Paul Rodriguez was pretty ecstatic to win $100,000 on Sunday July 13, 2008. To date, the largest check given out in a contest for skateboarding. Not only did he win a lot of money but he beat the world’s best skateboarders to do it. This contest was no joke. The prelims on Friday were insane and according to Ryan Sheckler the semi finals on Saturday were “like the finals of any other contest. The course was certainly worthy of all world class skaters too. Full cement replicas of some of the most famous spots in the world. So you had the best spots in the world with the best skaters in the world sessioning them for 10 minutes each, needless to say it was intense. Skateboard contests were brought to a whole other level thanks to the Maloof Brothers who own the Sacramento Kings and the Palms Casino Hotel in Vegas. To the best of what people told me they had nothing to really gain by throwing this thing, they just wanted to be a part of action sports. Whatever the reason it was one of, if not the best contest ever. The skaters loved the fans were saying it was the best contest ever after the thing was over so there you go.
There were 5 “zones” set up for the finals. Each zone consisted of a famous feature and some little sub features. So there was like the Hollywood High stair set (zone 5), the Carlsbad Gap (Zone 4), The Barcelona Bridge Gap thing (zone 3) and two other zones. The park was built by California Skateparks in a few days and basically designed by the likes of Rob Dyrdek, Erik Ellington, Brandon Biebel and others. The finals consisted of a 10 minute jam on each of the zones from on to five. The Hollywood stair set was the gnarliest and last. Can not imagine skating at the level of those guy for the amount of time they did
To explain how Paul Rodriguez was determined the winner we basically transcribe a conversation I had with one of the judges. I said who do you think won? He asked me who I thought one. I said that Chris Cole was the most consistent overall and deserved to win. He agreed with but then said this contest was not judged in the traditional manner. He explained that for 4 of the 5 zones they dropped the low score and averaged the 3 other scores, that counted for 50% of the score. The Hollywood stair set counted for 50% of the score. The he asked me who I thought won, I said Nyjah, then P-rod. He said I was close. Nyjah did the sickest big spin flip to front board on the Hollywood set as the last trick of the day so that was fresh in my mind. However P-Rod tore apart some of the other obstacles and only sucked on one (that score was thrown out) So, that is how he won. I’d say the results were pretty accurate. Skateboarding after all is subject to opinion. I do know that is was insane, hopefully they bring it back.
The crowd was huge, free alcohol was given out to the VIP’s and athletes. The way it should be, although there were at least two fights; Josh Beagle sucker punched Corey Duffel and I heard that Bob Burnquist was involved in a fight but that is un-confirmed. Lot’s of stars and such. They also held am contests on the course as well so it got well used. Thanks Maloof’s and all the sponsors!
Quotes
“It shows that skateboarding can have it’s own contest, with out all the other sports” – Ryan Sheckler
“I want a tape of that because Chris Cole actually missed” – Paul Rodriguez Sr.
“The best in the world doing video game tricks” – Rob Dyrdek
“We were the lowest in high school” – Dave Duncan talking about being shunned when he was in high school to how skaters are like TV stars and have events like this
“I hope Paul wins because our family needs the money” – Paul Rodriguez Sr.
The Goodyear Blimp and the actual view on the big screen from the blimp. The blimp was delayed going home to Carson because the contest ran a little late. Hey, even the Goodyear Blimp waited for skateboarding
Being in Orange County, CA there was certainly a lot of other talent there
There were at least three Christians in the finals, here is Jereme Rogers. Hey, where were the Brazilians?
Rene Rene doing some correspondence work for Fuel TV “This shirt is so dirty I wore it for a week, even slept in it and did not shower either” – Rene Rene
A packed crowd. When the Hollywood 16 started a bunch of people were blocking the fans view and the fans almost started a riot
Fucking HEAVY crew, l-r, Greg Lutzka, Andrew Reynolds, Darrell Stanton, Dennis Busenitz, Chris Cole, Paul Rodriguez, Nyjah Huston, Terry Kennedy, Ryan Sheckler and Jereme Rogers. All these guys had to skate through some sort of preliminary to get here, no free pass through to the finals
The gloves came off really quickly - Chris Cole – kickflip to 5-0 in zone one
Dennis Busenitz killed it in the prelims but in that case they were skating in multiple zones so Dennis was doing crazy shit like ollieing the gaps from one zone to another. The finals, being held in one zone at a time, were kind of limiting to the type of skating Dennis does. He got last but could have doe better with more room to move
Jereme Rogers, kick flip to back lip
The Boss front flips to tail, Zone one was kinda like the everyday shit you might skate
Ryan Sheckler was not his usual self on the first few obstacle but came together towards the end, what the hell, $15,000 will by a lot of $6 orange county drinks at the Orange County after parties
LA freight train with Terry Kennedy followed up by P-Rod
Greg Lutzka, I got switch 270 to lip slip in the notes
Andrew Reynolds front flip towards us, Darrell Stanton manuals the other way and the rest of the crew is some sort of stage of skating the fuck out of zone two, the manual/tech section
Darrell Stanton 360 flips to 5-0
Ryan Sheckler half cabs on to crooks to back 180 out – that’s pretty tech
On to zone 3 and P-rod switch flips to back lip and you think he pays off the judges?
Andrew Reynolds front flips to lip slide this bridge Barcelona thing, I have never been to Barcelona
At a “normal” contest Chris Cole probably would have won because he the most consistent overall but the judging was a little different – read the story
Greg Lutzka – 270 on to front board
Greg Lutzka front flip as a warm up to his sick ass front flip to blunt
Nyjah Huston Big Spin flip to front lip
On to Zone 4, the Carlsbad Gap. Chris Cole puts the hammer down with a switch tre as Sheckler get’s outta the way
Paul Rodriguez switch front flips the c-bad gap replica, where is Kris Markovich?
An ass shot of Darrell Stanton and his backside tre
On to Zone 5, the Hollywood 16. This zone alone counted as 50% of the overall score. Do you think LA heads had an advantage?
Nyjah Huston – backside nose blunt
P-Rod freakin switch crooks
Chris Cole – back tail to fakie
Jereme Rogers follows the switch trend with a switch feeble
Shecks is gonna probably get more chicks this year than you get in your life
Terry Kennedy – I wanna say switch nollie to board
Nyjah Huston kickflips to back smith
Jereme Rogers – switch blunt to fakie
Savor the moment, the contestants are up in the upper left of the corner while the fans are stoked to have witnessed what they just saw
Chris Pastras with Nicki. These people have the life, they were all “oh where in Hollywood do you live” “Oh I live at (I won’t say where)” “Oh, lets exchange numbers and go out” - bastard, ha, ha. They were all super nice so no excuses for me other than jealousy
Paul Rodriguez, Sr. is a famous comedian and ended up being the Co MC of the finals, it was pretty funny and he was super cool so I asked a few questions
SR- “Hey that is sick that you showed up to the contest tonight”
PR – “I had to show up to support my kid, he is a good kid”
SR – “Are you proud of him”
PR – “Oh yea, in the beginning of his skate career I would not go to his contests and the mother would always say that I never support my son. At the time I did want not to distract from his skating by showing up. Now he his more famous than me and I need to come hang on his coattails (laughter)”
more OC talent
Greg Lutzka won the best trick in two zones and got his awards handed to him by Lil, John. Someone in the crowd was yelling the stupid “heeeyyyy, yeaaaa” shit Lil John is famous for Lil John was like “whatever” and walked away. I suspect after years of hearing that it would get annoying
P-Rod – stoked
Right here P-rod is literally thanking Jesus while Sheckler is plotting what chicks to take to the after party. L-r, Sheckler, Terry Kennedy, Jereme Rogers, Darrell Stanton, Chris Cole, P-Rod, Nyjah, one of the Maloof Bros and Rob Dyrdek. Hopefully see you at the next Maloof Event
STREET
1 Paul Rodriguez $100,000 and Nixon watch worth $10,000
2 Nyjah Huston $40,000
3 Chris Cole $25,000
4 Ryan Sheckler $15,000
5 Darrell Stanton $6,250
6 Jereme Rogers $5,000
7 Terry Kennedy $4,000
8 Andrew Reynolds $3,000
9 Greg Lutzka $2,500
10 Dennis Busenitz $2,000
11 Adam Dyet $1,500
12 Tommy Sandoval $1,250
13 Billy Marks $1,000
14 Kurtis Colamonico $1,000
15 Sean Malto $1,000
16 Bryan Herman $750
17 Eric Koston $750
18 Mike Carroll $750
19 Jake Duncombe $500
20 Sierra Fellers $500
ZUMIEZ BEST TRICK
Zone 1 Greg Lutzka Frontside-Flip Back Lipslide $2,000
Zone 2 Jake Duncombe Bluntslide to Back Nose-blunt $2,000
Zone 3 Greg Lutzka Frontside 270 Kickflip Nose-blunt $2,000
Zone 4 Leo Romero Frontside Nose-blunt Upledge $2,000
Zone 5 Nyjah Houston Big Spin Flip to Frontside Boardslide $5,000
WOMEN’S STREET
1 Lacey Baker $25,000 and a Nixon watch worth $10,000
2 Rachel Reinhard $8,000
3 Vanessa Torres $4,000
4 Elissa Steamer $2,000
5 Leticia Bufoni $1,500
6 Amy Caron $250
7 Lorena Lima $250
8 Lauren Perkins $250
9 Evelien Bouilliart $250
10 Marissa Del Santo $250
Game Of Skate
Chris Cole $15,000
Josh Beagle sucker punching Corey Duffell, stolen from web, not my pic but worth a look
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