Lost in Grand Cayman: IN PHOTOS

The Welcome to VANS Dennis Enarson celebration trip

5 Mar 2019

The Black Pearl. While there may be only one park on Grand Cayman Island, if you dissect this beauty, there is really 6 different parks in one facility.

Dennis switch whip to wrap up a long line. We really only filmed for three days. With Day 1 was a feeler day and by Day 5 the guys were tapped out

I get excited about Dennis cranking turndowns. He can literally do everything and he just proves it but ripping proper turndowns. He was hitting bar to turndowns on this hip, but this “warm up” turndown did it for me.

Enarson - Downside pedalpick on a sub that begged for attention. I didn’t know what Dennis was doing over the makeshift box before going into this as I was laying down in the bowl. Once I saw the final trip video I was amped to see he did a flip barspin.

I researched things to do on Grand Cayman Island and one that kept popping up was Stingray City. Getting there was either by private charter for $600+ or hopping on a group tour for about $50 a head. One of the dads hanging at The Black Pearl mentioned he had connections with a boat and we were soon on our way, all for the price of a slab of beer and a handshake. Stingray City is about 20 minutes out to sea and there’s a sandbar where Stingrays have gathered forever. With all the tours stopping by, they get fed well. Gary managed to pick one up and Dennis acted brave about scooping one up until it was time to commit. The rays are friendly, but they are slimy and a little creepy looking! They rub up on your leg like a dog might, it’s a thrill. Our captain looked after us so well that day out, that when we stopped for lunch and I insisted on fixing up the bill for his crew as well.

This one wasn’t easy, Dennis had to push through a 7ft quarter and get into position to throw a barspin and land high up on the wall. Probably the move he battled with the most, but once he got a couple out, the final one and the one that’s in the one in the video, he really blasted it and got good backside on the wall.

Skull! The locals talked about Skull every day. It was a legendary wall. I guess people have tried to drop it on a board and ended up in bad shape. Dennis was hitting whips of it and going straight into footjam fakies with a ton of speed to keep the local kids stoked.

Our one street photo. We searched and searched and only stacked one street clip. It looked out of place in the park video so it didn’t even make the cut. Dennis Enarson, Georgetown, Grand Cayman.

Gary was ripping these ice fakies on Skull! I was asked what my favorite photo was that I shot on the trip, and I’d say this one. Getting the ramp in, getting some sky above the front wheel, the composure plus Gary in fine form was enough to get pic of the trip for me.

360 can from Peraza after some coconut shrimp and before a shrimp taco.

This is confusing to most of us, myself included, but Gary manages to 270 the hip and while he is in the air, he switches his crank stance to hit a lookback instead of what would naturally be a turndown. There’s a lot going on, but he does it so well!

Believe it not, finding a nice quarter to air was kind of tough at The Black Pearl. There was an excess of pool tile capping that stuck out just a bit too much. Gary located one that felt nice and made the most of it.

Gary dangling the back end with a downside pedal putting all trust in the foundation on this one.

Check out my new shoes! Kevin rightfully deserved to get a pro model and we are all so happy for him. Can jam on the front side.

Gary loves snorkeling and spent the most time in the water out of all of us. This spot was right near our accommodation

The Peraza Plant! Not officially his move, but he does it well. I’ll tell you what though, Kevin loves shrimp

Kevin favored this box jump setup, it wasn’t the biggest thing in the world, but it had a great lip and a big landing and Kevin knew just how to pop it. 3 table.

Support group flyer spotted in Grand Cayman, likely put there by me. Dennis Enarson – Kevin Peraza.

An overhead of our private beach location on the West Bay. We had access to the best swim spot just a short walk up the beach where there was an abandoned resort with a rock wall that went about 60 feet out into the water to provide shelter and calmer waters for the boat dock. To us taking a dip in those tropical waters was the best start to the day.

Words and photos courtesy of Colin Mackay | VANS

When it all was set in stone with Dennis joining the VANS family, we talked about a video to welcome him. Dennis was coming off his 2-year project with CAPSLOCK and with all he has accomplished in the past 10 years, I didn’t think we needed Dennis to prove himself filming for another year or so before we could get something cool out. We talked about going somewhere for a week and having some fun. No stress, just a celebration trip. Dennis was on VANS now and we wanted him to feel at home. Dennis could have selected anywhere in the world to visit and he had good thoughts about The Black Pearl park in the Grand Cayman that he had briefly visited 9 years ago. Instead of taking Dennis by himself, we looped in a couple of tranny slayers and good friends to complete the package. Gary Young was always in the trip planning. A fellow San Diego resident and long-time friend of Dennis’, Gary just had to be involved. Then there was the inclusion of Kevin Peraza. Dennis admires Kevin’s riding and we made sure he was board. Kevin’s got that classic BMX feel to him, and can do a bunch of cool plaza stuff too. Very mid school/new school and he is a pleasure to be on a trip with. We booked a house right on the beach, ate well and spent the mornings bathing in the ocean. It was a high of 80 and low of 78 the whole week with barely any rain falling at all. Paradise? Yeah, I’d say so. - Colin Mackay / VANS

Watch the he Welcome to VANS Dennis Enarson Celebration Trip video HERE.