With the economy still neck-deep in a global recession, there has been an outburst of empty swimming pools due to foreclosed homes and people not being able to afford the upkeep of maintaining a pool.  So naturally, skateboarding has been returning to its original roots, invading empty pools and reminding people that it’s still the core venue in skateboarding.  It was no surprise then that the Vans Pro-tec Pool Party was a huge hit, with the ageless wonder Bucky Lasek winning the main event.

Pics of Vans Pro-tec Pool Party after the jump.

With a packed house on-hand at the Vans Skatepark in Orange, CA, Lasek claimed his first Vans Pro-tec Pool Party title and collected a cool $25,000.  Former winners Omar Hassan and Rune Glifberg took second and third in the Pro Division, collecting $15,000 and $7,500 respectively.

In the Masters Division, Chris Miller won his fifth-straight Pro-tec Pool Party title, edging out Christian Hosoi, who finished second.  Miller took home $10,000, with Hosoi collecting $6,000 for second place and Dane Nicky Guerrero taking home $3,000 for third.

Other notable winners at the event included Steve Caballero winning $1,000 for the Longest Boardslide Purse, and Julie Kindstrand won $4,000 for winning the Girls contest.  Pictures courtesy of Vans.