Yes, there is an event called the US Skateboarding Championships. It was held in Washington, D.C. on August 29, 2015 and a guys named Scotty Laird won the whole thing and earned a trip to compete in the Skateboarding World Championships at the Kimberely Diamond Cup in South Africa held October 7-10, 2015. We’ve never heard of Scotty Laird or of anyone else on the list of top finishers from the event, but that’s probably a good thing. For more on just who Scotty Laird is and what the US Skateboarding Championships are, exactly, follow the jump.Scotty Laird Wins US Skateboarding Championships: Earns Trip to South Africa to Compete in Skateboarding World Championships
Regional Qualifying Contests Held at Nations Top Independent Skate Shops over the Summer; Winners Competed in Finals Aug. 29 in Washington D.C.
(Sacramento, Calif. August 31, 2015) – World Skateboarding Grand Prix (WSGP) the leading global skateboarding events management company announced today that Scotty Laird won the first-ever U.S. Skateboarding Championships held in Washington D.C. on Saturday, August 29. Laird qualified for the finals after winning the Kansas City, Missouri regional qualifiers hosted by Escapist Skateboarding. Yoshi Tanenbaum, who qualified at Pitcrew in Maryland, placed second and also won the Best Trick contest. Finalists earned spots by placing in the top three in regional competitions held in nine cities over the summer. The first place winners received paid trips to the finals. Lairds win earns him a trip to compete in the Skateboarding World Championships at the Kimberley Diamond Cup in South Africa Oct. 7-10.
The qualifying contests were held at nine of the leading independent skate retailers across the country, including: Pitcrew (Frederick, Maryland), Uprise (Chicago), Shrunkenhead Skateboards (Portland), Escapist Skateboarding (Kansas City, Missouri), KCDC (New York), Skate Works & One Way (San Jose and Santa Maria, California), 3rd Lair (Minneapolis), Hazard County (Atlanta) and Rhythm Skate Shop (Dallas).
“I’ve spent the past couple of years getting to know Scotty and have traveled with him on a number of skate trips,” said Nick Owen from Escapist Skateboarding. ”The dude is always on turbo in everything he does; the best hype man you could ever have in skateboarding or anything else really. Scotty’s energy and positive outlook on life make him always fun to skate with, hangout with, party with, travel with or whatever. I am proud to call him my friend and no one in Kansas City was surprised that he won. Scotty is a pro the world just doesn’t know it yet. Remember this: Scotty is LOUD!”
2015 U.S. Skateboarding Championship Results:
1) Scotty Laird representing Escapist in Kansas City, Missouri
2) Yoshi Tanenbaum representing Pitcrew in Frederick, Maryland
3) Eli Williams representing Hazard County in Atlanta, Georgia
4) Braden Stelma representing Skate Works/One Way in Santa Maria, California
5) Dillon Aguilar representing Escapist in Kansas City, Missouri
6) Corey Huber representing Pitcrew in Frederick, Maryland
7) Taylor Bray representing Rhythm Skate Shop in Dallas, Texas
8) Brennan Booth representing Shrunkenhead Skateboards in Portland, Oregon
9) Jonathon Reese representing 3rd Lair in Minneapolis, Minnesota
10) Gavin Nolan representing KCDC in Brooklyn, New York
11) Hugo Flores representing Pitcrew Skate Shop in Frederick, Maryland
12) Joel Esch representing Escapist in Kansas City, Missouri
13) Elijah Rashad representing 3rd Lair in Minneapolis, Minnesota
14) Cole Wayka representing 3rd Lair in Minneapolis, Minnesota
15) Dakota Camp representing Rhythm Skate Shop in Dallas, Texas
The format for the finals was a single elimination, head-to-head bracket-style format, widely hailed as the most innovative and exciting format for contests today. The U.S. Skateboarding Championships are sanctioned by the World Skateboarding Federation, a governing body for skateboarding.
About World Skateboarding Grand Prix (WSGP)
World Skateboarding Grand Prix is the leading international skateboarding events management company. WSGP hosts world-class skateboarding events with a commitment to help stimulate local economies through tourism while supporting youth development, especially those in underserved or imporished communities. WSGP events including the Rider Cup Team Championships, the Turkish Skateboarding Championships, the U.S. Skateboarding Championships, and the World Skateboarding Championships at the Kimberley Diamond Cup. For the latest news and information on the 2015 Skateboarding World Championships at the Kimberley Diamond Cup and other upcoming World Skateboarding Grand Prix events, visit www.worldskateboarding.com. To view WSGPs corporate site, go to www.worldskateboardinginternational.com.
