Capt’n Gnar Gnar

Priscilla Lee, @ the “Crown Royale”

Embassy in the House

Gary Morris, Pier Park

The boys are back in town, and what a KLLER road trip it was. The following pics are courtesy of “Groovehouse”. He went along on the trip. More pics to come! Great times, and Great pics. ENJOY!!!! “Ride with Pride”

Capn’t Gnar Gnar

Gary Morris

Gary Morris, Indian School Ditch

Gary Morris, Wichita Falls Skatepark

The Embassy Crew, Ian, Nate Dawg, James, Capn’t Gnar Gnar, Elijah and Gary. Right before they bombed Indian School Ditch!!

Embassy, New Mexico Chapter, Steve Thomas, AZTEC

Fun Bowl in Portland, OR

The crew in Colorado somewhere

Day 2, Pier Park
Clear skies were on hand for this Grass-roots party. The Oregon support was in full swing on this day. With the smell of Bar-B-Q and loud music flowing through the air. This was a 100% Skate-Fest. The rounds got going early. It all started off w/ the ladies division once again kicking off the festivities. Just as the previous day before, Julie Kinstrand topped the field. This young lady KILLS IT!! She’s for sure @ the top of the ladies division, but coming in right behind her is Embassy’s own Priscilla Lee. CONGRATS to Priscilla on representing and coming in 2nd place. She kills the vert. Priscilla’s goal was to finish in the top 2 or 3, she achieved her goal. For only being 12 years old, she ripped Pier Park like a seasoned vet. We look forward to representing again next year. The Ladies Pro division is no joke, and it’s just a matter of time before Priscilla Lee is a house-hold name. Again CONGRATS Priscilla!!!

In the Pro Division, Embassy was well represented. Gary Morris & Capn’t Gnar Gnar Ben Johnson did a lot better than @ Tigard the day before. This place was more their liking. Congrats to Ben for going over the mouse hole on his 2nd try. After further review, and checking out the video footage he cleared it by over a foot. AWESOME Ben, you killed it!! Gary skated without a shirt, and had a message with sharpie, check out the pics from Earth Patrol Media. He skated the place fast and smooth, frontside one-footed frigid airs, madonna no tail, judo airs. He had it all. Ben & Gary respectfully came in 21st & 22nd out of 56 riders. After it was all said and done, once again like last year Benji Galloway came out on top. He totally shredded the place. I’ve yet to go to an event without Mark “Red” Scott doing something of “Shock-Value”. The highlight of the day was seeing him shoot the bottle rocket through the full pipe,to the sounds of Johnny Cash’s “I’ve been everywhere” and drop in while it was going off. The crowd went CRAZY!

The Masters killed again, what can I say! CONGRATS to Ken Fillion for finishing in 7th once again out of 24. He killed his runs. He made use of the whole bowl, while showing off his trademark tuck-knee contorted inverts and stylish big backside airs. For a guy 45 years young, he still skates with enthusiasm and charge’s it harder that thousand’s of skaters half his age. Way to go Ken!!! The Bi-Fecta is history, Overall the Embassy crew represented Loud & Proud. Thanks to EVERYONE who helped put this on. Oregon will always be on the agenda for Embassy. Hope to see everybody again next year. Next up “Rock the Cradle” in Houston, TX. October 24th. This is a sanction World Cup Event. It will count for points on the World Cup circuit. See you there “RIDE WITH PRIDE”

Capn’t Gnar Gnar Ben Johnson, killing it with a stylish Smith

Gary Morris

Priscilla Lee

Killer front side air

Landscape shot

Embassy sticker girl

Ben & Sky

Big Backside Air

KFC=Ken Fillion Contortion, SICK Tuck-Knee contorted invert!

In practice, Blast from the past, feels like the ’80’s again!

Dave Tobin & Lee

Capn’t Gnar Gnar over the Mouse Hole on his 2nd try. Only Lance & Benji cleared the hole

What a killer day! The Crown Royale was off the chain. Skaters from all over came represent. We’re proud to announce Embassy’s Priscilla Lee getting 3rd place in the “Ladies Pro Division”. She killed with her patented switch stance routine. Rock-n-Rolls and big frontside airs on the big vert wall. Nice transfer’s, killer style. She is on the rise. Looks like this little lady will be ranking up there for many moons to come. Time is on her side, we expect GREAT things for Priscilla. CONGRATS!!!

The Men’s division didn’t fare as well for Gary Morris & Ben Johnson. The contest was held mostly in the street section of the park. Ben did kill it with his stylish smith’s and tail slide’s on the vert wall. Gary did land his 540 McTwist on his first try during the jam, and he also did some sick frontside tail taps off the dinosaur’s head. Gary’s was stoked to have his first competition on the National stage behind him. We’ll chalk this one down as a good learning positive experience. Ben & Gary were both hyped and look forward to the bowl (Corn Cup) session @ Pier Park on Sunday.

THE MASTERS: Being from the “Old School” I looked forward for this. Embassy Team Captain Ken Fillion skated hard for a 7th place finish out of 24. With not having to much practice, hell for having “no Practice” in the street course, he KILLED it. Sick Tuck-knee inverts and big backside airs off the vert wall. He flowed the park, hitting the corners and just having fun. Buck Smith the reigning Tri-Fecta champ did it again, with his smooth lines, awesome style and SICK frontside inverts, the judges took in consideration Buck had been drinking all day. This guy just kills it. Lance Mountain came in a well deserved 2nd. It was cool to see the star power mingling around the crowd, with Tri-Fecta being such a Grass-roots event. The Crown Royale was a 100% good time. Embassy looks forward to representing next year!!

Ken Fillion, Invert off the vert wall

Ben “Capt’n Gnar Gnar” doing his thing

Killing the vert wall

Gary Morris during his heat

KFC representing TEXAS!!!

Lance Mountain & Gary Morris

Proud Poppa & Priscilla

First Place Ladie’s Julie Kindstrand & Ken Fillion

The Lee Family, Alex, Priscilla & Dad

Priscilla & Julie

The Ladies winners circle, CONGRATS Priscilla

Embassy Road Manager, Nate Dawg & Ian

Frontside air off the wall

Rock-n-Roll, off the vert wall

Gary Morris, playing w/ the dinosaur

Capt’n Gnar Gnar on the mic

Todd Prince @ Lab33 After Party

Trifecta is now Officially called Oregon BiFecta. The Lincoln City gig has been canceled. That means more Practice. Today we hit two sessions. The Tigard park was first on the agenda. This place Rocks, It’s a full on “flow” park. Gary Morris found the line to nail his 540 over the hip. Priscilla Lee was killing it, as usual. Alex Lee, Priscilla’s 7 year old brother was all over the place. Ben “Capt’n Gnar Gnar” Johnson has the place dialed in. It should make for an interesting Saturday contest.

With the “pro’s” starting to show up, the Embassy crew is stoked and ready for the challenge. Also Embassy Skateboards is now being tooted as the “The Official Brand of Texas”. We will continue to represent the Lone Star State, Loud & Proud. Today @ Pier Park, the Embassy crew was described as a “Hungry pack of Wolves”. Eye’s are taking notice. The vibe is ALL GOOD. After the Tigard session, we dropped off Chaz Pineda @ Burnside. This place is 100% DIY, I can see where Dreamland evolved from. We only stayed here a few minutes. Team Captain Ken Fillion was anxious to hit Pier Park for the evening session. It was a good call. The extra day of practice was taken advantage of. Tune in for Tigard results! Pics to follow.

What a killer day! Props go to Houston’s Cockfight Skateboards for putting on a killer event. The crowd came out to represent. The 6:00 pm start was a good call. On the eve of the Embassy crew leaving for the Oregon Trifecta. Money is at stake in the sponsored heat, Ben, Gary and Max were going for the cash. I’ve got to give little Max Peterson props for holding his own with the big guys. Max was skating in the final round, even after already claiming top honors in the 11 & under. Congrats on nailing the Allie-oop on the face wall. Skating w/ the big guys brought out the best in Max. It’s gonna be an adventure watching this little man grow up!

In the money round, Embassy had Ben “Captn Gnar, Gnar” Johnson and Gary Morris, who made the trip from Oklahoma, representing. The money round had killer action. The early favorite was Nick Parenti, with local “Boy Sensation” Jeremy Smith a close 2nd. Well someone forgot to tell that to Gary Morris. He was busting out Madonna no tail, Frontside one footed frigid airs, Airwalk to fakies. The only thing he didn’t do was go over the steps. After it was all said and done. Jeremy brought home the gold and the $500.00 cash, Nick came in 2nd with $300.00, Ben 3rd & $200.00. Gary didn’t even place. I will say a pool contest is just that, a pool contest. Skate it like a pool. That means do a trick over the steps ala the 50/50 Max did.

Judging is always subjective, but I will say they got it wrong this time. Most of the people including the skaters would agree. Nick Parenti felt so bad for Gary, he gave Gary a new deck. Kevin Lane gave Gary $40.00 out of his pocket, (Thanks Kevin) Jeremy Smith Kills it. He does Frontside Boneless that give me goosebumps. I want to be a good sport about it, but on any given day…”A trick is a trick”. Gary did some wicked stuff in that pool that’s never been done before. Nuff said about that! It’s all good!!

Overall it WAS A GOOD TIME!! Everybody seemed to enjoy it. The prizes were handcrafted wooden pools by Kevin Lane. Props to Ken Bridge and Pinks Pizza for supplying FREE pizza, free Gatorade and water to everyone.

Now it’s off to Oregon Trifecta. The crew is on the road. Follow the link and stay tuned to SKATEHOUSTON for updates. (Groovehouse is on the bus) They bombed Indian School ditch this morning in New Mexico!!! Pics to follow…

Ben “Captn Gnar Gnar” Johnson with a stylish frontside air. Ben took 3rd place.

Ben, Friday night practice sessin

Tail Slide

During his run

Charlie Johnson took 3rd place in the 11 & under

Gary Morris, Killing the big bowl!

Gary Morris

Gary in his run. His first time in Houston

One footed frontside air

Frontside Frigid Air

Frontside Nose Grab

Max Peterson, brought home the Gold in the 11 & under!! Way to go MAX!!!!

Max is STOKED!!! Another 1st Place!!!

Max and his Proud Daddy

Max, Mom & Kai, Kai took 4th place