with 30 seconds left in his run, Mike was taking a breather on top of one of the QP's. when the crowd started yelling over and over. "900 900, 900!" Mike sat there for a few more seconds and then sprinted across the floor toward the giant ramp. He launched into the air and went into a spinning frenzy six or seven feet above the eight-foot ramp. He made the full two-and-a-half rotations, but when he landed, he hit flat bottom and bailed fairly hard. Fortunately, he was unhurt. Whether he did the 900 or not, the crowd went crazy. and Mike still won! We guarantee he'll pull one off before long. He's been so close!
Josh White didn't quite match the excitement level of Michael's run, but he ripped nonetheless. He pulled off back-to-back 540s, a lookback fakie, a fakie footplant over the channel, a nofooted invert and a candybar lookback! Josh was hot, even if it was freezing outside!
Hutch's Dennis Langlais was looking real good, too! Besides two 540s, a no-footer and some other cool variations, his coolest trick was a switch-footer. He rides across the floor, puts his left foot on his right pedal and his right foot on his left pedal, hits the ramp and puts his feet back on in the normal position while in the air! It was pretty cool, to say the least!
Steve Broderson one handed cancan.
Pro ramps: 1.Mike Dominguez 2.Ron Wilkerson 3.Josh White 4.Dennis Langlais 5.Dennis McCoy 6.Craig Campbell 7.Joe Johnson 8.Brian Blyther 9.Todd Anderson 10.Kevin Schaub
18 & over expert ramps: 1.Dave Voelker 2.Marty Schlesinger 3.Steve Broderson 4.Doug Randazzo 5.Dino DeLuca
16-17 expert ramp: 1.Matt Hoffman 2.Gary Pollack 3.Chris Potts 4.Danny Hubbard 5.Joel Alamo