Arriving in Kansas City, I was met with a big crew from Etnies and tons of Malto's friends down to celebrate with him. Skaters of note who were lurking in Kansas City over the weekend included Justin Brock, David Reyes, Heath Kirchart, Ernie Torres,Jose Rojo, Mikemo Capaldi, Mikey Taylor, Davis Torgerson, Massimo Cavedoni and of course Malto. It's also worth mentioning that the Kansas City scene has some rippers who are always holding it down. Max Chilean, Joseph Lopez, Ryan Pierce and the rest of theEscapist crew are on the rise as well.

Since this weekend was more of a celebration than a straight-up skate mission, there weren't too many banging tricks thrown in the mix. But some fun sessions were had on a few of the choice spots KC has to offer and a good time was had by all. It's seriously refreshing to see just how different the skate scene is in the Midwest away from the industry and hype of either coast. Kids are skating for fun with much less emphasis on trying to get sponsored but with just as much determination to progress and push their limits. The vibe is about homies and skating and fun. When you're in KC, it's easier to see what's made Malto not just one of the more talented guys to arise in the past few years, but also what's made him one of the most likable ones.