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Nairobi KING OF S.K.A.T.E 2016

In photo, a number of skateboarders. It highlights a skateboarder to the left carry his skateboard under his armpit. And the two judges figuring out who's next in the contest.
Watu wa video part walifika finals (People with video parts reached the finals.
Read along to final out. Deecy to the right
Photo credit: Shuyin Ben

Two skateboarders during the King of skate contest in Kenya. One pushing the board forward to set his trick. To the far east, are spectators looking at the competitors.
Ian's turn
Photo credit: Shuyin Ben

The Nairobi KING of S.K.A.T.E was held under the museum hill bridge close to the National Museums of Kenya (Museum in Nairobi, Kenya) ; The road underneath was barred off since it’s under construction. However, it also diverts to an entry into Nairobi University (One of the biggest universities in Kenya). Though during the contest “watu karibu wamangiwe na magari” since cars were just passing through and mind you they didn’t hoot alerting us that they wanted us to move away. Despite using the blocked off route to avoid traffic or go to Nairobi university was probably their aim or not.

The contest started at around 2.p.m, I wasn’t there during the start but masketah(skateboarders) were halfway through the match when I arrived.
Two judges of the skate contest looking keenly at the participants tricks. They are seated on a painted black and white curb.
Leo and Victor (Judges) watching the participants
Photo credit: Shuyin Ben
At that time, I recall it was Ezra versus Tony; Tony has improved from the last time I saw him skate. Though he needs to improve his consistency and bag of tricks to win his opponents. Also, Ezra won that match.
One skateboarder rolling away after doing a trick. The other with a luminous green holding the skateboard about to do a trick.
Ezra on skateboard to the left and Tony with Green shirt
Photo credit: Shuyin Ben

As time passed by familiar faces where progressing in the KING of S.K.A.T.E tree. The only new participant to be so up the tree among J.B, Leo, Victor Oti, Vincent and George to mention a few. Was Ezra. What have you noticed about the names I’ve mentioned, some were in a video parts right?

A skateboarder pushing goofy about to set his next trick. At the foreground skateboarders sitting on a painted curb and to left middle ground.
J.b about to set a trick
Photo credit: Shuyin Ben

 More or less the highlights of the contest was
J. b’s strategy to beat his opponents which was pretty solid if you asked me. He started with the basic tricks then went intermediate and advanced – I was using Aaron Kyro’s metrics. On the contrary, I noticed a good number of participants started with some harder tricks and losing momentum as time passes by. Wear them down-first! I also use this strategy as I’m playing and I’ve won a couple of games’ of skate because of it.



A skateboarder who has fallen down on his butt in the middle ground. Foreground skateboarders and spectators sitting on a curb.
George Zuko during the switch wars
Photo credit: Shuyin Ben
 Additionally, Oti, a skater from way back and is still as elite as ever. After the switch wars with Zuko and overall dizziness. He proceeded to challenge, the beast from the latest video  new threat the video. As sure as the wind blows, the finalists were in video parts. Can I say that the crowd actually foresaw the finalists? Or was it Deecy prediction, I don’t know.

A skateboarder performing a kick flip on the road. A person, looking keenly at the trick to the right.
Oti killing it
Photo credit: Shuyin Ben
A bit blurry photo of a frontside flip being done during the contest. One the judges in the background right surprised.
Leo (Judge) watching Kelvin Maina land a Frontside flip
Photo credit: Shuyin Ben





During the hard battle, Oti unleashed clean treflips, double kickflips and biggerspins. He was trapped in the jaws of the ’beast ‘Kelvin Maina after the last trick Fakie heelflip which basically removed Chris Ho The former kick of skate’s crown. I have a feeling if he was around he would retain his title. Not because I’m biased. Nonetheless, I’ve seen his way of skating and consistency which I must confess is unparalleled. I could be wrong. What do you think?
Tell me in comments section.

Thanks for reading. Till the next article.

Farewell

Written
By Shuyin ben.

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Location: Karen, Nairobi, Kenya

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