S. AYERS PHOTO: March 2008

Before driving down to Sebring, which requires you to drive about 20 minutes past Orlando and and 45 minutes to an hour south on a road called Highway 27, many people asked, after telling them of my impending journey, "Where is that? Sebring? Isn't that a car?" It seemed like no one but Frank Branca, old friend and owner/manager of Gator Board Shop, Sebring and Highlands/Hardee and Eastern Polk County's premiere Skate Shop and Mapquest knew where exactly Sebring, Florida was.

Once I got onto I-4, cruising through Downtown Orlando, making great time I saw this dude Gitin' Er Done on the interstate.

Complete with his dog in the back of his truck. He saw me take the photo and hauled ass.

Well anyway, I was excited. An adventure to rural Florida should, at the very least net me a few interesting photos or funny stories to bring back to Daytona. Once I pulled onto Highway 27 and went a few miles south I realized I was in Citrus country. Miles of Orange tree's followed with miles of nothing. Kind of serene.

Upon arriving at Frank's shop I was thoroughly impressed with the layout. A large shop with a nice mini ramp in the back and Frank behind the counter surveying it all. And now, a tour of Gator Board Shop.

One less alligator in a lake is fine by me. Frank kept a pretty accurate theme going.

Pretty cool Gonz poster in the back.

Even cooler mini ramp.

A nice write up in the Highland's County newspaper about the shop.

The boss man himself.

Not long after that Frank's Mom showed up to help arrange the prizes for the following days contest.

Things were pretty hectic at the shop so I cruised down to the local park to roll around and snap some photos.

But this guy wasn't having it. Paying $30.00 for a yearly pass and not being allowed to shoot photos inside the park? Gimme a break! I complained to this guy and went back to Gator. Not long after the Cheif of Police showed up looking for me. He told me that there was no way I could go into the park without paying the $30.00 dollars and that he was upset I doubted his park monitors decision earlier. Big thanks to Chief Detman. I forgot his name so I started calling him "Sheriff Doonberry" which Trailer Park Tyler evolved into "Officer Josephus T. Doonburry". We had a great running joke thanks to this guy.

Frank is putting Gator decals onto vehicles for free so if you want one roll down there and get hooked up.

Frank closed shop and we hit the streets.

Sebring local Richard got a nosebonk in at this "legendary" spot right off the bat.

As did loyal lurker Oreo with a Heelflip.

Richard is seriously sick.

So is the other Richard. Frank's shop employee. This rough stucco ledge is a lot gnarlier than it looks.

Richard has a trick for every spot.

Another Sebring kid, "Fat" has some righteous pop brewing. Give him a couple years and expect 2 foot high Fakie Flips like this one.

Frank asked for a portrait of his other employee, Chris.

Posse deep in front of the Branca family business trailer. Also, I always pronounced Frank's last name like it's spelled. "Bronk-a". Turns out you pronounce it "Brain-ka."
"So you've seriously let me pronounce your last name wrong for the past 5 years?" I inquired.
"I guess." Frank responded. I guess it just never bothered him too much. Frank's Mom told me "I would've corrected you the first time." I would've liked that, as opposed to sounding like an ass whenever I mispronounced an old friends last name.

Then a Sebring Friday night!

"They aren't lying."-Frank concerning the Blue Lagoon's beer coldness.

Went to a house party to see my old friend Pat recording a song. It's really good.

This was seriously a name for a street in Sebring until everyone made the city change it. Holy shit. Someone told me they changed it to read "Monegro".

This is when Frank told me a story of when Hurricane Charlie blew through Sebring and it toppled a friend of his' corner store. So since the guy would get all his inventory back from insurance money he gave all the beer he'd stocked up on to Frank to sell out of a trailer on his family's propery. All this guy wanted was a cut of the profits. "Imagine a double wide trailer full of beer." Frank told me. So he was underage, drinking a lot of beer and selling even more and moving an equally large amount of cigarette's out of this bootleg booze trailer too. I'd be lying if I told you that isn't an amazing story.

This dude got really loose. Fun fact: This was the contest after party's DJ.

Sebring Loc Adam Starkey. He made up a word called "Yao-Jing" it can be used in response or in description of something of a high quality.

Chillin' with a Basic.

See you tomorrow night, DJ A-Bomb.

The next morning at the contest Tyler was gettin' trill.

Wallride's on a cruiser board.

Pat announced part of the day.

So did Tyler.

Sebring local T-Ray is pretty ill.

As is Richard, who I'm pretty convinced can skate everything.

Including tranny for you doubters.

Oreo was cruisin'.

As was this kid named "Little" who whipped a Pop-Shove It off the 7 foot quarterpipe. I know tricks off of quarterpipe's are kind of weak, but it's pretty sick when you're 4 foot tall.