 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Join | Invite Friends | Skater Forum | Groups
May 30, 2008
Chaz Ortiz Wild Card
So here we are and its June. Are you ready for this year's AST action? Most of us are tired of the Sheckler stories. Maybe now Chaz Ortiz will be the story of the summer.
Just 18 days from now Baltimore's Open Qualifier for the AST Dew Tour Begings. Thirty skaters compete. Only ten will qualify to join the 20 who are pre qualified. Pre qualifications require a skater finish in the top 16 the previous year. Do that your set, or you best get a wild card spot. Now there are a lot of "wild cards" out there. But these are the four AST invited.
1. Chad Fernandez – Strong showing recently at Tampa Pro and on the bubble for the 15 cut.
2. Paul Rodriguez- P Rod is sponsored by Mountain Dew
3. Rodney Jones- Baltimore local who had a disappointing showing last year.
4. Chaz Ortiz 14 year old Am ripper.
You recall Chaz won the Free Flow tour last year. He won the oppurtunity to skate against the Pros is Orlando. He landed a 6th place finish above some quality talent. 6th place garners a check of about $5000.00. Chaz who did not want to go Pro turned down the money. This caused some hard feeling with some of the skaters in Orlando. AST chose to keep the 6th place prize money. Most skaters who participated agreed the right thing for AST to do was to divvy up his share amongst all the riders below 6th place.
There is no official word if Chaz has accepted to wild card spot. He has to decide two weeks before the event starts in Baltimore. If he decides to compete this young Am will have turn Pro to compete.This could be the story the tour. Forget girls crying for Ryan. He's what this tour needs. MTV cameras invaded the Dew events last year cheapening the contest, making it all about one skater. Dew has a shaky reputation with skateboarders. If AST focuses on this new young talent for his talent and not his looks, the tour in its 4th year, could gain back some repectablity with those skaters who think the event has turned skateboarding into a circus.
Let’s hope he accepts the wild card and turns Pro, making this year more credible.
Authored by Rowe | Permalink | Links to this Post | Comments (0)
