Yesterday was the Legends Skate Jam at the third annual Musink Festival in Costa Mesa, CA. Mike V was in charge of putting the jam together and called in some serious heavies to get the job done. Tony Alva, Duane Peters, Salba, Christian Hosoi, Eric Dressen, Steve Olsen, Ben Schroeder, Rick “Spidey” Demontrond, Eddie Reategui and Mike V were all ripping. The session was heated, with everyone pushing it harder with every run.


Mike V with cardboard Duane Peters and later with the real deal Master Of Disaster.

Everyone was ripping… Hosoi was blasting huge airs and backside ollies, Reategui was doing blunts on the extention proving to everyone why he had the “trick tip” for the blunt in Thrasher all those years ago. Olsen and Schroeder were skating out of control, on the brink of slamming at any second.


Mike V – Lein to tail on the extension.


Christian Hosoi – Bio backside air.

Some of the highlights of the jam for me were getting to see very inspired skating from Tony Alva, Duane Peters and Mike V. Each of their runs were great and had the crowds cheering for more. Duane killed the extension with inverts, layback grinds and every revert imaginable. T.A. was as stylish and as smooth as ever and showed everyone there his classic frontside air… the reason any of us have ever gotten air in a pool or on a ramp. And Christian Hosoi claims that Mike’s ollie to lein method air was “the best trick of the entire jam.” Holmes knows what he’s talking about.


Tony Alva playing bass in his band, G.F.P.

Besides the great skating they put in, it was great to see T.A., Mike V and Duane hang out, make time and be accessible to their fans and participate in the entire festival. Mike’s new band By The Sword played the day before and was joined on stage by Duane for guest vocals for three songs and Alva’s band played on Saturday as well. Living examples of Skate Rock.


Mike V – Backside boneless.

All in all it was a great two days… Crucial jams and killer skating. It’s hard to believe I got to see all these guys session in one place at one time. I was able to be up on the deck and take it all in… I filmed most of the demo, so later today I’m going to load in a few clips into the computer and see how it turned out so I might have a video to share with you all in a few days.


Post skating interview. Mike V interviewing Duane Peters and Christian Hosoi.

I only have one question. When is the next Legends Skate Jam?

Black and white photos by Mark Choiniere.