Post
by Rick Stanziale » Fri Sep 06, 2013 8:39 pm
Tomorrow is South Carolina vs. Georgia in Athens. Wesley most likely would have been in Sanford Stadium. When the "slalom revival" first took off a little more than 10 years ago, some guy named Tasos decided to throw the World Championships of Longboard Slalom in Folly Beach, South Carolina. No doubt this event wouldn't have happened without Wesley being involved. When I arrived in Folly Beach he was the first person I met. He talked about slalom skateboarding as if it had been going on regularly since the early 1970's. That's because for Wesley, slalom was skateboarding. I don't think he ever owned a skateboard with a kicktail. Outside of Gilmour, he probably had more Turner Summer Ski's than anyone east of Colorado. After arriving back home in Athens, the Folly Beach experience provided me with the inspiration to hold the Georgia State Slalom Skateboarding Championships, which eventually became the Red Clay Cup. Neither of which would have ever occurred without Wesley Tucker, both for his involvement in the Folly Beach race, and his unselfish volunteer efforts during the races here in Georgia. I remember watching him struggle with start ramps, fearlessly face the steep incline of Trade Street, and pulling up in his Camaro at races from Jackson, Mississippi to St. Louis, Missouri. Tom Thompson and I had lunch at Cracker Barrel with him on our way back from Jackson one year. Sure, his politics were diametrically opposed to mine, but we shared a love of skateboarding that precious few people in this world will ever understand. It brought us together in spite of our differences.
So tomorrow, in honor of his passing, I'm going to cheer for the "old ball coach" and root for the Gamecocks. Then I'm going to see if I can find my cones and plow them down parallel stance while echoes of "66, you bastard!" ring through my ears.
I hope there are coneheads in heaven.