DAVE SWIFT’S VANS POOL PARTY 2018 RECAP
Pros Top 3: Cory Juneau, 2nd; Tom Schaar, 1st; Chris Russell, 3rd.
WORDS: Stu Gomez // PHOTOS: Dave Swift
The 14th annual Vans Pool Party went down last Saturday in Orange, California, and the spectators were treated to another Ponce de Leon-esque (the “fountain of youth” guy) performance by the winningest skater in Pool Party history, Chris Miller. At 50 f-ckin’ years old, Miller left the coping in tatters with a shattering score of 93.00, and there was no question about who deserved the 2018 Legends crown. In true Cinco de Mayo fashion, Chris delivered a run that was not only caliente but also straight-up loco (and suave, as always). By the way, this is Miller’s 10th title. Eric Nash and Steve Caballero took second- and third-place, with Nash scoring 91.33 and Cab 90.67.
Vans’ newest rider, and last year’s champion, Tom Schaar, was the man to beat in the Pros division from the very first heat, eventually claiming his third Pool Party title. With a combination of switch lip tricks and airs that seemed to reach the rafters, Schaar was clearly in the driver’s seat. Vans riders Cory Juneau and Chris Russell hammered their way into the top 3 with Juneau sliding really long frontside boardslides in the deep and The Muscle (Russell, that is) smashing everything to disaster. In the end, the guys fell just short of Schaar with respectable scores of 94.33 for Juneau and 93.33 for Russell.
In keeping with the holiday, the top three riders in each division proudly donned a sombrero. And this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill, cheapo chapeau, this was a deluxe crown with all the bells and whistles that you’d expect from Vans. You could say the sombreros were the perfect “cap” to another awesome Combi contest. Thanks Vans!
Check out highlights from Vans Pool Party 2018 here.
FINAL RESULTS
Pros
1st Tom Schaar
2nd Cory Juneau
3rd Chris Russell
Legends
1st Chris Miller
2nd Eric Nash
3rd Steve Caballero
Masters
1st Sandro Dias
2nd Andy Macdonald
3rd Chad Shetler
Tom Schaar, switch frontside ollie.
Cory Juneau, frontside noseblunt slide.
Chris Russell (they call him The Muscle, and we can see why), straight-leg frontside air.
Jimmy Wilkins, one-foot backside 360 ollie.
Sandro Dias, tailgrab nosegrind.
Legends Top 3: Steve Caballero, 3rd; Chris Miller, 1st; Eric Nash, 2nd.
Masters Top 3: Chad Shetler, 3rd; Sandro Dias, 1st; and Andy Macdonald, 2nd. (Wait… Patagonia? Outdoorsy!)
