Back to the Berg – Wallenberg 2009

How many times have you watched the video? I’ve been watching it a few times per day and I’m jonesin’ for more. I wish I could have seen it live.

So yes, we all know Chris Cole is amazing. If he had only done the 360 or the switch frontside flip that would have been all that was necessary, but doing both, and the frontside flip absolutely flawlessly…well, that’s Cole for ya.

What’s a bit sad about an event like this is that it’s kind of dillutes each trick. Of course there’s going to be one trick that overshadows everything else (obviously the 360 in this case) but dang, what about everything else. Imagine that Hoffart had gone and done a heelflip varial a week ago–it would have been a cover for sure. He would have made history. But as it stands, a year from now most people will forget that the trick was ever done down Wallenberg. The same goes for Nick Merlino’s switch heelflip. I mean, that was one of the tricks everyone was saying they wanted to see, right? A switch flip down Wallenberg? And he did it as a virtual no-name, but unfortunately he won’t get the cred from it that he could have gotten if he did it on his own without the contest. And Lindsey’s backside 180 heelflip. Did you see how easy he made that look. Not a hint of sketching. It couldn’t have been any cleaner. And I think Catfish’s backside bigspin might have been my favorite, but again, it will mostly be forgotten a year from now, and Cole will be the indisputable King of Wallenberg because everyone will remember the 360 flip and the 360 ollie.

Then again, maybe none of these guys would have landed those tricks if it weren’t for the raging crowd egging them on. And in all likelihood they never would have gone there to try those tricks if it weren’t for the Phelper putting on the contest in the first place. For myself and skateboarding, I’m stoked it went down, I just hope people don’t forget that history wasn’t made just once last Saturday, but 10 times…wait, 10 times? Oh yeah, I already forgot about Lizard King’s three tricks, and Pott’s hardflip, for goodness’ sake! See what I mean?

So here’s the question, will anyone go there and get a trick on their own before the thing gets demolished? I’d still like to see a girl do it, and I’d like to see some sort of nollie trick down it, even if it’s just a plain straight nollie.