Young skate phenomenon Ryan Sheckler posing for the cameras. i.a.cnn.net
Returning Champions: Ryan Sheckler
Jun 25 2006 / Louisville, KYUpdate: June 24, 2006
SHECKLER STRIKES AGAIN!
It's official: Ryan Sheckler dominated in the Skate Park contest here at Panasonic Open, a nice way to start his path to a second overall Dew Tour Champion title.
He placed first in the Prelims, was first after Round 1 in the Finals, and held his lead through Round 2 and two rounds of the new jam session format to come out on top. The much-hyped Sheckler vs. Nyjah Huston storyline had a storybook ending, with Huston hanging in for second place and the two young skaters skating together as much as against each other by the end of the second jam session.
We're looking forward to more from Huston and we liked what we saw from Jereme Rogers and Mike Peterson, but frankly, it looks like Sheckler is going to be hard to beat.
Rain delays last night pushed the Skate Park Finals up to this evening at 6:30, giving Sheckler more time to practice on the course and leaving more time for the Nyjah hype machine to get underway. To hear the kids around here, it's shaping up to be the Huston vs. Sheckler show. But don't sleep on Jereme Rogers, Rodolfo Ramos, Chad Bartie, or Ronnie Creager. And don't forget Lat34's longshot fave Benji Galloway.
– Colin Bane
Update: June 22, 2006
It’s more than 100 degrees in Louisville for the opening of the Panasonic Open, first stop on the 2006 Dew Tour, but you wouldn’t know it by watching Ryan Sheckler breeze through the Skateboard Park prelims.
During the free-for-all practice sessions, the returning champ seems older, stronger, wiser, and completely at ease, floating effortless 360s and launching fully-tweaked airs with confidence. He won here in Louisville last year – at the start of a contest season that was very good to him – and after today’s performance he’s already making good on his promise that he’s here to win: His first run score of 90.25 was enough to send him into the finals as the leader. First place is starting to have a familiar feeling for Sheckler, and if you’re going to pick a horse in this Kentucky derby, he’s the safe bet.
If there are still any Sheckler hecklers out there who can’t get over his age, then maybe the bigger story of the day is Nyjah Houston. The dreadlocked 11-year old won Wednesday’s Open Qualifier event and ran a close second to Sheckler in the Prelims, and his aggressive practice runs suggest he’s got more to show the world, particularly on the rail. Kickflip to back lip? Check. Hey, Sheckler: Look out below!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 20, 2006
By the time young skate park phenomenon Ryan Sheckler sipped from the Dew Cup last year, it was clear that any cracks about his age were past their prime… even if he was only born in 1989.
First place finishes in three out of five of last year’s Dew Action Sports Tour events – Panasonic Open, Right guard Open, and Toyota Challenge – pretty much sealed up the overall title, even with mere 2nd and 3rd place finishes at the Vans Invitational and Playstation Pro contests.
Sheckler’s story is a good reason to support the young groms at your local park: his folks have photos of him pushing around on a skateboard as a toddler, and he started entering and winning contests by age 8. Early press – including a legendary and hilarious interview in Big Brother – helped put his name out, and he went pro in 2003. Since then, he’s been busy collecting gold trinkets at tiny little contests like the X Games and Gravity Games to show off when MTV Cribs comes to visit.
Speaking of his crib, Sheckler just put some finishing touches on his own backyard skate paradise, where he’s been training for the summer contest season, hiding from haters, and honing old faves like his signature Shecklair kickflip indy, and new tricks like the backside smith shove-it he broke out to win the best trick contest at FastForward in Texas earlier this month.
But why even bother building in your backyard when the world is your playground? Sheckler’s been warming up for the fray of summer park contests with a Volcom tour of New York, a trip to celebrate Etnies’ 20th anniversary in Paris, a tour of China with Oakley, and an International X Games contest in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Assuming the young man’s learned a few things from his study-abroad skate education and tours of the world’s hottest spots, expect to see Sheckler schooling his elders again as the Dew Tour kicks off in Louisville, KY.
Chad Fernandez, Greg Lutzka, Paul Rodriguez, and Jereme Rogers each held their own in last year’s overall standing and will be looking to end Sheckler’s reign of terror… or at least prevent him from sweeping the whole damn thing. Sheckler has always said he skates best under pressure, and this year he’ll finally be old enough to drive off with the grand prize all by himself.
– Colin Bane
