Blind Pulls a Repeat Performance, Wins Dew Tour Team Challenge

The action doesn’t slow down here at Dew Tour Long Beach 2017—not for a minute. The Team Challenge was the big event of the day, and everyone put on a phenomenal show. Skateboarding is unlike any traditional sport, in that fierce competition tends to take a back seat to friendly encouragement that crosses over team lines. These guys are, for the most part, good friends, and in a way, everyone wins. However, in another, more literal way, Blind wins.

Blind_Winning_Team_Challage_gap_Dew_Tour_Long_Beach_Durso — Blind was way ahead going into the final gap section, so Yuto Horigome could have probably chilled. But Yuto don’t do “chill.” He only knows how to rip. Here, the Blind team pre-parties, because it’s a lock. Photo: Durso

“I’ve always felt that these guys were underdogs,” said Blind Team Manager Bill Weiss, “but at the end of the day, they’re skateboarders… this is just how these guys skate every day.”

The nine teams were split up into three heats of three, which kept the action moving, all while maintaining a comfortable session-like feel for the skaters themselves.

At the end of the tech section, Blind’s TJ Rogers had a solid lead over the rest of the pack. Dave Bachinsky, representing Darkstar. Zero’s Franky Villani skated well, as did Flip’s Matt Berger.

Matt Berger 2_Pro Finals TEAM_Dew Tour_Long Beach_STRAND — Flip’s tech-wizard Matt Berger handled the tech course with back Smiths on the flat bar, bringing them to a second-place victory at the Dew Tour Team Challenge. Photo: Strand

The rail section was second, and not one heat disappointed. Foundation’s Cole Wilson is currently rewriting the rulebook on what’s possible on a handrail, and he brought a slew of grinds, both up and down the rails.

That’s right—he stood tall on a frontside 5-0 up and down the A-frame rail, and a frontside 50-50 up the double kink rail—and shoved out at the top for good measure.

The rest of the rail section was action packed, and the standouts were Blind’s Micky Papa and Darkstar’s Greg Lutzka. Neither one had more than a couple bails, and Papa finished his heat with a solid 90.00—one of the top scores of the day.

Alec Majerus 2_Pro Finals TEAM_Dew Tour_Long Beach_STRAND — Flip Pro Alec Majerus skated the rails course like it was a bunch of tiny flatbars. Smith grind through the kinked rail on his way to second place at the 2017 Dew Tour Long Beach Team Challenge. Photo: Strand

The bowl competition is always a crucial aspect of an event like this, it lets a team, and an individual show both their skill and their style. That’s one of the most difficult things to understand about skateboarding—the style of the tricks you do matter just as much as the difficulty. It’s also about putting together a line, finding the right walls, and putting it all together—like a painting.

Trey_Wood_Team_Challage_Blind_Bowl_Dew_Tour_Long_Beach_Durso 2 — Blind’s Trey Wood logged enough air time to get his pilot’s license. His performance in the bowl helped lead the Bling team to a second Team Challenge victory at the Dew Tour. Photo: Durso

The Gaps Course was the final stop on the Team Challenge, and the skaters brought the heat. They threw bangers down the stairs, across the water gap, and over the bump to bar. Santa Cruz’s Blake Johnson stood out by ollieing up the water gap, and Flip’s Louie Lopez tweaked a frontside grab up, over, and out, landing in the faraway parking lot.

Blind’s secret weapon Yuto Horigame was the icing on the cake—the cake that was given to Blind, because they won the entire Team Challenge for the second year in a row. Will they make it a three-peat next year? We can’t wait to find out.

There’s still another full day of skating to come, so bring your board on over to the Long Beach Convention Center, and witness the carnage in person at Dew Tour 2017.

“I’ve always felt that these guys were underdogs,” said Blind Team Manager Bill Weiss, “but at the end of the day, they’re skateboarders… this is just how these guys skate every day.”

1.) Blind | 351.00
TJ Rogers (CAN), 89.60, Tech
Micky Papa (CAN), 90.00, Rails
Trey Wood (USA), 81.00, Bowls
Yuto Horigame (JPN), 90.40 Gaps

2.) Flip | 324.40
Matt Berger (CAN), 84.40, Tech
Alec Majerus (USA), 89.00, Rails
Curren Caples (USA), 70.00, Bowl
Louie Lopez (USA), 80.80, Gaps

3.) Santa Cruz | 303.40
Tom Asta (USA), 86.40, Tech
Dylan Williams (USA), 61.60, Rails
Erick Winkowski (USA), 90.20, Bowl
Blake Johnson (USA), 65.20, Gaps

INDIVIDUAL SECTION WINNERS
Tech: TJ Rogers, Blind, 89.60
Rails: Micky Papa, Blind, 90.00
Bowl: Erick Winkowski, Santa Cruz, 90.20
Gaps: Yuto Horigame, Blind, 90.40