Maloof Money Cup NYC 2011 First 24 Pros Invited Article at Skatepark of Tampa

Maloof Money Cup NYC 2011 First 24 Pros Invited

Posted on Sunday, April 24, 2011 by News

(Irvine, Calif. – April 22, 2011) The Maloof Money Cup presented by Vans – today announced the first 24 skaters invited to compete in its New York and Washington D.C. contests. With a total prize purse for this year’s four Maloof Money Cup contests well over $2 million, it’s the richest prize purse in skateboarding.

The first 24 invited skaters are:
Alex Olson from Los Angeles CA. Girl, Quiksilver, Indy, Spitfire, Supreme, Vans
Andrew Reynolds from Lakeland FL. Baker, Emerica, Independent, Active, Boost Mobile, Altamont, SKF Bearings, Roughneck, Nixon
Anthony Van Engelen from Orange County CA. Vans Apparel, Vans, Alien Workshop, Independent Trucks, Spitfire
Arto Saari from Seinajoki Finland. Flip Skateboards, Ricta, Analog, CCS, MOB Grip, Gravis, Destructo
Austyn Gillette from Brea CA. Habitat, Habitat Shoes, Quiksilver, Liberty Board Shop, Royal, Small Wheels
Bastien Salabanzi from Colombes France. Jart, Rusty
Brandon Westgate from Wareham MA. Zoo York, Emerica, Venture, Hubba, CCS
Brian Anderson from SF CA. Girl, Four Star, Nike, Spitfire, Independent, CCS, Skate Mental
Bryan Herman from Victorville CA. Emerica, Baker, Pharmacy, Spitfire, Thunder, Ogio, Altamont
Chris Haslam from Vancouver BC. Almost, Independent Trucks and Clothing, Momentum Wheels, Vestal, Dakine, Globe, Swiss
Chris Pfanner from Austria. Vans, Spitfire, Thunder, Anti-Hero, Volcom, Nixon, Eastpack
David Gravette from Issaquaa WA. Creature, Volcom, Independent, Bones, Bones Wheels, Spirit Skate Shop, C1RCA, Skatepark of Tampa Party Team
Dennis Busenitz from San Francisco CA. Real, Volcom, Spitfire, Thunder, adidas, Utility Board Supply
Garrett Hill from Vista CA. Zero, Fallen, Theeve, Active, Altamont, Ashbury
Geoff Rowley from Long Beach CA. Flip Skateboards, Vans, Ricta, Independent, Volcom, MOB, WerdLife
Grant Taylor from Atlanta GA. Alien Workshop, Nike SB, Volcom, Independent, Stratosphere, Spitfire, Modus
Greg Lutzka from Milwaukee WI. Darkstar, K-Swiss, Rockstar, Indy, FKD, Skull Candy, Ricta, Oakley, Active, Neff, Incipio, Jose Cuervo
Justin Brock from MTA NC. Real, Thunder, Spitfire, Nike SB, Roughneck Hardware, Huf, Quiksilver, Stratosphere
Leo Romero from Fontana CA. Emerica, Toy Machine, Pharmacy, RVCA, Independent, Spitfire
Lizard King from Salt Lake City UT. Deathwish, Indy, Krew, Spitfire, Celtek Gloves, Skull Candy, Skatepark of Tampa Party Team
Sierra Fellers from Whitefish MT. Circa, Venture, Foundation, CCS, Dakine, Bones Wheels
Tom Asta from Langhorne PA. Mystery, Fallen, Reign Skateshop, LRG, Spitfire, Thunder, PIIQ
Tony Trujillo from San Francisco CA. Anti-Hero, Spitfire, Independent, Vans, Fourstar
Vincent Alvarez from West Covina CA. Lakai, Chocolate, Spitfire, Royal, Elwood, Utility Board Supply


“We are so excited about the great talent in this year’s list for New York. We always get the best skateboarders to compete in our contest, but this year could be the strongest list yet,” said Joe Maloof, founder of Maloof Money Cup and whose family owns the NBA’s Sacramento Kings and the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. “We’ve got some of the greatest skaters today with Geoff Rowley and Andrew Reynolds plus a rich pool of young talent. Any one of them could walk away with the biggest first place prize purse in skateboarding history.”

The Maloof Money Cup contest jam format was created by skateboarders and is widely praised for encouraging the hardest tricks in a fast-paced, energized environment. The Maloof Money Cup is held on custom built, cement street courses designed by the pros for each city, which incorporate features that replicate real street skating.

Ryan Clements from SPoTlight Productions, the company that runs and judges the Maloof Money Cup street contests said, “With the creation of such amazing courses, there’s no other way to push the limits of skateboarding more aggressively. It’s a skate full-speed-ahead deal, with no distractions, that allows for true progression and is packed with insane stuff.”

“I think one of the reasons we’ve seen hands-down the best skateboarding in the world at our contests, is due to our high energy format,” said Maloof. “The jam format really creates an exciting atmosphere that gives skaters the freedom to push boundaries and try for the most difficult tricks. By encouraging the hardest tricks and not penalizing skaters for missing them, you reward creativity. The unpredictability and excitement that results from this approach keeps the fans literally on the edge of their seats from start to finish.”

Maloof All Pros – Headed to South Africa

The top 16 finishers in D.C. and New York will become Maloof All Pros and will be invited to represent the U.S. in the first- ever world skateboarding championships in Kimberley, South Africa Sept. 30 – Oct. 2. Following South Africa, the All Pros will return for the final U.S. Maloof Money Cup contest in Orange County, Calif., offering the largest prize purse in skateboarding.

Selection Committee

The 2011 skater selection committee included some of the industry’s most widely respected experts such as Mike Burnett (Thrasher), Skin Phillips (Transworld), Andrew Reynolds (Baker Boys), Jamie Hart (Vans), Steve Rodriguez (5Boro), Mike Sinclair (Tumyeto), Fred Van Schie (Sole Technology), Bill Weiss (Dwindle), Sam Smyth (Girl) and SPoTlight Productions.

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