Skaters like the dangerous thrill of their sport – the risk of it all going wrong is all part of the excitement. But what about when your reputation as a card player is also on the line among your peers?
A select band of Germany’s top skaters, including Tobi Fleischer, are practising their poker faces and their favourite tricks, and taking on the Red Bull Poker SKATE Challenge in Nuremberg on September 3.
First, the ‘poker skaters’ sit around the table and begin a normal game of Texas Hold ’Em, betting on the first two cards dealt them in their hand. Each card has a points value – so far, so normal poker. The twist is that each is also associated with a particular skate trick…
The skaters decide how much to bet, based on how they think they can perform the tricks on their two cards. Then, when three more cards are dealt, the players choose their best tricks – with the best chance of points – from the five available cards. Everyone shows their hand.
Then, they have to perform the tricks successfully. If they do, they get their full complement of points, and if the harder a trick is deemed to be, the more points it carries. If one trick goes wrong and one right, they’ll only get the points for that one trick. Whoever scores most gets the pot for that hand!
Naturally, these skaters are as good at cards as they are on the board. So, it can take hours for one skater to win all the money – but what are three of the best (ie hardest) tricks? And what lucky hand do you need to be able to perform them and clean up?
Queen (10pts)
Bigspin Heelflip
The beauty of this trick is that you get two 360 rotations for the price of one. The skater flips the back end of the board with the heel at an angle, so that it spins 360 degrees horizontally (end-to-end) and simultaneously flips upside-down and back the right way up in time for the trick to be landed. Blink and you’ll miss it!
King (10pts)
Forward Flip
Easy enough concept, tough to pull off! The skater kicks the rear of the board as with a normal ollie, but as it gets airborne, he uses his left foot on the front of the board to flip it back the other way, gets his legs out of the way to let the board rotate the full 360 degrees, then lands it – at least, that’s the theory!
Ace (11pts)
Ghetto Bird
The favourite trick of Kareem Campbell. The skater flips the board between his legs and then turns 180 degrees to land on the board facing the opposite way.
After Nuremberg, Poker SKATE heads to Stuttgart on September 26 and Münster on October 17.
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