S.O.T.Y. Party Danny Way: Thrasher magazine Skater of the Year 2004: great American music hall, SF, CA, Dec. 18, 2004

Thrasher Magazine, April, 2005 by Lindsey Byrnes

DANNY WAY'S SKATEBOARDING CAREER has been an unstoppable fire. He won the first street and vert contests he ever entered, turned pro at 14, and was named Thrasher's Skater of the Year in 1991 at age 17. Unlike most child prodigies, Danny's flame still burns. As a matter of fact, Danny is absolutely unstoppable.

On December 18th, 2004, hundreds of skaters and fans turned up in San Francisco to celebrate Danny's 2nd Skater of the Year victory at Thrasher's 15th Annual SOTY Party. It was, as always, a beautiful display of out-of-control disgusting human behavior. This year, the debauchery was helped along by an open bar which only lasted about an hour and a half, at which time our distinguished guests managed to consume $5,000 worth of beer and liquor (at an average of $4.50 per drink, you do the math). Thanks to our sponsors Activision and Boost Mobile, as well as Scandinavian rock gods Turbonegro, Eagles of Death Metal, Tony Trujillo's band USSR (United Scumbags of Santa Rosa), and DJ Ted Shred (who un-coincidentally DJ'd the party in '91).

FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT THERE, HERE'S THE PLAY BY PLAY:

6:03pm--Line has already begun forming around the building

6:45pm--Inside the club the staff gets a pep talk on how to handle out-of-control skaters (an impossible task)

7:01pm--The doors open and the bar opens

7:15pm--Danny Way and his entourage enter the building. They're escorted to Danny's fully stocked backstage room

8:15pm--The security tilt-a-whirl begins ejecting patrons before the first band has even seen the stage

8:30pm--USSR destroys the stage. Hair blows by the wind of the fan

8:49pm--The free bar is officially cut off

9:31pm--Eagles of Death Metal. "Isn't that guy from Queens of the Stone Age in this band?"

10:06pm--Girl fight

10:15pm--Aaron Bartko, the winner of the all-expense paid trip to the awards, disappears. Rumor has it that he, his girlfriend, and hosts from Boost Mobile had secretly made their way to the strip club next door. Of course, that's classified

10:20pm--The Phelper takes the stage with Danny to present the coveted SOTY Trophy (yes, the bronze statue of the skater wearing shorts)

11:05pm--Turbonegro give us an epic performance complete with crowd surfing and costume changes

12:55pm--"... We'll be sending you a revised bill including the costs of all damages." Surprise, surprise

We would like to give a very special thanks to Activision, Neversoft, Boost Mobile, and DC Shoes for making this possible.--Lindsey Byrnes