So we rolled into the greater Phoenix area around midnight, and to our surprise it was 97 degrees...yes, at midnight. We hit the hay fearing what it was going to be like the next day when the sun was fully staring down at us...
Yep, and it actually heated up to 112 eventually. New addition to the holy book of tour objectives: do not die.
We made our way over to Cowtown in Tempe to hang out with the owner, Trent. Dude has nothing but love for skateboarding, and the shop was a clear testament to that.
Vince Del Valle everybody. I'm gonna have to give you the cliche "watch out for this kid" line, but I really mean it. This kid is the full monty. He kills both the tranny and the streets so hard it looks like he's in a goddamn video game. Just ridiculous.
Even though it was way too hot to skate for even the most gnar-core of skateboarders, Thrasher photogenius Joe Hammeke met up with us every day to show us the best spots Phoenix has to offer. Thanks Joe!
Derek Fukuhara puts SPF 1 million on before hitting the streets.
Ryan Holloway is a true skate rat from Austin. Born to shred everything that gets in his way. Just look at the fire in his eyes...he's like a real life Rocky Balboa...only he's from Texas...and he isn't Italian...and he's not into the whole boxing thing either, I guess...
Jon Nguyen likes to get his perv on. That is really all you need to know about Jon.
Al Davis is about to put Cinicinnati on the map. Check out his part in the Anonymous Skateshop video, "The Streets Is Talkin", and you'll know what I'm talking about. It's been on constant repeat on this tour so far.
Jordan Sanchez hails from Seattle. Nirvana plays in his brain all day, all night. Oh, and he rips on a skateboard.
Jake Nunn is one of the most underrated skateboarders on the planet. Nuff said.
We went to this gnarly amoeba pool in the middle of the ghetto. Vince Del Valle and Taylor Bingaman shredded it while I daydreamed about it being full of water.
Vince's brain eventually melted and he started to think like an 8 year old boy...
Ditches for days.
This John Motta spot is better than most skateparks. Jake looks down upon Phoenix as he hovers high above via backside 180. Don't mess with Texas.
The next day, we wised up and decided it would be best to hide from the sun for a bit. Best idea ever: go-kart racing!
The shy one? Check. The rebellious one? Check...hmmm...skate team or boy band?
And the pretty-boy would have to be Alex Davies.
Ryan Holloway posted up at the moto-racer game. $20 bucks well spent.
Taylor and Vince tested their skillz out at some air hockey.
Pete Eldridge shows his best game face.
Once the sun had passed over, we headed out to the Tempe skatepark for our first of several skate jams we'd be doing. The park is sick, and everyone was psyched.
OMG! Alex and Jordan are totally like BFF's!
Taylor owned this park. They should really just hand the keys over to him.
Vince front lip up over and all the way down.
Hammeke and local filmer Slugger came out with us every night to light spots up until the sun came up.
After several days of triple digit temperatures and an average of 3 hours sleep a night, it was time to jump in the vans, blast the AC, and head further inland towards Albuquerque, NM.
A big thanks to Joe and Slugger for showing us around, and to Trent at Cowtown for his hospitality.
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