Wallenberg Set

Wallenberg, also known as the Wallenberg Four, is a popular gap among the skateboard community which is located in a San Francisco school. It measures 6 feet high and 18 feet long.

Coverage in skateboard media

The Wallenberg gap first appeared in Mark Gonzales's part in "Video Days," a 1991 skateboarding video released by Blind Skateboards. More recently, Thrasher skateboard magazine hosted "High Noon at the Big Four" at the famous spot. Unlike traditional skateboarding competitions, there were no rankings or standings; the 2004 event was billed as a "big tricks contest." In order to encourage skaters to attempt difficult tricks, cash prizes were offered for landing specific ones. Andrew Reynolds was the first skateboarder to successfully perform a frontside flip. Chris Cole was the first one to 360 flip it in "New Blood" a skateboarding video by Zero Skateboards. Some of the most popular skateboarding tricks that have been performed include Frank Gerwer's kickflip over the set Darrell Stanton performed a switch backside 180 at the Thrasher contest, Lindsey Robertson of Mystery Skateboards performed a heelflip over the gap at the Thrasher contest, and Andrew Reynolds frontside flipped it at the Thrasher contest. Danny Gonzalez performed a kick flip to Melon grab in Transworld's "The Reason", Elissa Steamer attempted an ollie which, if landed, would have made her the first female skateboarder to accomplish a trick down the infamous gap. Some other tricks include a backside 180 (Diego Buccheri), a pop-shove it (by Steve Nesser - 411VM #66), a switch ollie, a switch frontside 180 (by Tony Manfre - montage in "Free Your Mind" from Transworld Skateboarding), a pop-shove it to melon grab (Jeremy Reeves, from footage featured on Thrasher Magazine's website). But a more recent trick was by Clayton Cagle, on 10/12/07, he is a bay area skater who performed a frontside half-cab down the legendary gap.The last trick that has been performed down the set was a BS Bigspin by the german skater Willow. While the stair set is still there the school has re-profiled the "run up" to the set so it is no longer possible to use Vega St to gain speed, it has to be obtained from a ramp or roll in, or by gaining speed in some other form. Andrew Reynolds also landed a backside flip. More recently Tanner Wika (a skater from Fargo,ND) became the youngest (12 years old) to perform a trick down the set (an ollie).

External links

* [http://skatespotter.com/spot/san-francisco-wallenberg-143.html Videos and Photos of Wallenberg from skatespotter.com]
* [http://www.subpublic.com/spots/view?id=34 Wallenberg at Subpublic]