Manny Mania: Skate or Die

Manny Mania: Skate or Die

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For years one of the most awe-inspiring sports was under attack in Boston, and we were powerless to stop it. It's still illegal in Cambridge and Boston to skate board on public property, though Friday afternoon, Red Bull's Manny Media was a perfect example of the simplest way to confuse any Bostonian skater. The city opened up a sponsored skate boarding competition to ride risk free at City Hall Plaza, about 100 ft away from the Government Center T stop. This four hour event took 32 hand picked skaters from all over New England to see who could perform the most creative manuals (balancing on two wheels and all the variations of tricks) off of three ramps- C-pad curve, a pyramid, and a flat box. The young skaters competed in one of seven heats while drinking down free red bulls. The top five skateboarders rivaled in a final jam, riding for 20 minutes for the judges to determine who deserved the title of the best unsponsored New England skater. The winner, Marshall Heath, a 19-year-old from Huntington, Vermont received many prizes, among other things, which included a $1000 dollar Oakley watch along with a hair full of red bull. This event proved the city is starting to open up to skaters. Perhaps the afternoon serves as a small preview of what's to come when the city opens the first official state park sometime next year in the banks of the Charles River. (www.CharlesRiverSkatepark.org)


Red Bull's skateboarding competition at City Hall Plaza

Skateboarding on public property still falls under the Banned in Boston category. But on Friday afternoon, City Hall Plaza was opened up for skaters to ride risk free as part of Red Bull's Manny Media skateboarding competition. Over four hours, 32 skaters from all over New England competed on, along, above, against, and over three ramps: a C-pad curve, a pyramid, and a flat box. They competed in one of seven heats and the top five skateboarders battled in a final jam, riding for 20 minutes for the judges to determine who deserved the title of the best unsponsored New England skater. Marshall Heath, a 19 year-old from Huntington, Vermont, took top prize, which included, among other things, a $1000 dollar Oakley watch. Perhaps the afternoon serves as some small preview of what's to come when the city's first official skate park opens on the banks of the Charles next year.