|
|
The results are in! Congratulations to the winners and all the athletes who made the Free Flow Tour Finals at the AST Dew Tour Playstation® Pro in Orlando, FL what it was! What was it, you ask? Well, for starters, the Finals saw the most diverse group of athletes to ever compete in the Free Flow Tour. In addition to the Skate and BMX park division, Skate and BMX Vert contests were also included in the Free Flow Finals. With four competitions set to get underway it was a safe to say that this year’s Finals were going to be off…the…hook! And they were, in historic fashion no less.
Here’s how it went down:
Ben Hatchell, 17 of Manassas, VA and winner of the Philadelphia, PA contest hosted by Woodward, captured the crown of Vert Champion at the Vert Finals in Orlando. In a field of ten competitors, Hatchell linked back-to-back 540’s and added a kickflip over the gnarly gap placed in the middle of the Playstation® Pro Vert Ramp. In an epic battle of high scores, Hatchell beat out the 14 year-old United Kingdom phenom Paul-Luc Ronchetti. By winning the Free Flow Tour Final, Hatchell was automatically added to the Dew Tour skate vert Prelims where he finished a respectable 14th place among the likes of Shaun White, Bucky Lasek, and Bob Burnquist.
John Chin, 21 of Denver CO and winner of the Denver contest hosted by Woodward, won the Free Flow BMX Vert Finals. Boosting huge airs and one-footers, Chin’s consistency and style showed why he was the clear winner. Chin earned a spot in the Dew Tour Vert Prelim to compete against pros including Jamie Bestwick and Chad Kagy.
Ricky Moseley, 17 of Memphis, TN and winner of the Joplin, MO contest hosted by Autumn Ramp Park finished first in the Free Flow BMX Park Finals. Claiming second was Dustin Griess, 21 of Eden Prairie, MN followed by Chris Childs, 16 of Attleboro, MA, Connor Lodes, 17 of Moraga, CA, and Ryan Flesch, 18 of Deltona, FL.
Rickey beat out the nation’s best amateur riders in a final that was ripping! Slashing all over the course, Rickey boosted huge flairs wherever a hip was, adding spins and a giant windshield wiper over the box. Rickey competed in the BMX Prelims and finished respectably amongst the top riders in the world, pros that included the likes of Mike Spinner, Dave Mirra, and Daniel Dheres! Nice job Rickey!!!
Chaz Ortiz, 13 of Chicago IL. and winner of the Chicago regional contest hosted by Krush Skate Park beat out sixteen skaters to win the Free Flow Skate Park Finals. Multiple flawless runs elevated him to the top of the pack, a group that included the likes of top AM skaters such as second place Cody Davis, 13 of Ramsey, MN, Taylor Smith, 13 of Encinitas, CA, and Ben Hatchell (FFT 2007 Skate Vert Champion).
In the Dew Tour Skate Vert Prelims, Chaz put together a perfect run that included and nollie big spin on the step-up and a frontside boardslide to kickflip out (no competitor, not even the pros were attempting this!) landing him in 6th place overall, beating out top pros like Greg Lutzka and Austen Seaholm. The top twelve finishers in the prelims advance, meaning that Chaz was on his way to compete in his first ever Pro Competition: the AST Dew Skate Park Finals!
If there was a stage big enough to rattle anyone’s nerves, including a 13 year-old AM skater from Chicago, the AST Dew Tour Skate Park Finals would be at the top of the charts. Chaz however, was unfazed. He nailed his first two, one minute runs landing yet again his signature trick: frontside boardslide to kickflip out. The crowd was electric as Chaz was making history. Finishing 6th after his first two runs meant that Chaz had qualified to compete in two five-minute jam sessions. Included in this group: Greg, Lutzka, Ryan Sheckler, Rodil Araujo Jr., Carlos De Andrade, and Fabrizio Santos. Chaz killed it in the jam session, finishing an overall sixth place amongst a talent pool of 27 pro skaters! Congratulations Chaz, you the man!!!
|
|
|
|
|
: 