P-Rod Scores Close Win at Right Guard Open Skate Park Finals; Ryan Sheckler Injured
July 19, 2008 – 11:42 am PT by GregTags: AST, Chaz Ortiz, P-Rod, Right Guard Open, Rodolfo Ramos, Ryan Sheckler —
If there is any doubt that Paul Rodriguez is taking his skating seriously this season, it was gone Saturday after he clinched the Skate Park finals at the AST Dew Tour’s Right Guard Open. The win follows his Maloof Money Cup victory of last week.
While P-Rod’s win was huge, two other stories dominated the day. One was the continued emergence of Chaz Ortiz as a dominant skater this season and the other was how, for the first time in AST Dew Tour history, a skate park final jam session went down without Ryan Sheckler. Shecker, who prequalified for the finals, needed a strong score to make the jam session and instead fell hard mid-run, injuring his arm and stopping the competition.
Viewers of the live webcast got to witness the fall, though the feed was cut almost immediately after the fall, returning about two minutes later with replay footage of the injury.
It was the first time this season the AST provided a live webcast of the finals, allowing fans across the globe to tune in. All in all, the quality of the webcast matched the TV broadcast with the added bonus of every skater getting screentime. The only negative? The standard definition webcast took an HD picture and squashed it even though there was space in the player to show an HD picture. Oh well.
The legendary Chris Miller was on hand to provide commentary along with Paul Zitzer, giving Kenan Harkin the ability to hang back and only jump in with obvious questions.
Between Sheckler’s fall and the start of the jam session, the webcast spent a good amount of time watching the skater as he was looked at by medical staff and spent time with his father, Randy, who appeared to be consoling him.
The injury proved to be a slight distraction as the top six skateboarders, led by Ortiz, took to the course for a seven-minute jam session to close out the contest.
Ortiz began his day with a flawless first run that included a late backfoot flip, while Sheckler was a full 10 points behind in fifth. By the time Ortiz was ready to do his second run, he was still in first and Sheckler was out of the top six with a big score needed to make the jam session.
Before Ortiz started his second run Sheckler told him, “I’m so proud of you. So sick.” Then he added, “Can you do my run for me?”
Ortiz went on to have a solid run, including a sick kickflip frontside feeble, but a couple of stumbles left his first run his top score going into the finals.
The jam session was packed with solide tricks from everyone, though P-Rod and Ortiz were obvious frontrunners and Ortiz delivered some huge tricks including a frontside bluntside big spin out.
When it was all said and done, P-Rod pulled out his first-ever AST Dew Tour win, followed by Ortiz, Rodolfo Ramos and Greg Lutzka.
With his already-impressive history, P-Rod’s place at top should be no surprise, but Ortiz’s time may be around the corner.
“He’s probably going to be one of the best skateboarders to come,” Sheckler said of the 14-year-old phenom.
Skate Park Finals - 2008 Right Guard Open
July 19, 2008, Cleveland OH
1. Paul Rodriguez Jr. - 90.75
2. Chaz Ortiz - 90.70
3. Rodolfo Ramos - 88.50
4. Greg Lutzka - 85.85
5. Rodil Araujo Jr. - 83.60
6. Carlos De Andrade - 77.45
2 Responses to “P-Rod Scores Close Win at Right Guard Open Skate Park Finals; Ryan Sheckler Injured”
I love ryan sheckler so much!!!!!!!
ryan, i hope your arm gets better real soon and i love you!!!!!!
u rock:)
lexy n.
By lexy n. on Aug 3, 2008
awwwwwww i feel soooooooo bad 4 him he is nice he didnt deserve 2 get hurt i had passes 2 meet him and he was sooo sweet 2 everyone he deserved 2 win but chaz ortize is really good 2 keep up the good work~!!!! and get better babe!!!!! [ryan] =p
By haley on Nov 3, 2008