Jammers 2001 Review


 
Jam photos
Well, Jim came through for us.  Great weather, great crowds, kind winds for the most part and a great jam and crowd response at the Jaguars game.  BTW, the Jammers helped the Jags to a big win!  This tournament would not have been nearly as smoothly run without the enormous help provided by Tommy Leitner.  Taking the bull by the horns, he covered some bases overlooked by the TD and truly made things happen…thanks Tommy, you are one of a kind.  Special thanks to Bob “Friz” Coleman who came late to enjoy the show and provided awesome announcing which really worked well with the busy pep rally crowd.  Thanks Friz!  Major kudos go to Carl Emerson who quietly and with joy, provided a rental truck, manual labor and a tournament banner with the tourney logo which was all first class.  Carl is Top Shelf and without him I would have been helpless. 

There was so much hein jamming, especially in the semis.  With an extremely deep field providing a very competitive and fired up backdrop, the show was awesome.  Jammers from Puerto Rico, CA, CO, MA, KY, CT, PA, FL and TX traveled in to rock the Jax world.  Tommy and Murf just peeled.  Hos convoluted and Pipo Pipo’d.  Jeff O’Brien had probably three or four moves of the tournament.  Steve Scannell’s arrival signaled the return of the traditional mystery jammer. 

Results

Open Pool A 

  1. 62.2 Larry Imperiale / Paul Kenny 
  2. 58.0 Gregg Hosfeld / Carlos Pipo Lopez 
  3. 55.2 Anne Graves / Nikki Ross 
  4. 52.7 Carl Emerson / Jeff O’Brien 
  5. 39.0 Vic Ouzoonian / Craig Simon 

Open Pool B 

  1. 69.8 Tom Leitner / Dave Murphy 
  2. 60.6 Toddy Brodeur / Buddy Adams 
  3. 52.7 Diego Gamboa / Dan Yarnell 
  4. 46.6 Steve Scannell / Rik Downs 
  5. 33.6 Renee Pardo / Nicki Nicholson 

Mixed Finals 

  1. 62.5 Nikki Ross / Paul Kenny 
  2. 60.5 Anne Graves / Tom Leitner 
  3. 54.1 Renee Pardo / Carlos Pipo Lopez 
  4. 46.5 Nicki Nicholson / Dan Yarnell 

Open Finals 

  1. 67.5 Larry Imperiale / Paul Kenny 
  2. 63.4 Dave Murphy / Tom Leitner 
  3. 60.4 Toddy Brodeur / Buddy Adams 
  4. Gregg Hosfeld / Carlos Pipo Lopez 
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A very tasty mixed field impressed an audience not aware of just how awesome these ladies can peel.  Anne played with savvy from jamming so much.  Nicki continues to improve greatly, impressing even those of us who have recently seen her.  Renee just knows how to play, continuing her growth.  But clearly the highlight of the mixed field was Nikki.  She just plays with a very comfortable spirit and is open to new ideas and able to execute them immediately.  Ricchi, she is a FREESTYLER!!!!  All those other awards and victories are just stuff!!!  

The open finals saw the winds pick up a bit.  With some tents in the wind  line, extra care was needed.  All four teams came out shredding with everyone hitting their best stuff.  The cleanliness of the routines were the difference as it might have been impossible choose otherwise.   

On the injury front, it seemed with everyone going for it, a few bumps and bruises occurred.  Tommy bonked his head and got a neck stinger on the last catch of their finals routine.  Buddy “Hammerhead” Adams separated his shoulder, went to the hospital, then got up first thing the next morning and jammed!  It seemed only Murf escaped any tweaks, even going for his famous flip… 

Those qualifying for the Jags demo included Nikki, Anne, Tommy, Murf, Larry, Paul, Gregg, Pipo, and Toddy and Buddy.  Because of Tommy’s injury, he laid out of the demo and Murf and I mutually concluded Carl most deserved the opportunity to replace him as the “winner” of the most Jammer spirit.  The demo went awesomely.  A great wind, huge crowd and playing to U2’s “Desire” (Irish band, more tributing to Jim), everyone peeled.  Murf and Laerbs especially seemed to get the fans rocking.  As we left the field, there was an awesome roar from the fans which cemented the sense that we all were having the times of our lives. 

 
We love you Jim!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Thanks again to everyone who came in for the jam.  It is because of the kindness, heart, skills and friendships of you all that this event happens.

Paul Kenny 
904 285 6969 
freestyler@mediaone.net