News from the RAT (Regional Amateur Tour):
Saturday started off BLAZING hot. This year’s Houston stop of the R.A.T. was conducted at the Katy Mills Mall parking lot. The $1,000.00 1st place cash prize was enough incentive to bring out the best Texas has to offer on the amateur circuit. The clouds started to roll in right as the heats were getting announced. The clouds were dark, very dark! then came the rain, a light sprinkle turned into a gnarly storm, which brought on a 53 minute rain delay. The crew got busy with the squeegee. The practice session was on again. All the guys ripped it up. More rain, this time hard windy rain. The RAT crew called it an Official Rain-out! “We’ll try to get it off tomorrow @ 9:00 am”. That means a 7:30am Sunday wake-up call!! That meant one of 2 things, we could pull an “All-Nighter”, party like Rock-stars, and see the sunrise. Or I could set the good example and feed the team, tell some stories, chill out, get a good night’s sleep, and be ready to charge the RAT @ the crack-of-dawn. We choose the second option.

Edward Sanchez is “Officially” now Eddie Hana! He killed the mini-ramp. Benihana’s to fakie, Blunt kick-flip fakies, Blunt judo kick to finger flip, Ollie blunt melon grabs. He has an arsenal of tricks. Ben Johnson killed it as well. Ben usually likes his breakfast, but this Sunday, he skated w/out his Egg McMuffin. “It’s to early for tricks” he said. Overall it was a good time. The contest got warped up before 2:00pm. Just enough time to get to SouthSide for the “Young Guns Showdown” were $4,000.00 was at stake in the street competition. Our lone representation in the Showdown was Eddie Hana. He ripped it up, but didn’t place in the money. I could tell he was physically drained from the days events. Eddie will be off this Wednesday to the Warped Tour in Chicago and surrounding areas, before heading to this years Oregon Trifecta with Ken Fillion, Todd Prince, Ben Johnson, Gary Morris, Priscilla Lee and Gene Hare. Oregon promises to be an adventure! The results from the RAT are as follows:
1. Ke’Chaud Johnson
2. Ryan Thompson
3. Edward “Hana” Sanchez

I’d like to give a special Embassy shout-out to Cockfight’s Jeremy Smith. This kid kills it! His Frontside Boneless is 100% punk rock, Phillips would be proud!!! My top 3 had Ke’Chaud 1st, Eddie Hana 2nd, and Jeremy in 3rd!! Below are the pics. I’ll start it off with Groovehouse’s pics from Saturday before the storm. Thanks Eric!!

The Benihana by: Edward Sanchez

Eddie, photo: Groovehouse

Ben Johnson, photo: Groovehouse

Mad Style!! photo: GrooveHouse

Eddie “Hana” Sanchez

Ben Johnson, Texas Foot-Plant

Ben Johnson

The “Tongue Twister”

Eddie Hana

E.D.D.I.E.

He killed it ALL Day!!!

Eddie & Lee

Saturday got Rained out!!