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Toy Machine Slays Salem

Last year when Toy Machine came to Salem EXIT, they were on time and signed autographs and Templeton Drew pictures and the kids were so stoked.  Even though it rained last year, we towel dried the park and Toy Machine ripped the wettish, crappy-ish place, with no second thought.  It was totally awesome to the 7th degree all time killer gnarly and stuff--put on a show that real men are envious of.

This year on Toy Machine's Oddity Odyssey Tour, they did more of the same, but took it up 11 notches!  It was uncharacteristically hot and humid (over 100º with 57% humidity).  Despite misleading directions that had them 20 minutes in the wrong direction, they still showed up a few minutes early and signed autographs and drew pictures and talked to the skaters and stoked kids.

Then, the entire team ripped SP (Marion Square Skatepark) a new one with hectic high flip tricks grabbed and tweaked over the pyramid--SO SICK!!!  Ed Templeton ollie impossibled a tail grab over the pyramid.  The crowd chanted, "Ed, Ed, Ed, Ed..." each time he took a running start from way back in the grass.  When he finally made it everyone was stoked to see this skateboarding legend in person ripping hard with all of the young state of the art Toy Machine knights.  Ed is my hero now.

Johnny Layton was definitely full of thunder and got the biggest ollie maybe ever over the pyramid and that is with kickflip melon all up in it--tweaker sprackification to mars, followed by a giant backside grab 360 into the grass off of the QP.

Billy Marks had clean and poppy flip tricks over the pyramid and was in good form.   Austin Stephens, Matt Bennett, Nick Trapasso and the am team were all doing their fair share of small town park anihilation.  It is always fun to see a pro come to the local park and tear it a new one with never having set foot in it.  This team of pro skateboarders are what it is all about.  They seem to be having fun skateboarding and putting on an amazing show.  Too many times I've seen the "too cool for school" pros that don't want to skate what is there, but these guys really made the most of the park at hand and put on more than hour of a kick ass skate demo in super hot and humid weather and followed it up with a product toss and time spent hanging out with the kids of Salem.

A huge Thanks to Toy Machine for coming to EXIT Salem!