Skatepark of Tampa
LocationTampa, Florida, United States
OpenedDecember 28, 1992
Websitespottampa.com

The Skatepark of Tampa is a skatepark in Tampa, Florida, United States. It is considered one of the top skateboarding venues on the East Coast of the United States. The name is often abbreviated as SPoT, and it is well known for its annual Tampa Am and Tampa Pro competitions.[1][2]

History

On December 28, 1992, SPoT was opened only to employees, and on January 2, 1993 the park officially opened to the public.[3] The first pro contest was held April 1 & 2, 1995 and won by Mike Vallely.[4]

On April 1, 2012, SPoT announced on its website that the park had been purchased (for US$9.3 million) by rapper Lil Wayne. It was revealed shortly afterwards that the fake press release was an April Fool's joke.[5]

Obstacles

The skatepark includes a terrain park-style "pro course", offering a pyramid, rails and transitions. Outside, there is a concrete transition course with a pizza oven. The "beginner's course" features many smaller rails and ramps to expand skateboarding skills and also includes the famous bowl.

The street skateboarding course is redesigned every year for the Tampa Pro and Tampa Am contest.[6]

Team

Skateboarding

Pro:

  • Gavin Overstreet
  • Elissa Steamer
  • Jeff Lenoce
  • Matt Milligan
  • Mike Frazier
  • Clive Dixon
  • Jimmy Marcus aka "The Greek"
  • Mike Frazier
  • Brian Schaefer(owner)
  • Paul Zitzer
  • Tyson Peterson
  • Zion Wright

Am:

  • Abdias Rivera
  • Sam Bellipanni
  • Eric McKenney
  • Markus Jalaber
  • James Cobb
  • Wes Box
  • Cash Gaddes
  • Robby Kirkland
  • Treshan O'Shaugnessy
  • Alejandro Burnell
  • Alex Johnson
  • Allen Russell
  • Pat Stiener
  • Marse Farmer

Party

  • Adam Dyet
  • Allen Russell
  • Braydon Szafranski
  • Brian Schaefer
  • Chris Peck
  • David Gravette
  • Don Brown
  • DJ Wade
  • Bart Simpson
  • Marty McFly
  • Joey Brezinski
  • Justin Strubing
  • Lizard King
  • Matt Milligan
  • Oliver Flores
  • Omar Hassan
  • Pat Duffy
  • P-Stone
  • Cory Kennedy
  • Keenan Milton
  • Ali Boulala
  • Shane Cross

Family

  • Brian Howard
  • Brian Sloane
  • Corey Hainline
  • Dorian Tucker
  • Jay Giroux
  • Josh Stewart
  • Kyle Berard
  • Mike Peterson
  • Paul Zitzer
  • Ryan Dodge
  • Scotty Conley
  • Steve Brandi

BMX

  • Spencer Foresman
  • Mark Mulville
  • Matt Coplon
  • Luis (aka Project Pap) Pinzon
  • Jeff Harrington
  • Sean Albright

Business

  • Chris Kneer
  • George Lackey
  • Henry Alva
  • Jimmy Hurn
  • Michael J. Buscemi
  • Wesley Cowan

Pro Contest Results

Tampa Pro 1995[7]

April 1 & 2

Vert:

  1. Danny Way
  2. Tap Pappas
  3. Tony Hawk
  4. Colin Mckay
  5. Mike Crum
  6. Neal Hendrix
  7. Tom Boyle
  8. Omar Hassan
  9. Andy Macdonald
  10. Remy Stratton

Street:

  1. Mike Vallely
  2. Danny Way
  3. Steve Berra
  4. Wade Speyer
  5. Chet Thomas
  6. Caine Gayle
  7. Moses Itkonen
  8. Chris Senn
  9. Dave Duren
  10. John Montessi

Street champions 1986 co-winners Tommy Guerrero and Scott Watts
1996 - Mike Vallely, N.J.
1997 - Johhny Davidson, Atl, Ga.
1998 - Omar Hassan, Benson, Ca.
1999 - Wade Speyer, Omaha, Nb.
2000 - Andy McDonald, Sunny Vale, Ca.
2001 - Chet Thomas, Cali
2002 - Chris Senn, oakland, Ca.

2003 - Jamie “Ham Bone” McKiernan, Louisville Kentucky

Music venue

The skatepark also doubles as a popular music venue. In 2012, SPoT hosted its 20-year anniversary event with performances from Souls of Mischief and Killer Mike.[8]

The venue also hosts the Transitions Art Gallery music venue on its premises. TAG has served as a springboard for acoustic artists and other musicians. In December 2012, the owner of the Gallery announced he was stepping down and that the venue would be under new management from January 2013. The venue's new owners subsequently announced that the name of the venue would change to Epic Problem.[9] Epic Problem hosts many shows from many post-hardcore bands and one annual show from the nonprofit high school (mainly from Hillsborough High School) sketch comedy troupe On The Brink.[10]

In July 2016, Epic Problem held its last show and passed the torch to King State coffee, owned by Tim McTague, of Underoath and Nate Young, of Anberlin, who use the space for brewing.[11]

In March 2017, the SPoT Snack Bar was expanded and reconstructed into a full-fledged music venue and renamed "Transitions". It is complete with stage, lighting, sound system and newly rebuilt bar. Transitions held its first show during the 23rd Annual Tampa Pro contest that featured the music of Ray Barbee, Drowning Clowns, Arctic, and Tampa's own Samurai Shotgun.

The skatepark is a major feature in the Tony Hawk's Underground video game, and SPoT employees appear as competitors in the street and vertical contests. The skatepark also served as an exclusive competition level in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2x.[12]

SPoT appeared on the MTV series Rob & Big that featured professional skateboarder and entrepreneur Rob Dyrdek.[13]

In August 2011, Lil Wayne stopped by SPoT for a private after hours session. He has attended every Tampa Pro contest since, often spectating from the judges' booth.[14]

In May 2004, comedian Dave Chappelle set up an after hours session with some of his friends while on tour in Tampa.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Bob Putnam (March 11, 2006). "Skateboarding glory rolls through Tampa event". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  2. ↑ TWS (December 10, 2012). "Tampa Am 2012 Finals". Transworld Skateboarding. Bonnier Corporation. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  3. ↑ Chris Nieratko (December 9, 2012). "The 18th Annual Tampa Am". X Games. ESPN. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Zaturdays: Tampa Pro 1995". SPoT Skate Shop at Skatepark of Tampa. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  5. ↑ Rob Meronek (April 1, 2012). "Lil Wayne Buys Majority Ownership in Skatepark of Tampa for $9.3 Million". Skatepark of Tampa. Skatepark of Tampa. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  6. ↑ "SPoT Course Construction 2016".
  7. ↑ "Thrasher Magazine July 1995 Issue 173".
  8. ↑ Jay Cridlin (December 5, 2012). "SoundCheck: Aerosmith, Geoff Tate, Sum 41, Ty Segall, Metz Skatepark of Tampa 20-Year Anniversary Party, Iris DeMent". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  9. ↑ Jay Cridlin (December 7, 2012). "Skatepark of Tampa's Transitions Art Gallery gets new owners, changing name to Epic Problem". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  10. ↑ "On the Brink // March 12-14".
  11. ↑ Ray Roa (August 11, 2016). "King State Coffee Taking Over Tampa's Transition Art Gallery". Creative Loafing.
  12. ↑ "SPoT on THuG".
  13. ↑ "Rob & Big - Tampa".
  14. ↑ "Lil Wayne Skateboarding at Skatepark of Tampa".
  15. ↑ "Dave Chappelle & Posse Take Lessons".

27°57′58.44″N 82°24′37.42″W / 27.9662333°N 82.4103944°W / 27.9662333; -82.4103944

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