Second Annual Jay Boy Classic commemorates anniversary of Dogtown legend's passing

On Saturday, May 23, skateboard company Z-Flex organized the second annual Jay Boy Classic was held at Venice Skate Park in Venice Beach, California. Jay Boy Classic started last year with the purpose of giving bowl skaters the opportunity to show off their skills and compete against each other for various prizes.

Just as last year, this years arrangement attracted many locals as well as tourists who wanted to honor the skateboard legend Jay Adams and watch young talents perform on their boards.

The bleachers were packed and crowds gathered around the bowl to cheer on each skater as they entered the bowl pulling off tricks that made the viewers throw their hands up in the air.

The loud crowd or music was not something that distracted 19-year-old Isiah Sanchez, who participated in the competition. All he could think about was having a good time. “I don't really think about anyone, I just skate,” he said.

During an intense finals heat Sanchez was named the winner of the Bowl Jam. Being his first time participating in the Jay Boy Classic, he was not only stoked to win, but impressed by the whole arrangement. “I thought the event was rad. Everything was good,” he said after the event was over.

In "Master Jam" the audience got to experience a flashback to the past as it was time for the older generation to take over the spot light. Skate legends in their fifties like Steve Olson, Dave Hackett, and Pat Ngoho got the opportunity to enter in the bowl and prove that skateboarding has no age limit.

“I think they are hella dope and have the best style,” Sanchez commented about the legends performance. The fact that they are still ripping is something that inspires him. "I'm going to skate forever,” he added.

Another prestigious award was the “Spirit of Jay award” which went to Willy Lara, son to the third generation Z-boy Joe Contreras, who was also one of the judges at the event.

“Willy Lara winning was the icing on the cake. Me being in the judges chair had nothing to do with it. Willy's skating spoke for itself,” Contreras said after the event. “We were in Oahu, Hawaii last year during the first Jay Classic, this year we were not missing it for the world,” he added.

Contreras was happy about how the event turned out and the fact that the event honor someone as special as Jay Adams who devoted his life to skateboarding. “Jay was the original seed and a one hundred percent skateboarder. Long live Jay's spirit, the spirit of Venice.”

To have events like the Jay Boy Classic, to display a sense of pride, not only for Jay Adams but also for Venice, is in Contreras' opinion, very important for the community. “It welcomes everyone to come and see how Venice honors it's own,” he said.