New World Record Still Up for Grabs
(Irvine, CA -- February 14, 2011) – The semi finals of the Maloof High Ollie Challenge were held today during MAGIC, the most influential event in the business of fashion, in Las Vegas. Fourteen skaters will advance to the finals tomorrow at 3 p.m. for a shot at $10,000 and a chance to claim a new world record if they land an Ollie higher than 44.5”, the current record set in 2000 by Danny Wainwright.
Top Regional winner Christian Malouf (age 22 from Phoenix) earns spot in finals. Photo Credit Neftalie Williams.
Pro skaters who made the cut in the semis are Torey Pudwill, Levi Brown, Luis Tolentino, Steve Nesser, Austyn Gillette and Anthony Schultz. The top regional contest winners who earned spots in the finals, included Christian Malouf (no relation to Maloof family) who landed an impressive 43.5” ollie at the Cowtown Skateboards event in Tempe, Arizona. Darren Harper and Benji Pross, tied for first place at their regional event in Frederick, Maryland sponsored by local skate shop Pitcrew. Both skaters landed 41” ollies, earning them spots in the Vegas finals. All three of the top regional winners made the cut in today’s semi finals and have a shot at the $10,000 first prize, and a chance to set a new world record.
The complete list of skaters advancing to the Tuesday finals are:
Christian Malouf
Aldrin Garcia
Mikey Burton
Levi Brown
Luis Tolentino
Torey Pudwill
Steve Nesser
Austyn Gillette
Jace Cimabue
Benjamin Pross
Mac Johnson
Anthony Schultz
Darren Harper
Kechaud Johnson
Torey Pudwill advances to finals: Photo Credit Neftalie Williams.
The contest took place on a special street course designed and constructed by California Skateparks as the centerpiece for the MAGIC show floor in the newly launched RIDE Unltd section, the dedicated home for all things skate. SPoTlight Productions judged the contest. The bar was set at 36” to start the contest and skaters had five chances to successfully land an ollie over the bar, or they were eliminated. The final bar height reached in the semi finals was 40”. The starting height for the finals Tuesday will be 41”.
About MAGIC
Every August and February, the fashion industry converges in Las Vegas for the most influential event in the business – MAGIC. Taking place at dual campuses at the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, the February 2011, MAGIC will run from February 14 – 16, 2011. For up-to-date exhibitor listings, seminar scheduling, travel support and registration information, please visit www.magiconline.com. During the February show, MAGIC is launching a new skate division, RIDE Unltd., which will be the dedicated home for all things skate – showcasing established and emerging skate apparel, footwear and hardware brands. RIDE Unltd. will be located adjacent to S.L.A.T.E. and brands already on board for the debut include L-R-G, DGK, HUF, The Hundreds, Fly Society, Analog, Gravis, iPath, Obey, Primitive, Diamond, Tumyeto, World Industries and Skull Candy, among others. Exhibitors will showcase their designs to a highly targeted, built-in audience of more than 60,000 visitors from 80 countries.
About Maloof Skateboarding
Maloof Skateboarding produces the Maloof Money Cup, the world’s greatest skateboarding event and the premiere showcase for amateur and professional skateboarding. Presented by Vans, the Maloof Money Cup hosted two events last year, one in Orange County, Calif. and expanded to Queens, New York, building a world-class skate park that was donated to the community after the contest. In 2011, the Maloof Money Cup goes global with the first ever World Skateboarding Championships in Kimberley, South Africa September 28 – Oct 2. Join our network to share the competition experience with a global audience and be the first to know about exciting upcoming MMC announcements, including the 2011 MMC host cities and contest dates. Go to www.maloofmoneycup.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @maloofmoneycup.
