Big Deluxe Money

Big Deluxe Money

Big Deluxe Money

Evan Smith won a tough battle against some of the best amateur skateboarders at the Maloof Money Cup Vitamin Water Amateur Open on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, NY. Smith earned a $1,500 payday, a year's supply of Vitamin Water, and a trip to the open qualifiers for the Maloof Money Cup World Championship in South Africa. Smith also earned bragging rights which he probably is not likely to cash in on, since he is one of the most talented yet humble riders out there.

MMC Vitamin Water Am Open 2011

Sunday had the local qualifiers, where sponsored and unsponsored amateur skaters vied for a spot to skate against the national amateurs in the Vitamin Water Am Open later in the morning. Two lucky and talented skaters won spots: Pat Romney and Matt Cartledge. Romney killed it with a half-cab nose grind down the rail, one of the most difficult tricks executed in the contest. Matt Cartledge nailed a back 360 down the big steps. Romney and Cartledge held their own against the nationally-ranked Ams and looked stellar and relaxed despite the pressure.

The amateur contest had skaters in five heats bringing their bag of tricks in five-minute jams in three separate sections of the course, which showed the full range of the skaters’ abilities with every feature of the course inescapable. The only bad thing that could be said is that during the heats, other skaters not in the heats should not be skating on other parts of the course; it makes it difficult for the crowd to see the competition.