The El Gato Classic - Palm Springs.
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| Eddie "El Gato" Elguera our host! |
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| Cindy Whitehead, Dennis Martinez, Lisa Kudra |
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| Scott Foss looking smooth as always |
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| Henry "Bad H" Hester, Paul Schmitt, Cindy Whitehead, George Orton |
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| Micke Alba doing it old school |
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| George Orton, Lisa Kudra, Brad Bowman, Eddie Elguera on the red carpet |
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| Steve Caballero always looking good! |
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| Freddie De Sota signing all the boards |
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| Mike McGill was on fire all day long |
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| The original "Skateboard Mom" Gale Webb, Cindy Whitehead, John Hughes |
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| We love us some Jim Gray! |
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| Steve Caballero at the half-pipe demo |
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| Tony Hawk getting his picture done |
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| Old school girls having fun - Laura Thornhill-Caswell, Louise Balma, Cindy Whitehead, Pam Miller |
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| Kevin Staab at the vert ramp |
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| Allan "Ollie" Gelfand's lovely wife Sharon and Cindy Whitehead |
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| And then this happened - we ran into singer Tony Orlando at dinner and it turns he is a huge skateboard fan! |
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| Green Room - cupcakes by Tiffany's Sweet Spot - Yummy! |
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| Gale Webb and Christian Hosoi |
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| So many boards the legends got to sign - everyone had a blast doing this¡ |
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| Howard Hood, Steve Hirsch, Micke Alba, & Freddie De Sota |
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| Lisa Kudra, Henry Hester and Cindy Whitehead |
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| Micke Alba |
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| Tony Hawk & Mike McGill in the green room |
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| Jami Godfrey old school Bones Brigade! |
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| Brad Bowman came all the way from Spain |
Photos Ian Logan (the professional ones ) / iphone snaps Cindy
It was wonderful to see so many old school skaters traveling in from all over just for this event. I think that Brad Bowman actually came the furthest, from his new home in Spain & I hadn't seen people like Bones Brigade team rider, Jami Godfrey in over 35 years, but watching him drop in and rip the bowl, it felt like just yesterday. Some of the skaters in attendance had not been at a California skate event in over 30 years so it was exciting to have most of us back together again.
It was such a family weekend that a lot of us brought our significant others or spouses and there was something for everyone to enjoy. From an amazing art show on Friday night, to the Saturday bowl session and a vert demo on Tony Hawks ramp, to a really well done and upscale dinner reception at the Hacienda Cantina & Beach Club on Saturday PM with Johnny Rad playing afterwards. The weekend concluded on Sunday with a church service at The Rock Church, and later a final skate contest in the afternoon.
I'd like to thank Eddie, Dawna and family, the El Gato team who made everything run so smoothly for us, as well as all the wonderful sponsors that were a huge part of this event.
Best Family Reunion - EVER!