By Travis Jensen

Story originally appeared on 48Blocks.com.

Run date: Jan. 2007.

It was the winter of '98. Trevor Prescott, Ryan Wilburn and I were skating downtown together. (Think for a minute about how random of a combo that is.)

The three of us ended up going to EMB. Trevor was claiming a nollie backside kickflip down the seven. The ice skating rink was up, tourists were gallivanting all over the place, and it was colder than shit outside. The only thing Trevor had going for him is that there were no cops in site, which was rare considering SFPD was known to patrol the plaza pretty much 'round the clock back then.

Trevor wasted no time warming up on the stairs: ollie, frontside 180º, pop shove-it.

We busted out the camera, a shitty High 8 with a fisheye lens attached, and Trevor started going for his trick. I was filming.

Trevor slammed so hard the first couple of tries that it was almost difficult to watch -- let alone film -- but he kept getting right back up and going for it again.

Wilburn later relieved me of filming duties. I can't remember the exact circumstances, but I had to leave to go somewhere else. By the time I left it was beginning to get dark outside, the wind was picking up off the Bay, and the temperature had dropped at least another ten degrees.

As the story goes, according to Wilburn, SFPD appeared on the scene shortly after I left.

Trevor only had one last go at the trick. It was make or break.

This is where you insert “The Natural” theme song. You know the one that kicks in when Roy Hobbs hits that homerun that shatters the lights out and the stadium starts raining sparks?

Anyway, with the officer steadily approaching, Trevor got a running start from the edge of the big three, hopped on his board, adjusted his feet into position, and stuck the nollie backside 180º kickflip down the seven flawlessly.

Wilburn later told me that it was one of the most amazing skateboard stunts he ever witnessed firsthand. Apparently, the officer was so close to snagging and bagging the two that Ryan didn't even get a chance to turn the camera off until they were a solid two blocks away.

The trick later appeared in an un-circulated video entitled “Friends” that Trevor and a friend released in 1999. Most of you reading this have probably never seen this video before. There are only a small handful of copies floating around out there. I have a VHS copy that I'm working on getting transferred to DVD as we speak, so sit tight. The video is chockfull of rare, never before seen gems of some of your favorite past and present Bay Area rippers. Trevor's part is nothing short of amazing, definitely way ahead of its time. Kickflip backside tailslide to backside flip out on the old ledges at Union Square. C’mon!

Trevor passed away almost a year ago to the day. Although he is no longer here with us in life, it's tales like these that will forever keep his legend alive. Rest in power, my friend. We all miss you and appreciate everything you did for skateboarding, especially here in the Bay Area.

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Below is link to Trevor’s part from the “Limits” video, an underground S.F. flick produced by Trevor and Sean Mitchell. Trevor’s part in this video is so sick! We actually held a little mini premier for this video at my house in Lower Haight back in ’98. I have the VHS tape at home. Joe Valdez busted a couple of sick “CF” (Causin’ Frustration) tags on my copy. This vid came with no box. Classic!