VANS POOL PARTY 2018
WORDS BY JIM MURPHY
PHOTOS BY J. GRANT BRITTAIN
Steve Van Doren’s resurrection of the Combi pool at the Vans Skatepark in Orange, California, in 1998, was a serious landmark in skateboarding history, beaconing a resurgence of the skatepark revolution! The building of the Combi pool defines Steve’s love and dedication to skateboarding and the legendary skateboarders who rode the original Combi with 100% full force aggression!
Every year, the skating at the annual Vans Pool Party gets gnarlier, and the new generation shows that they will keep the love for the Combi burning by blasting higher and drawing lines never drawn before! Whether it be Pedro Barros clearing the platform between the round and the square or Clay Kreiner clearing the gap in the round pool, the terrain of the Combi proves that anything you think may be impossible can be proven!
This year was no different, as lines progressed, new guns blasted even higher, and the masters and legends showed that skateboarding never dies in the heart of a skateboarder, no matter what their age!
Even better than the tricks is the love and family vibe that this event brings to those who dedicate themselves to putting their bodies on the line, day in day out, in the name of fun!
CORY JUNEAU F/S BOARDSLIDE THRU CORNER. PHOTO J. GRANT BRITTAIN
Steve, for all you do for skateboarding. Thanks to Vans and Kristy VanDoren-Batson for all of the hard work they put in to make the super bowl of skateboarding happen for skateboarders year after year!
Cinco De Mayo was off the wall this year with the Vans 2018 Pool Party at the Vans Skatepark Combi Bowl in Orange California…
Check out some of the Vans Pool Party 2018 highlights filmed and edited by Landon Hale for Juice Magazine. We want to say a gigantic thank you to Vans for its passion, professionalism, commitment and 50+ years of support and dedication to bowl riding. Congrats to all of the competitors and the winners! Long live the combi!
The raucous crowds that filled the legendary Combi Pool arena for the 14th annual Vans Pool Party were treated to another sizzling skateboarding performance by the winningest skater in Pool Party history, Chris Miller. Miller left the coping ablaze with a score of 93.00, leaving no debate on who deserved the 2018 Legends crown. Chris delivered a flawless run laced with his patented fluid style that has been his calling card ever since stepping on a skateboard in 1978 to earn his 10th title. Eric Nash and Steve Caballero rounded out top honors with Nash scoring 91.33 and Cab 90.67.
Vans’ newest family member and last year’s champion, Tom Schaar, dominated the Pros division from the very first heat, easing into his third Pool Party title. With a mental combination of switch lip tricks and airs up in the rafters, Schaar forced the rest of the pack to compete for second place all evening. Vans riders Cory Juneau and Chris Russell, hammered their way into the top 3 with Juneau sliding mile-long front boards in the deep and The Muscle smashing everything to disaster falling just short of Schaar with solid scores of 94.33 and 93.33 for Russell.
Watch contest at: vans.com/poolparty
FINAL RESULTS
Pros
1st Tom Schaar – Age 18, Cardiff, CA. Sponsors – Element Skateboards, Vans, Monster, Bones Bearings, Independent, LifeProof, Blenders Eyewear, 187 Killer Pads. Prize Winnings $28,000
2nd Cory Juneau – Age 18, National City, CA. Sponsors – Creature, Rockstar Energy, Vans, OJ’s, Indy, Paradox. Prize Winnings $14,000
3rd Chris Russell – Age 21, Ocean Beach, CA. Sponsors – Creature, Vans, Red Bull, Bronson, Indy, Bones, Layback Beer, Brostyle, Happy Hour Shades, Pizzanista. Prize Winnings $7,000
Legends
1st Chris Miller – Age 50, Encinitas, CA. Sponsors – Welcome, Thunder & Bones. Prize Winnings $15,000
2nd Eric Nash – Age 49, Monrovia, CA. Black Label, 187 Pads, PI Wheels. Prize Winnings $9,000
3rd Steve Caballero – Age 53, Carlsbad, CA. Sponsors – Powell Peralta, Vans, Independent, Bones Wheels, Swiss Bearings, Protec, FIX MFG, 187 Killer Pads. Prize Winnings $5,500
Masters
1st Sandro Dias – Age 43, Brazil. Sponsors – Red Bull, Dual Footwear, 4 Ever Skateboards, Stance Protection. Prize Winnings $6,000
2nd Andy Macdonald – Age 44, Encinitas, CA. Bern Helmets, Patagonia, 187 Pads, Clif Bar, Randoms Hardware, Bones Bearings, Skate One, Theeve Trucks. Prize Winnings $3,500
3rd Chad Shetler – Age 41, San Clemente, CA. Sponsors – Independent. Prize Winnings $2,000
The Masters division again celebrated iconic bowl-riding talent, crowning Sandro Dias the 2018 champion, joined by Andy Macdonald, 2nd, and Chad Shetler, 3rd.
The Vans Pool Party marks another year in the history books, commending the many generations of creativity and talent that continue to revolutionize the iconic riding style of classic Combi bowl terrain. Watch all the highlights at vans.com/poolparty.
With three divisions establishing today’s elite top Pros, Masters and undisputed Legends of bowl riding, the Vans Pool Party is unique in all of skateboarding for bringing together the biggest names in deep bowl skateboarding to battle it out in the legendary Vans Combi bowl at the Vans Skatepark in Orange, California. For more information on the Vans Pool Party including results, photos and videos, visit vans.com/poolparty.
About Vans
Vans®, a VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC) brand, is the original action sports footwear, apparel and accessories brand. Vans authentic collections are sold globally in 84 countries through a network of subsidiaries, distributors and international offices. Vans also owns and operates more than 600 retail locations around the world. The Vans brand promotes the action sports lifestyle, youth culture and creative self-expression through the support of athletes, musicians and artists and through progressive events and platforms such as the Vans Park Series, Vans Triple Crown of Surfing®, the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing, Vans Pool Party, Vans Custom Culture, Vans Warped Tour®, and Vans’ cultural hub and international music venue, House of Vans.
Vans, “Off The Wall” Since ’66
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