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Skatepark of Tampa

Coordinates: 27°57′58.44″N 82°24′37.42″W / 27.9662333°N 82.4103944°W / 27.9662333; -82.4103944
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Skatepark of Tampa
Map
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

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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

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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]

Tampa Pro

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Tampa Pro is an annual professional skateboard competition associated with the skatepark. Past winners of Tampa Pro are:[7][8]

Year Winner
1995 Mike Vallely[7][8][9]
1996 Eric Koston[10]
1997 Andrew Reynolds[7][8]
1998 Andrew Reynolds[7][8]
1999 Gershon Mosley[7][8]
2000 Kerry Getz[7][8]
2001 Kyle Berard[7][8]
2002 Eric Koston[7][8]
2003 Tony Trujillo[7][8]
2004 Bastien Salabanzi[7][8]
2005 Dennis Busenitz[7][8]
2006 Greg Lutzka[7][8]
2007 Eric Koston[7][8]
2008 Greg Lutzka [7][8]
2009 Greg Lutzka[7][8]
2010 Paul Rodriguez[7][8]
2011 Dennis Busenitz[11]
2012 Torey Pudwill[12]
2013 Luan Oliveira[13]
2014 Nyjah Huston[14]
2015 Luan Oliveira[15][8]
2016 Shane O'Neill[16]
2017 Louie Lopez[17]
2018 Jagger Eaton[18]
2019 Carlos Ribeiro[19]
2020 Nyjah Huston[20]
2021 Shane O'Neill[21]
2022 Jamie Foy[22]
2023 Yuto Horigome[23]
2024 Yuto Horigome[24]

Team

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Skateboarding

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Notable members include:

Music venue

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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.[25]

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.[26] 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.[27]

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.[28]

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.[citation needed]

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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.[29]

SPoT appeared on the MTV series Rob & Big that featured professional skateboarder and entrepreneur Rob Dyrdek.[30]

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.[31]

In May 2004, comedian Dave Chappelle set up an after hours session with some of his friends while on tour in Tampa.[32]

References

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  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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Rob Meronek (February 27, 2013). "PAST WINNERS OF THE LAST 18 YEARS OF TAMPA PRO". Skatepark of Tampa. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Tampa Pro 2016 - 2017 Street League Skateboarding Nike SB World Tour". streetleague.com.
  9. ^ "Thrasher Magazine July 1995 Issue 173".
  10. ^ "Previous Tampa Pro Winners". skateparkoftampa.com. April 3, 2023.
  11. ^ "Tampa Pro 2011 Contest Results". skateparkoftampa.com.
  12. ^ "Tampa Pro 2012 Contest Results". skateparkoftampa.com.
  13. ^ "Tampa Pro 2013 Contest Results". skateparkoftampa.com.
  14. ^ "Tampa Pro 2014 Contest Results". skateparkoftampa.com.
  15. ^ "Tampa Pro 2015 - 2017 Street League Skateboarding Nike SB World Tour". streetleague.com.
  16. ^ "Tampa Pro 2016 - 2017 Street League Skateboarding Nike SB World Tour". streetleague.com.
  17. ^ "Tampa Pro 2017 - 2017 Street League Skateboarding Nike SB World Tour". streetleague.com.
  18. ^ "Tampa Pro 2018 Contest Results". skateparkoftampa.com.
  19. ^ "Previous Tampa Pro Winners". skateparkoftampa.com. April 3, 2023.
  20. ^ "Previous Tampa Pro Winners". skateparkoftampa.com. April 3, 2023.
  21. ^ "Previous Tampa Pro Winners". skateparkoftampa.com. April 3, 2023.
  22. ^ "2022 TAMPA PRO - STREET FINALS RESULTS". skateparkoftampa.com.
  23. ^ "2022 TAMPA PRO - STREET FINALS RESULTS". skateparkoftampa.com.
  24. ^ "2022 TAMPA PRO - STREET FINALS RESULTS". skateparkoftampa.com.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ Jay Cridlin (December 7, 2012). "Skatepark of Tampa's Transitions Art Gallery gets new owners, changing name to Epic Problem". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  27. ^ "On the Brink // March 12-14".
  28. ^ Ray Roa (August 11, 2016). "King State Coffee Taking Over Tampa's Transition Art Gallery". Creative Loafing.
  29. ^ "SPoT on THuG".
  30. ^ "Rob & Big - Tampa". Archived from the original on March 24, 2017.
  31. ^ "Lil Wayne Skateboarding at Skatepark of Tampa".
  32. ^ "Dave Chappelle & Posse Take Lessons".
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27°57′58.44″N 82°24′37.42″W / 27.9662333°N 82.4103944°W / 27.9662333; -82.4103944

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