Although we (the VP editorial staff) have resided in New York City for quite some time, our place of origin has never been up for debate: we’re from Minnesota, a place sometimes referred to as a ‘flyover state’. As proud Minnesotans, we take offense to this slander. Yet because of this insulting reputation, a hidden benefit exists in that its cities are full of spots not yet blown out by transplant skaters. Sure, you may have conversations sitting at The Monument about how badly you’d like to skate the ledge to bank made famous by Pat Gallaher, or maybe you’re sitting in traffic on the 101 thinking about how perfect of a plaza Hennepin Country Government Center AKA “Gov” looked in that one Mathias edit, but still, the MN trip is a rare one for most skaters.

Earlier this Summer, ASICS team manager (and fellow son of Minnesota) Davis Torgerson decided his squad needed to go on what he referred to as “the Pat G. spot tour” in order to appreciate some of these underappreciated spots first hand. He grabbed Dougie George, Zander Mitchell, Jaakko Ojanen, Shay Sandiford, Sully Cormier, Alan Bell, and filmer Jacob Palumbo headed to the heartland to meet up with local rippers Ty Stigney, Jasper Steinbach, Jonathon Reese, and the legend himself, Pat Gallaher.

You may be wondering: what’s with the title? All week whenever something went Zander’s way, he would shout “woo!”. Land a trick, “woo!”, someone else lands a trick, “woo!”, first hit of weed in the morning, there would be a “woo!” – you get the idea. Very quickly, the entire crew was yelling “woo'“ after anything went slightly right, and a whole lot went right on this trip. The things a squad can produce in a week when the vibes are right are really something special. It must be that Minnesota summer air. Woo!

Above, you’ll see a video cataloging the crew’s accomplishment’s while on the trip. Below, you’ll find their impressions of Minnesota after having spent time there.

Video by Jacob Palumbo

Photos by Alex Uncapher & Jaakko Ojanen

What were your impressions of Minnesota before going there?

Alan Bell: I would’ve never guessed the sheer amount of spots. A hidden gem.

Zander Mitchell: It makes me think of the show Fargo.

Jaakko Ojanen: To be honest I really didn’t have any view about Minnesota. I only knew that Prince was from there (laughs).

Dougie George: I knew it was Davis' hometown and Rob (Sissi) holds it down so I thought it had to be cool, but I didn't quite know what to expect. Lil Yachty said it's cold.

Jacob Palumbo: I’ve always been a fan of Chris Burt’s and Pete Spooner’s videos, so Minnesota has always been a place I've wanted to go to.

Davis Torgerson: “Time to go on the Pat G. spot tour.”

What do you think of it now that you have been there?

Shay Sandiford: My main takeaway was that Gov belongs to Rob.

Ty Stigney: I love seeing the fresh vision new skaters bring to the spots here.

ZM: Minnesota is clip city.

Do you have a favorite spot from the trip?

AB: We skated this brick crater/dish thing. I got a manual on it but just doing fat ollies was hitting.

ZM: Gov all day.

Pat Gallaher: Gov.

Jasper Steinbach: The blue swimming pool C ledge. Jaakko did a trick I’ve never seen before, it had to be NBD.

JO: Gov! It’s great for hanging out and chilling with the crew.

SS: Probably that brick crater manny thing. (ed.- crater/dish mentioned by AB)

JP: My two favorites were Gov and this uprooted tree that made a concrete kicker.

DG: I think it was that street kicker we found just driving to another spot. The tree was uprooted and the sidewalk had just naturally become a perfect launch ramp.

DT: The off-set pop up channel banks at US Bank Stadium. Watching Jaakko nollie backside flip it like fifth try while getting kicked out didn’t feel real.

TS: The broken gutter kicker that a tree propped up from the storm. That was a fun one because we came across that driving to another spot.

Jaakko seizing the moment as security walks up to shut down the session.

Most “Woo” moment of the trip?

ZM: Davis BBQing burgers in the backyard.

JO: Probably after Zander got two cases of Red Bull.

PG: Every time Zander got a clip.

JS: Alan landing this bank to bank ollie over some steps. It’s an OG Minnesota spot and he was getting so smoked trying it.

SS: Kind of a sad “woo” moment, but we all let one out before getting on our flights home.

Jonathon Reese: Jaakko’s magic grind was maybe the coolest thing I’ve ever seen and it didn’t even take him very long.

DG: Accidentally inhaling some of Pat G's chili powder.

DT: Hanging at the patio table at the crib. It was rad to see a bunch of guys who hadn't met before come together as good friends, hanging outside at that table after a long day of skating.

TS: Pat G kickfliping onto the ball. Epic to see a legend still stacking! And bounced back from a crazy slam on that.

“Hack” (soccer) MVP?

AB: On some real shit, me.

JP: Davis was in every circle.

DG: Shay gets MVP for being the most improved hack player of the trip, he put in the work every day and got good fast.

SS: Alan and Davis got the ball first day of the trip so big respects to them for that.

DT: Gotta give it to Shay. Guy went from having two left feet to Pele in 7 days.

ZM: Alan.

JO: Alan got skills for real.

JR: Probably Alan.

TS: Alan looked experienced.

Alan Bell riding a roller coaster with 9 functioning toes.

Skate MVP of the trip? Why?

ZM: Alan Bell. He’s a 1-8 hellrider.

DG: Alan. Full speed, full commitment every spot. Pushing through pain even landing the 5-0 shuv and injuring himself in the process. He was always motivating others and keeping the vibes up. Beast.

DT: Alan Bell. He 5-0 shuv'ed into that crazy roller coaster while his pinky toe was popping in and out of place.

TS: Alan. First day he did front blunt shove on Richfield bank to ledge, then an hour later he ollied over the 4 stair bank to bank. Also Jaakko did a trick I’ve never seen.

PG: Zander. It seems like he filmed a part in a week.

JP: Zander, first one up and last one to go to sleep.

JS: Gotta be Zander. Never seen him skate in person. The man knows control.

JO: Zander doing every possible ledge trick in a row every time.

SS: Zander and Ty.

JR: Jaakko. He does all of the most creative and insane things while he seems like he’s not even trying.

AB: Jaakko! He’s truly a magician. Zander gotta be my non-skate mvp! His energy just keeps everyone with a smile. Even when he’s talkin too much he’s making me crack up.

“Gov is one block that way and I haven’t checked in yet today.” Rob pleads his case.

Gov Center with Rob or Palace Park (hockey rink park) with Pat?

AB: I love Pat so much, but you know we had to check tf in to Gov with Rob. Rob is too OG. Rob is checking in at Gov even when he ad a bunch of skaters in his city trying to stack.

ZM: Both are nice.

JS: Gov center with the Governor all day.

JP: Gov with both Rob and Pat.

PG: Palace with Rob.

SS: Palace with Pat in the day cuz I know Rob will still be at Gov later for the evening session .

JO: That's a tie.

JR: Patty G at Palace.

DG: Pat makes every session epic, but you just gotta check in at Gov.

TS: Chilling at The Gov every night was a vibe.

DT: Stillwater with Pizza.

Zander gets ready to lock in as he cracks a Red Bull. Shay escapes while he can.

You’re locked in a room with Zander and a case of Red Bull. What is your escape plan?

DG: Crack a cold one and lock in further. You may only experience this once.

AB: I’m just crushing Bulls wit my dawg.

JS: Smoke him out.

JP: There’s no escaping.

PG: Drink as much Red Bull before he finishes it all.

SS: Build a flat ledge to keep him occupied.

JO: Honestly I would gladly stay in that room and just listen to what his mind produces.

ZM: Smoke some good weed in the escape room.

TS: There will be no time to escape, you’re already mid conversation.

Davis breaks down paying your quarterly taxes, transcendental meditation, and tweaking your nollie flips.

Stuck in secondary questioning at customs, who’s your first call?

JO: Davis knows the right words to talk you out of those situations (laughs).

AB: Davis T!!! That dude's calm and chill when chatting with the customs people was uncanny. He quick as hell, 16 steps ahead on his Shikamaru shit.

ZM: Davis 100%. He keeps calm under pressure.

JP: I'm calling Davis. I should start calling him to help me with all my problems from now on.

SS: Davis even if he’s in the middle of selecting his fantasy football team. That man can multitask.

DG: Anyone but Jaakko. I would trust Davis to be my lawyer.

Favorite skater from MN?

ZM: Davis Torgerson/Pro skater Pat G.

JO: Pat G the legend.

JS: Pat G the legend. Best dude on and off the board.

JP: Pat Gallaher. Kickflip noseslide at the Wells Fargo ledge to bank is one of the best tricks ever filmed.

SS: Ty rips.

PG: Way too many to pick just one, but I skated with Dalton yesterday and he’s on my mind right now – I’ll give him a shout out, but let it be known he’s tied for first with a lot of dope skaters.

AB: Always love me some Tanner VV.

JR: Pat G.

DG: Davis. Then Pat. Then Ty.

DT: Dan Narloch.

TS: Henry Gartland held it down.

Week In Wooville