Week Four
 

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Monday April 9, 2007 - Fontana High School (Fontana, California) The tour returns to the Riverside area for the second week and today we were at Fontana High School.  Before we started the show, we knew we were in for a big and crazy crowd.  The school was huge and actually took up the entire block.

We parked in the front of the school and had to check-in with the office.  We then walked through the campus where all the students were eating lunch.  They all were cheering for us just for walking through, so we were all excited about the awesome crowd.  Fontana High School has over 3,800 students and they were all excited.

We welcomed back Danny Mayer today.  After the first three weeks of tour he took last week off.  Marc Englehart joined our crew and will be with us for the last four weeks of the tour.  Danny picked up where he left off in Los Angeles doing lots of heel flips and even ending the show with a 540.  Marc has been in Australia the last few months and it definitely showed.  He came in with an arsenal of spins and flips that included flat spins a 720 and even a 900 in his final run.

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After my team polished off Jimmy's squad we had a show to do.  It was really windy today which made everyone a little nervous but they managed to fight through it.  Danny Mayer had a rough day because of his allergies.  The grass fields where we are set-up definitely take their toll on Danny's head.  Rob Nolli had a great day again landing his first 540 on this ramp.  Fabiola came out with a flurry of spins, which had the crowd going crazy.  Marc Englehart once again pushed the show to another level with all his spins, flips, and huge airs.

The students today at A.B Miller High School were on point with all the trivia questions.  With every question I asked about the dangers of tobacco there were five or six students screaming out the answer.  Thanks to them for all of their participation and energy.
-- Daveee

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Wednesday April 11, 2007 - Ontario High School (Ontario, California) Over the last few days, it’s been weird, gloomy and overcast in the mornings. This morning was bright with clear skies, and the temperature was perfect. We arrived at Ontario High School at 7:45 and were greeted by several of the staff members. They showed us the nice big concrete area we had to set-up in, then we sat tight for a bit while the students filed into their first period classes. Once the bell rang and the students were in class, we brought the ramp into the campus and began to set-up.

About halfway through the set-up, several of the ASB students came out to area and were busy setting something up. I didn’t pay much attention to it at first, but after about 30 minutes, I realized they were hanging banners. All of the banners were “welcome” banners and banners that thanked us for bringing the show to their campus. We have had schools do this for us before, but it’s usually a rare occasion, and definitely the first time it has happened on this year’s tour. Not only did they hang banners, but they also put balloons on our barricades, and on the stair railings to the auditorium, which was right next to the ramp. They even went as far as putting paper streamers on the poles and railings as well. This was definitely the best display of school spirit I have ever seen on any of these tours.

The shows were scheduled for 11 and 12 today, both during lunch. About a half hour before the first show, we were visited by a few special guests. We had a photographer and a reporter from the “Inland Valley Daily Bulletin” stop by. They asked some questions about the show and the tour, and stuck around to snap some photos as well.  Our other special guest was BMX legend, Brian Blyther.  Brian, or as he is also known “Flyin’ Brian”, is a former world champion BMX vert rider, and at one time held the Guiness Book Of World Records title, for the highest air ever on a BMX bike. This show was special for Brian because he graduated from Ontario High in 1986. As a matter of fact, his parents still live right down the street, and he rode his bike to the school from their house.

Both shows today were during the lunch periods. The students were able to have lunch and watch the athletes throw down amazing tricks, all while learning about the serious dangers of tobacco use. Fabiola da Silva and Marc Englehart both ended their runs with flatspins, and Marc even pulled a 900 today. Rob Nolli pulled 2 perfect tailwhips today, and a few superman airs. Danny Mayer put on quite a display of kickflip and varial tricks, while Gabe Weed impressed everyone with his amazing flatland skills.

Special thanks today go out to the ASB students of Ontario High. Seeing how they decorated the show area, and made banners, really made us feel welcome. Actually a special thanks goes out to the entire student body and staff. I have never been to a school that had this many students come up and thank us after the show. We usually get one or two, but today it was nonstop. Even while tearing the ramp down, students were walking up and thanking the ramp crew guys. That makes a world of difference for us. Lastly, a big thanks and shout out to Brian Blyther. Gabe, Rob, and I spent many years doing shows with Brian for GT Bicycles. We spent countless hours on the road with him, and we do not get to see him that often, so just seeing him there today was a great trip down memory lane. You rule Biggs!!!!!!
-- Jimmy C

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Thursday April 12, 2007 - Chaffey High School (Ontario, California) When I woke up today and went outside to eat breakfast, I walked outside to one of the coldest days we've had this whole tour.  Every day the hotel sets up a great breakfast, which is definitely a great way to start the day.  It was also super windy which meant the riders were going to have to work extra hard out there on the ramp.  With wind gusts up to 20 mph, every air they did was that much more difficult.

Today's show brought us into Upland at Chaffey High School.  The school itself is cool the way it’s set-up because it used to be a college.  So the campus is really spread out and the architecture is really great.  We were set-up in a super-cool spot right in the middle of the quad.  The ramp had to be set-up on grass which made it that much more difficult for the ramp crew.  They did a great job and everybody seemed to love the ramp set-up.  It was also good to see that Tyler Hank’s (ramp crew) sunburn that left him looking like he was wearing a shirt even when he took it off, was all cleared up and wasn’t hurting him anymore.  (Tyler, please use sunscreen!!)  Fabiola da Silva brought some extra excitement when she rolled up with her two dogs Chachi and Little.  Little is a Tea Cup Chihuahua that loves to play with a ball that is bigger then its whole body.  It was funny to see her carry the ball in her mouth and struggle to bring it back to Fab.

The schedule for today was two thirty-minute lunch shows.  With the set-up being right out in the quad where all the students eat we were excited to have the entire school be able to see the show.  My favorite part of the show is definitely getting to do trivia at the end of each show.  Having two shows meant that I am able to give out twice the amount of got milk? goodies that we were given.  The crowd was excited knowing they would have the chance to win some of the hats, beenies, t-shirts, and skateboard decks that the California Milk Advisory Board gave us.  Right before the show, the sun actually came out and took away the cold.  When the show started I knew it was going to be a great day because the students were going absolutely nuts.

Gabe Weed starts out each show with some amazing but difficult tricks.  Fabiola da Silva always comes through with some stylish spins and inverts.  Today was Rob Nolli's last show with us this year so he surprised us all when he ended his last run with a huge 540.  Thanks for the fun these last two weeks, Rob.  Danny Mayer felt the vibe and continued his last run with two 360 varials right into a 540 of his own.  Marc Englehart goes higher then anyone on this ramp.  Today’s show was no different as he continued to pull off huge flatspins, 720's, and fakie 900's.

When the show was over, the students at Chaffey High School showed how smart they were by answering every trivia question I asked with no problems.  I was able to handout all of our got milk? goodies with time to spare in the show.  That way there was extra time to get some autographs.  The autograph table was packed as kids tried to get all of the athletes’ signatures.  Thanks to all the students for coming out and spending the day with us.
-- Daveee

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Today’s weather couldn’t have been more perfect for the last show of the week.  It was a cool 80 degrees with no wind, which made it an easier day for all of our athletes.  We also were placed perfectly in the middle of the quad where all the kids pass through for class and hang out during lunch.  Beth Chirichella was our contact for today’s school and she couldn’t have been more helpful.  She made it really easy to get the set-up and show underway.  We had two lunch shows again today.  The first show was 11:08 - 11:38 and the second show was from 12:13 - 12:43.  I personally like short shows because it makes the athletes stay on their toes since there is no time for a break.  So let the show begin.

When the show started the quad was packed with half the school who had first lunch.  The students were definitely into their school spirit, which showed me that they would be super into the show.  Half the school had their faces painted with the school colors.  There were about ten boys and ten girls who were wearing signs around their necks that had a bunch of different sayings about prom court.  The funniest sign was worn by Donald, the prom king finalist.  His sign read, "kiss me.  I’m the prom king.”  It definitely made me laugh every time I looked over to the side of the ramp.

Today’s show was different from yesterday’s due to the fact that Rob Nolli had to leave last night due to a conflict of scheduling.  I wasn’t worried however because the legend and the ultimate showman Dave Voelker stepped in with his usual great show.  He ended his day with a huge 540 right into his signature back flip.  Flatlander, Gabe Weed had a little bigger area today next to the ramp which made him super excited to try some tricks he doesn’t normally get to do.  He had a great day.  Marc Englehart was a man on a mission doing every spin combination he has in his bag of tricks.  During trivia the students at Rancho Cucamonga High School wasted no time in throwing out answers to every question I asked.  With shorter shows, the time for trivia also goes down, but that didn’t stop the students from snatching up all of our got milk? Give-aways.  Next week, shows are all in San Francisco, which is the home to the offices of the California Milk Advisory Board.  Were all excited about getting to see our friends over at the CMAB.  See you next week everyone.
-- Daveee

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