Lincoln Ueda has always been the quit guy with the biggest airs. On the scene for years, Ueda is as comfortable in bowls as he is on the vert ramps he made a name for himself on. With the seventh annual Pro-tec Pool Party kicking off tomorrow, we decided to check in with Ueda, a local at the contest's Combi Bowl and always a heavy contender in the comp.
With Bucky Lasek not skating the contest this year who do you think is most likely to win?
I'd say either Rune Glifberg or Pedro Barros. You can never count Omar Hassan out, too. He is always a contender. That's what I think. They have all been skating really good, lately.
Do you think any of the legends are going to beat Chris Miller again?
Steve Caballero won it last year but I don't know. Miller has some new lines. Cab has been skating the bowl a lot too though. Plus there is always Lance Mountain. He was skating the Combi earlier today and seemed to have some lines down.
How does skating this contest compare to skating a vert contest?
It's a different vibe, a different energy.
Which contest type do you prefer?
I like this contest better. People have more fun. You can see it in people's faces. It is a contest but at the same time its different than a typical contest. The crowd is always really crazy, too. Everyone kind of goes off. It's my favorite contest of the year.
Is it true that, starting over a month ago, people have been coming to town and getting hotels next to The Block at Orange just to come skate the pool for a few days?
Yeah a lot of the guys from San Diego will come up and stay for the night so they get two days of skating for their drive. It seems like people have been starting to take the contest seriously and really try to work on some lines.
You have the benefit of skating the Combi year-round. Are there any other locals that you think will do well in the contest?
Josh Borden skates at here a lot. Josh Rodriguez has been skating really good, too. Josh Stafford, too. All the Josh's!
You own a wheel company with Sergie Ventura. How are Type-S wheels doing?
It's doing good. With both of us skating all the time, it's hard to run a company not working on it one hundred percent of the time. But we have a pro model wheel for Bucky Lasek coming out as well as legend wheels for Tony Hawk and Christian Hosoi.
How has it been riding for Hosoi skateboards?
It's been good. I've ridden for Hosoi for a little over two years now. It has kind of been a dream come true to have a board on Hosoi's company. He was a hero of mine growing up in Brazil and it's kind of a trip to see my name on there.
Has he bought you a leather jacket yet?
Hahaha no not yet. I need to ask him.
Who else are you riding for?
I ride for Hurley, Hosoi, Vox, Type-S, Crail trucks and 187 pads.
Thanks Lincoln.
Thank you. See you Saturday.