Let's be clear: Damn AM contest, third lair, Minneapolis, MN.

ANOTHER DAMN AM CONTEST? Three days of skating, 125 ams battling it out for first place, and I think I watched every run all weekend long. That's one way to stay sober at these events. These ams go at the street course all day--a little different than the pro contests, where they skate for a couple hours, figure out their lines, and take it easy. The ams don't know when to stop ... maybe they haven't discovered the nice restaurants and alcoholic beverages yet. Anyway, it's an exciting weekend to watch future pros adapt to the course; there's a shitload of tricks going down. Some of these kids are real young, too. Where do they get such a large bag?

I'm not going to get into the contest rundown. All that needs to be said is Anthony Schultz lit up the whole thing. Period. He wasn't going to skate the bowl contest, but he got put on the list and killed it. Hauling ass around, throwing Smith grinds, crails, backside kickflips in the shallow end, frontside nosegrinds, lien air to noseblunts--just to name a few tricks. A well-deserved first place Friday night. Schultz qualified first in the street finals, and when the time came it was on. His first run was off the charts; didn't step off his board once. It wasn't a choreographed street run, and let's be clear--style always counts.

Best trick was a frenzy on the Zumiez--where do you get a name like that?--obstacles. Flying carcasses for 30 minutes. I gave DJ Wade my iPod and it was mandatory Bathory playing the entire time, which was ideal Norwegian black metal. Local Nate Compher sealed the deal with a perfect switch flip over the entire bench, earning a $1,000 travel voucher.

Another great weekend out in Minneapolis, with the whole Adio team lurking, kegs of brew flowing, hot rooms, outdoor street course and bowl, barbeques, and the infamous dunk tank. What else could you ask for?

STREET FINALS

1. Anthony Schultz

2. Dylan Perry

3. Cody Davis

4. Chazz Ortiz

5. Taylor Smith