X Games Event Spotlights: Skateboard Street & Skateboard Park

Skateboard Street and Skateboard Park are probably the two skateboarding events that most average skaters can relate to. The events offer similar terrain and obstacles to what most skaters would hit up on a normal day, unlike the gigantic vert ramp and big air ramp that only the pros usually touch. The Street course is designed to replicate an average street scene, while the Park course is designed like a skatepark, with smooth transitions and plenty of spines, ramps, and rails for skaters to navigate.

Click more to learn about the Skateboard Street and Skateboard Park competitions, and find out which riders you need to know and when you can watch them.

*

SKATEBOARD STREET

Paul Rodriguez at X Games 15

Event Description:

The Street competition showcases skaters performing tricks in a concrete plaza, complete with stair sets, banks, manual pads and ledges.

Past Winners:

Men: Paul Rodriguez (’09), Ryan Sheckler (’08)

Women: Marisa Dal Santo (’09)

Athletes You Need To Know:*

Nyjah Huston: Nyjah is 14 years old and first competed at XG in 2006 when he was 11; he’s the youngest athlete to ever compete at XG. Ny has gained maturity and strength over the past year since finishing 8th at XG 2008. It’s always easy to spot the dreadlocked kid on the scene, and he finished 3rd at the Maloof Money Cup in mid July 2009. He feels he now has been accepted in the core skateboarding scene. He eats, sleeps and breathes skateboarding, and it shows. This home-schooled 9th grader is a media star and started his own skateboard company — I & I — in summer 2009.

*

Ryan Sheckler: Two-time XG gold medalist (2003 Park and 2008 Street) and youngest gold medalist in XG history, Sheckler is having his first healthy season in 3 years. After falling hard on his back at XG 2009, then rolling his ankle, he wasn’t able to finish the session and finished 6th. Twenty-year-old Ryan has come back strong in 2010, finishing 2nd at the Boston Dew Tour in June, though he hasn’t won a major event since July ’09. A TV star (Life of Ryan), Ryan’s latest movie appearance was in Tooth Fairy. His charitable foundation raises money through an annual golf tournament and donates to Children’s Cancer Research.

Other Athletes:

Men: Brian Anderson, Mark Appleyard, Justin Brock, Nick Dompierre, Corey Duffel, Adam Dyet, Stefan Janoski, Johnny Layton, Sean Malto, Shane O’Neill, Alex Olson, Chaz Ortiz, Peter Ramondetta, Rodolfo Ramos, Leo Romero, Omar Salazar, Bastien Salabanzi, Nick Trapasso, Jamie Tancowny

Women: Abisha Alshebaiki, Lacey Baker, Evie Bouilliart, Leticia Bufoni, Amy Caron, Marisa Dal Santo, Lorena Lima, Alexis Sablone, Elissa Steamer, Vanessa Torres

*

*

*

SKATEBOARD PARK

Sneak Peek at the XG16 Park Course

Event Description:

Park is a transition-based event on a fast-flowing course completely made of concrete and wood. It’s created to replicate a skatepark with continuously flowing lines and huge transitions.

Past Winners:

Men: Rune Glifberg (’09)

Legends: Christian Hosoi (’09)

Athletes You Need To Know:

Rune Glifberg: Rune is the quintessential bowl skater who rides a pool so well other skaters show up just to watch. It’s that style that put the Danish skater on top of the XG Park podium two years running, and his drive should earn him the three-peat in 2010. He is one of just 3 skaters to compete at every XG, and he has 10 medals total. Outside of his family (he has two young daughters), the Great Dane’s passion is cars; he rebuilt a BMW M3 and will be racing it in the fall.

*

Andy Macdonald: One of the hardest working skaters on the circuit, Andy Mac is 35 years old and still near the top of the competitive skating world. In fact, he earned a surprise — but well deserved — silver in XG ’08 SuperPark and another silver last year in Park. Once considered a conservative skater, he now has the confidence to mix up his run, which is helping him stay valid. Andy has competed at every XG and has the most SKB medals (17) in XG history. A great representative for the sport, Andy does anti-drug speaking tours at schools.

Other Athletes:

Men: Pedro Barros, Chad Bartie, Bob Burnquist, Curren Caples, Jake Duncombe, David Gravette, Omar Hassan, Ben Hatchell, Bucky Lasek, Johnny Layton, Andrew Langi, Alex Olson, Alex Perelson, Collin Provost, John Rattray, Keegan Sauder, Ryan Sheckler, Tony Trujillo

Legends: Steve Alba, Steve Cabellero, Jeff Grosso, Christian Hosoi, Mike McGill, Chris Miller, Lance Mountain, Ben Schroeder, Steve Steadham

Adaptive: Danielle Burt, Paul Bonner, Steven Lutz, Jon Comer, Aaron Fotheringham, Oscar Loreto, Rob Nelson, Mike Rogers, Evan Strong, Kurt Yaeger

*

• The Street Eliminations will take place on Thursday at LA Live from 12:00-2:00pm
• The Street Finals will take place Saturday from 1:30-3:00pm
• The Park Eliminations will take place at LA Live on Friday from 10:45am-12:30pm
• The Park Finals will take place Sunday from 5:30-7:00pm
• Get your tickets to X Games here