The Oregon Trifecta: Concrete Chaos

Aug 24 2006 / Los Angeles, CA

West Linn Hosts Second Stop of the Oregon Trifecta
 

PHOTO GALLERY Check out photos from the second stop on the Trifecta: West Linn View Gallery>

In the middle of West Linn, an upscale Portland suburb, lies one of the gnarliest bowls in the state of Oregon. Pool coping, an over-vert pocket and tight corners make the bowl one truly intimidating chunk of concrete. Even for the best bowl skaters, West Linn requires an adjustment period. Now throw in five other guys trying to skate it at the same time as you, and you have an idea of what the second stop of the Oregon Trifecta was like.
 
“It’s chaos,” number one qualifier Steven Reeves said. “You just have to go as fast as you can and hit people if you have to.”
 
Lincoln City champion Rune Glifberg was looking to take home another pool coping trophy and $500, but he not only had to battle the bowl, but an injured calf muscle he re-inflamed during practice. During the super hectic 10-minute final jam, Rune was definitely hurting, but still managed to pull of a backside tailslide on the over vert, and a series of technical tricks in the deep end.
 
“Today was a little more hectic,” Rune said. “Nobody likes getting hurt, but it’s better if you get hurt on your own. At a place like this you can collide with someone and get hurt and it’s not your fault.”
 
Rune’s runs were good enough for third place, so he still took home a chuck of pool coping, but said he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to skate at all at the third stop of the Trifecta. “We’ll see what happens tomorrow,” he said.
 
The top two spots in the pro division were a battle between two close friends, Tim Johnson and Benji Galloway. Both Southerners were on top of their game. Benji was spinning over the hips and transferring into technical tricks like frontside blunts, while Tim was blasting some of the biggest airs of the day and popping giant kickflips. It was definitely a close call, and the judges had to do some deliberation, before awarding the win to the underdog, Tim Johnson.
 
Benji is no stranger to the top of the podium, but was excited to see his friend take the win. “I’m always stoked to see my good friend win the contest,” he said.

 
-Brooke Geery 

Head to the third and final stop of the Trifecta here>