The Battle of Sickenberg
by Michael Cornelius
It started as a simple idea; bring some friends out to the Wickenberg skatepark to have a session. It can get lonely sessioning there. It's a small town and not too many skaters session the nice bowl they have there nestled under the shade of some mature trees. So the idea hatched to gather up and head out there. But one good idea deserves another, and one thing let to another, so before you knew it it was a full-on jam. Bring the grills, set up for the day, bring the wife and kids. And while were at it, how about a trophy for the sickest skater of the day? Done. And the sketchiest? He'll get one too. Since were totally taking over these kids park how about gathering up all our leftover but useable gear and pass it out to the locals, just to stoke em out. Not a bad idea.
The forecast was a bit sketchy. It rained the night before and dark clouds were dropping rain on various spots the morning of the jam. The consensus was to give it a go and bring some gear in case we needed to dry the bowl up.
And so it went down; close to twenty skaters converged on the Wickenberg skatepark to tear it up all day long. Grinds were slashed, burgers charred, beers swilled. Yes, beers are allowed at the Wickenberg park if your are of the age to partake. That makes it worth the trip right there.
The session cooked for a good long time but it never turned into a snake session. The little guys and gals even got their runs in.
As the sun started to fade and the clouds closed in the awards were passed out. Chris Kelley was the chioce for the mighty fine beer cooler AZPX trophy and a Aaron Prince, received the 2nd place honors Aaron donated a brand new deck to the local kids and skated hard all day. SkateRock.com t-shirts and other swag was flowed as well.
On the drive home the clouds opened up and it rained hard. Ha ha, too late, we had our fun.
I guess a tradition has been started. Everyone was talking about when to do it again. Is next weekend too soon?
Wrex demonstrates a move he called a "hand plant". Notice the vacant tennis courts in the background. I say turn them into street courses so they get used.
No expense was spared in the creation of the Beer Cooler Trophy. A sixer of PBR was included.
Check the coping on that baby. Thanks to Dan McCabe for the fine steel art.
Here is all the swag that was donated to the local kids. It's enough to open a dang skateshop. Photo: Fireman Matt
So, who forgot the tongs for the brats? Who cares, let's eat.
Chris Farell and Matt Thrasher enjoy a cold one in the park. 
Colorado Keith stiff legs a FS air.
Chris Farell goes frontside for handplant.
Frontside air out of the deep end a on a classic Cab mini deck.
The crew is ready to drop in.
Aaron Prince earned the special Sickenberg trophy. His mom got the beer that was enclosed for putting up with us all day.
Rob Locker from AZPX presents Chris with the Beer Cooler Trophy. Chris must re-stock it with beer and pass it on to the winner at the next session.
Chris also got lift tickets to the Arizona Snowbowl. Pretty nice for just hanging out and skating.