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 Paul Rodriguez |
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 Greg Lutzka |
Rodriguez Takes his First LG Championships
Street Skating gold goes to a new skater
Paul Rodriguez just happened to be in Seattle the same weekend as the LG Action Sports World Championships were taking place at the Key Arena, so he decided to show up and compete. And with a few seriously gnarly tricks down the 12-stair handrail that was the focus of the Skate Street Final, such as a switch 5-0, he walked away from his first LG Championships $30,000 richer.
The format of the competition was a first for the event, with jam sessions on two different obstacle set-ups to qualify the top eight and then one ten minute session on a 12-stair handrail to crown a champion. The competition was fierce on the challenging course, and it was a true testament to the supreme skills of the skaters who came from across the globe.
2007 Champion Rodolfo Ramos came out swinging, busting a 360 flip and a perfect back lip, which was enough to land him on the podium again, this time in 3rd. In second place was Greg Lutzka who right off the bat was trying a huge frontside flip over the rail. After he landed it, he attacked the rail and ledges, stomping tricks such as a 270 back lip.
At the end of ten minutes so many big tricks had gone down that there wasn't a clear winner. But the judges tabulated and a very excited Rodriguez accepted the gold medal and his big check.
"I am just high on life right now," he said. "I am going to go home, have a baby, be a daddy and skate."
Fabrizio Santos
