Rodeo or Bust!The Pro Impact Stunt Team at the Toppenish Pow Wow and RodeoJuly 2-4, 2004
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the crew:
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jason richard (inline skates)
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matt sager (BMX)
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jeff ferris (skateboard)
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billy gawrych (BMX)
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bill robertson (skateboard)
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The day did not begin like every other day, as I set out of Santa Fe, heading for the Albuquerque airport to catch my flight to Seattle. I was on my way to the Toppenish Pow Wow and Rodeo in Toppenish, Washington, and I already feel like I’ll have some time on my hands. Jeff Ferris and Billy Gawrych left from Tempe, Arizona yesterday, pulling the Pro Impact Stunt Team ramps all to the way up to the rodeo. I would be landing in Seattle early in the day, and then picking up Jason Richard, who settled into a later afternoon flight. While at the Albuquerque airport, the BMX personnel changed, and a new rider, Matt Sager from Olympia, would be joining us for the run of shows.
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Once in Seattle, I got the rental car and headed to Tacoma to bounce around the city. Filled with Almond Roca (which is headquartered there), new tunes and some local beverages, I headed back up to the Sea-Tac airport to grab Jason. Once united with him, we headed east, up over the mountains and down into the plains. We knew Toppenish was south of Yakima, about halfway between Seattle and Spokane, but that information meant little at his point, as we settled in for a late afternoon drive.
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As we drifted into Yakima, Jason and I felt the urge to explore the city before leaving for Toppenish to hook up with Jeff and Billy. After wandering all around the town, which felt a bit like Mexico for some reason, we were directed to a local pub for a few local beverages and cuisine. We also saw the posters of the rodeo on the wall, and lo and behold, my photo was on it, also announcing 3 shows daily from the Pro Impact Stunt Team. While being a poster boy never happens to me, a rite usually reserved for the more talented and photogenic members of the group, good fortune appeared to be all around us. Jason and I were then waylaid and delayed in Yakima by some friendly locals, and made it into Toppenish later after some blunt trauma to the head. We caught up with Jeff and Billy just in time and made it to our rooms for some much needed rest.
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The next morning, we made our way to the local lumber yard, in order to purchase the materials we would need to build a worthy jump box to add to our quarter pipe and spine ramp set up. Once at the site, we worked with the event coordinators to establish a workable and rideable performance area. After some onsite negotiations, we were given a great spot that ended up working out really well for the 3 day run of shows. The four of us (matt would join us later) built an excellent launch ramp, deck and landing ramp that was as solid and smooth as any jump box we had built. The day was hot (but not worse that Jamaica’s heat) and we sweated our way through it. By early evening, we were only a few finishing touches from being fully set up and we left that for the next day
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Our show times for the 3 days were perfect, we began each day at 3:30 PM, rolled again at 5 PM and had our third and final performance at 6:30 PM each night. This gave us time in the morning to relax and also to stay loose and warmed up throughout the shows. As we began on July 2nd, the crowds were loose and ready for some fun. Jeff Ferris blasted huge transfer airs, head high frontside 360 airs and lofty Christ airs off the jump box. Matt Sager really ripped it up, throwing signature backflips, tailwhips over the spine and 360 tailwhips on the jump box. Jason Richard also threw lofty backflips, stylish 540s and Miller Flips with ease. Billy Gawrych flowed on his BMX with no brakes (standard) and no chain (broken), and he blew minds with his signature flatland scientist maneuvers and linkages. I worked in the street session, throwing frontside grind reverts, airs and rack and rolls before heading to the flat bust handstand fingerflips, nollie 360 shuvits and Casper variations. Jeff, Jason and Matt also did a lot of great triples over the spine and on the jump box. We clicked on all cylinders and the crowds throughout the 9 shows over the 3 days showed their approval with constant applause and chatter. We met a number of cool riders too, and it is always encouraging to see rippers from all over the place. Also, on July 3, Tommy Clowers and his Freestyle MX crew with the Red Bull team, joined up for our day of shows. Those guys were truly amazing and very cool, plus the flow of the shows was dynamic, dangerous and down right intense.
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The evenings were equally as fun. On our first night at the Rodeo, we watched a Seattle based country band named Latigo Lace. They were also staying at our hotel and many of the band, including the lead female singer Nikki, checked our demos during the day. We enjoyed the tunes and Matt even enjoyed the local talent on the dance floor. Good clean all-American fun on an all-American holiday. On the third of July, we were treated to a backstage look at the rodeo, where we feasted on beef and brew with the event dignitaries and watched the rodeo events up close. We saw calf roping, barrel racing, horse bucking bull riding and all that the cowboys and cowgirls had to offer. The people were really into it, and we held them up with mutual respect, as we enjoyed a world none of us had ever visited. It was quite a cool thing to see and enjoy.
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After our last shows on July 4th, we made our way back to the hotel, which happened to back into the Indian reservation. The reservation area had huge fireworks booths, which on one side of the fence as totally legal and on the other side of the fence was totally illegal. We made our way through the barb wire fence, as we had each night before, and set out to create a spectacle worthy of our nation’s birthday. Jason and Billy masterminded the purchases, paying special attention to the types of fireworks for the evening’s display. Little did we know that then things would take an unusual turn…
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After making our way through the fence, Jason was approached by a young vendor who wanted to barter some glow sticks for a roman candle. Jason obliged and then Jeff, with infinite wisdom and foresight, lit the Roman candle for the young vendor, who turned out to be an individual of special needs. As the Roman candle began to fire, the young vendor turned assailant opened fire on us all, and we dodged for cover within the desolate and barren landscape. With nowhere to run or hide, we were all targets waiting to be hit. Ultimately, Jeff got hit in the leg by one fireball, a blow marked by the scorches on his jeans (no serous damage thankfully), while the rest of us somehow managed to escape injury free. We laughed a nervous and uncomfortable laugh, and then settled into the monumental fireworks display. The end result was quite beautiful and we toasted our America in true Pro Impact style.
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The next day, Jason and I set out for the Sea-Tac airport, while Billy and Jeff hit the road pulling the ramps back to AZ. We said our goodbyes, knowing that we would all soon meet again in another town and another place to do what we do. I made it back to Santa Fe in once piece, as did my fellow travelers, although Billy and Jeff did have additional adventures on their ride home. Needless to say, we look forward to heading back there next year. Peace, Dr. Skateboard. |
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We'd also like to thank, this guy pictured below! For saving Billy and Jeff with a ride to the gas station, when gas became empty on a barren stretch of the highway driving the ramp set up home! (click pic to enlarge)
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photo gallery for toppenish ,washington shows!
(click to enlarge) |
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