FLORIDA TODAY
By HILLARD GROSSMAN
August 4, 2009

Cocoa Beach skateboarder Adam Taylor, who finished fourth in both Big Air events and ninth in the Pro Skate Vert, spent an exciting few days this past week at X Games 15 in California. Battered and bruised from competition, he spoke to FLORIDA TODAY after the final event, reflecting on his thrills and spills.

Adam Taylor, left, appreciated having Kelly Slater in the stands and rooting for him during the X Games this past weekend.
(Photo: Mike Rogers)

Question: What was the most spectacular stunt you saw all weekend?

Answer: A bunch, actually. But probably in the Rail Jam, where Danny Way was skating such a difficult trick when he was hurt. He said he probably tore his MCL, and he had rolled his ankles before that.

Q: This was your second trip out there. What did you learn this time around?

A: I learned a lot more. I did a bunch of tricks in competition that I didn’t think I couldn’t do. I practiced them a lot, but in competition, you never know. I did some new tricks, like the backflip over the 70-foot (gap), followed by a 17-foot Melon 540. It’s pretty much adrenaline — for most of the guys.

Q: The Rail Jam off the Mega Ramp was a new addition, and you nearly pulled it off with a fourth-place finish. How was that?

A: We knew about it, but none of us skaters had any practice on it. We just skated a little on it before (the competition). I figured it out, though. It was pretty scary. Danny Way invented it five years ago. I don’t know what’s next, though. Who knows?

Q: Legendary skater Tony Hawk was an analyst for ESPN. What did he say to you?

A: He’s pretty cool. He wants to get to know me better. He likes my skating. He was the TV announcer with Sal (Masekela). They were cool. They hung out with us all the time. Tony was amazing. Actually, on the morning of the Rail Jam, we had a skate, and he joined us. I think he learned it the fastest of anyone. That is ridiculous. I guess when you’re that good, you can do anything.

Q: Fourth place in two events is pretty tough to swallow. How did you deal with it?

A: I was pretty bummed at first, like immediately after the competition. I got over it now. But I was pretty bummed. There was some controversy in both events (mainly in the Rail Jam). Some people thought I should have gotten a third in the contest, and others thought I should have medaled in the rail.

Q: Both times, Rob Lorifice took the bronze away from you. Are you mad at him?

A: Not at all. Me and Rob are the only young guys out there, and we are good friends. Sometimes it’s just the way it is. We don’t take it personally. We just take it out on the judges.

Q: All that skating this week. Do you have a lot of bumps and bruises?

A: Yeah, by the end of the weekend, both of my hips were bruised; I bruised my ribs in the Rail Jam, and that still hurts; and both of the bottom of my feet are bruised. I’ll just take a few days off.

Q: Who were some of the celebrities you saw?

A: Kelly Slater, for one. He came out for the Big Air, and talked to me. It was pretty cool. That was really exciting for me, seeing him watching me. There was Darryl Hannah. She likes the Mega, and she likes to watch the Vert. Nick Swardson, the comedian, was there, too. He’s really funny. There are always people showing up.

Q: You got a lot of air time on ESPN. Were there a lot of people in Cocoa Beach texting you all weekend?

A: Yeah, I got a bunch of text messages from my old friends, and I’m on Facebook and Twitter, so there was so many messages. People just saying, ‘Good job.’

Q: What kind of fun things did you get to do while you were out there?

A: Honestly, I was so busy skating. . . . Literally, I’d wake up in the morning, skate all day, and come back to the hotel and sleep. It just wore me out. I mean, six days of skating as hard as I can.

Q: What’s next for Adam Taylor?

A: Well, we have the next stop on the Dew Tour, the Wendy’s Invitational, coming up in about a week and a half in Portland, Ore. It’s a nice place. I’m looking forward to it.