Emerica's Wild Ride Tour (Friday, June 22nd 2007)

The Emerica Wild Ride Tour has got to be the best skate tour ever! On June 22nd the hair raised on my arms when I could hear those choppers from a few blocks away. Usually when we see today's Harley set on their way to Starbucks from their day job, it seems a little cheesy. Not the Emerica bunch of bikers, though! These guys are straight out of Easy Rider. As soon as the group thundered in swarming the corner of Chemeketa and High Streets in Salem at EXIT real world the fans were totally stoked. Hardcore skaters, kids and grandmothers alike could not deny the awesomeness of this group of leather clad pro skaters.

Once they parked and de-helmeted, some of the group checked out the shop while Reynolds gathered a crowd at a table playing dice for $ at the mexican restaurant next door. Braydon Szafranski was rocking no shirt under his leather jacket in authentic, June biker fashion. Some of the locals were surprised and stoked to find out that Jerry Hsu was now with Emerica. Other Emericans in the house were, Aaron Suski, Chris Senn (and son, Anakin), Austin Stephens, Spanky Long, Brian Herman, Heath Kirchart, Leo Romero and Matt Allen. Native Oregonian, world class skate photographer, Jon Humphries was there to document the tour along with Oregonian filmmaker Greg Schmitt. After satisfying a pile up of people with autographs and photo opps, the posse mounted up and headed to Aumsville skatepark. Braydon's madonna and Reynold's frontside flip were among the highlights of the session. But, it was Oregon local and EXIT team rider Brian Summers who came out of the creek for a few runs to blow minds.