The Vans Downtown Showdown, held Labor Day weekend on the Universal Studios Back Lot, was truly a one-of-a-kind event. Against a city backdrop more reminiscent of Brooklyn than Hollywood, streets and alleys covered with custom-built skating obstacles brought out the world’s top street skateboarders. Andrew Reynolds, Jamie Thomas, Eric Koston, and many other top pros who rarely, if ever, skate contests showed up for the Showdown to represent their skateboard teams. Zero, Element, Birdhouse, Foundation, Toy Machine, Girl, Almost and Baker battled for more than $85,000 Labor Day at the first ever Downtown Showdown.