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	A Day for Beans By Matt Sharkey There has never been someone like Tim Brauch in professional skateboarding and there probably won’t be anyone like him ever again. That might be pessimistic but if you were to ask anyone who knew him they would more than likely agree with that statement. Not only has there never been another professional skateboarder like Tim Brauch...there hasn’t been another human being like Tim Brauch. While most of us focus on a daily existence and how we’re going to “get by”, Tim spent his days living them and squeezing every moment of life from every minute of every hour. His drive was unstoppable. And it wasn’t a drive motivated by greed...by the search for monetary ends or a selfish quest for power. It was a motivation of the purest form. Tim lived, even without knowing it, to inspire others. It was easy to see when he was still alive by the number of his closest friends who quietly and outspokenly looked to him for example, for guidance. And it was equally as evident after he passed on in how the same friends lives were changed and in the number of admirers world-wide left touching stories about Tim and how he affected their lives through a message board that was erected in his honor. Thought Tim wouldn’t like to accept the role of a leader...he was very much so. He was an inspiration to thousands. With the question of loyalty every truly existing in the skateboarding industry’s history or if it was nothing more than a perceived marketing ploy...one thing is for sure...and that is that Tim Brauch was loyal and appreciative of his sponsors and all who opened a door for him. He would travel the world for his sponsors in a days notice and be the greatest ambassador a company could ever hope for. You couldn’t find an employee who would do as much for you let alone a professional skateboarder who, on paper, is nothing more than an independent contractor. Most of Tim’s sponsors knew that and loved Tim for it. As soon as he became a part of their company...as soon as they met him...their standard of what a professional skateboarder should be was immediately elevated. Sessions and Tim Brauch’s relationship goes back to the beginning of his skateboarding career. Prior to Sessions ever launching a full-scale clothing line, they were a retail store. For years they were the only true skateboard shop in the entire San Francisco Bay Area so naturally most of the pros in the area wanted to ride for Sessions. Tim worked at the retail shop in Sunnyvale and was proud to be a part of their Team. As years passed and Tim built a name for himself within the industry...he was given the opportunity to build a clothing line within the Sessions empire along side his life-long friend, Salman Agah. Thus Este was born. With Este Tim’s influence and creative input was everything. He was a reflection of Este and Este was a reflection of him. The eagle logo of “Este” was actually discovered by Tim while traveling internationally on a stamp and is, today, tattooed on more than 100 friends, family members and admirers. If that alone, doesn’t say enough about Tim then I don’t know what could. Tim’s relationship with Sessions was one of reciprocation...and that just simply doesn’t exist, in reality, between the majority of sponsors and skaters within this industry. Most people are focused on “the take” rather than the “give and take”. Not Tim. Sessions has never forgotten that. They have never forgotten Tim...what kind of human being he was...or the impact he made on everyone’s lives whom he came in contact with. And so it was decided, not long after Tim’s unthinkable passing that Sessions decided to organize and dedicate a contest in his memory. So that not only they would never forget his legacy...but so that everyone within an earshot would be reminded of the person that he was. It was that small yet important thought of organizing an event that gave birth to the Tim Brauch Memorial Contest. It has now been over four years since Tim passed and, subsequently, brought us to the 4th Annual Tim Brauch Memorial Contest this past month at the Vans Skatepark in Milpitas, California. Every year the event has only gotten bigger and encouraged more people to get involved. This year Don and Danielle Bostick from World Cup Skateboarding offered their assistance in setting everything up and even expressed interest in having the contest be an official stop on the World Cup Tour in years to come. Legendary Alva Boy, Dave Duncun took the helm of the mic to MC the event and the only DJ worthy of spinning records at such an event, Ray Stevens II, was onhand to blast all the classic punkrock over the entire streetcourse and bowl. Morning dawns early at this contest so that every age division possible has a chance to get their skating in. Everyone skateboarding...no matter how old you were or how good you were considered to be...that’s how Tim would have wanted it. Session’s Promotions’ Justin Gold was there at first light to get organized and facilitate the days events along side Tim’s close friends, Jai Tanju, Scotty Greathouse, Jason Strubbing, Ron Whaley...and on and on. “Who did what trick” on the streetcourse is largely irrelevant on a day like today. Its much more about noticing the spirit of Tim alive and well in a room full of hundreds of people...in the eyes of a kid dropping in with complete determination and speed just like Tim did. Vans Shoes’ very own Steve VanDoran knows exactly what this event is about...due in part to the fact that he was one of Tim’s greatest admirers. Even when Tim had to leave Vans to skate for Etnies...Steve understood and continued to be in awe of the person that Tim was. If you watch the footage of Tim winning the Vans Triple Crown in 1997 and being handed the award by VanDoran, I don’t think you find a larger smile than the one on his face as he handed it over to Tim. When the Vans park was opened in Milpitas, Steve even had it dedicated in Tim’s honor for being in Tim’s backyard and for all that Tim had given to skateboarding. On the day of the 4th Annual Tim Brauch Memorial Contest Steve was there to set up a booth simply to supply and prepare free food for all of those who came. Sessions founder, Joel Gomez, took turns at the food table as well to serve up ice cream sundays for the hungry masses. The legacy of Tim is very much alive in the hearts of those who knew him and it is more evident on a day like this than any other. Tim’s parents, Frank and Joan and his sister, Kristy were all there together again this year and I think that everything this event stands for is most noticeable through the expressions on their face and the true joy in their eyes that is there from noticing the lasting affect that Tim had on everyone in that room. On most days people skate for themselves...but today they skate for Tim and the memory of Tim that is undying. Literally tens of hundreds of people make this event possible. Companies like Black Label, Etnies, Vallely Skateboards, Independent Trucks, Vans and Destructo on top of dozens of others all gave to the cause this year. And it truly is a cause. It’s not like a company is looking for a place to dump some cash for the sake of a tax rightoff. The companies that give to this contest do so because they want to honor the amazing skateboarder and person that Tim Brauch was and to help keep his spirit alive. The greatest amount of energy throughout the day of the contest comes to a boiling point nearing the days end at the Bowl Jam. Legendary pool skaters like Steve Caballero, Jimmy the Greek, Pete the Ox, Breuce Martin and Chris Cook amongst others come together to snake each other and leave the best man standing with two feet still on his board. Everyone held there own this year and killed it for a group of onlookers who often got too close to the coping. Tim Brauch’s nickname was Beans...coined for how he was like a jumping bean...full of unstoppable energy. When you get guys like the above mentioned all in a bowl together...you’re going to see the same type of energy that Tim had. Only there was no “Off” for Tim...no “let me take a second to catch my breath.” Like Jason Adams said...he was a firecracker. And I’m sure Tim loved being able to watch the brick of firecrackers that were going on in that bowl that day in memory of him.


9th Annual Tim Brauch Contest Results
			Grandmasters Steve Caballero $600 Pat Black $400 Steve Steadham $300 Mike Rogers $200 Jesse Martinez $100
	Pros Benji Galloway $1,000 Josh Mattson $600 Jimmy the Greek $400 Taylor Bingaman $300 Tyler Martin $200
	Women’s Bowl Julie Kindstrand $500 Amelia Brodka $300 Apryl Woodcock $200 Holly Lyons Amee Jay Papelera
		Ams Jerry Gurney Tommy Werner Curren Caples Sky Siljeg TJ Lewis Andy Glagola Jesse Santoyo Raven Tershy Michael O'Friel Young Tom
		Groms Anthony Anaya Cody Chapman Tim Denham Drake Riddiough Josh Douglas Pauly Rizo Zachary "Ducky" Kovacs Niko Corsello Alize (Alahzay) Montes Gage Ralston