Canadian Captures Tampa Am

TAMPA - At first glance, the scenery of the 14th annual Tampa Am skateboarding contest at the Skatepark of Tampa on Sunday resembled an underground rock concert rather than a competition featuring the top amateur skateboarders in the world.

Dozens of young skaters, donning blue jeans, hooded sweatshirts and backward hats, emerged from rows of parked cars that stretched along Columbus Drive. Music and cheers coming from inside the park could be heard yards away.

Inside, however, some of the top amateur skaters in the world, some as young as 13, were competing for first place in the annual skateboarding contest that many hope lead to a professional career.

Ryan DeCenzo, a 21-year-old amateur from Canada, beat out 230 skateboarders with a high score of 97.33 to win the annual competition. DeCenzo was in the competition last year, but did not finish in the top 50.

"I was hurt last year," DeCenzo said.

DeCenzo earned a direct trip into the finals when he was named the top qualifier during Saturday's opening round of skating. Sunday, the top 12 finalists were given three one-minute runs each.

Ben Hatchell of Houston took second place with a high score of 93.67, while Davis Torgerson of Minnesota took third. Defending champion Felipe Gustavo of Brazil finished fourth.

DeCenzo landed a kickflip into a board-slide off a rail and a 360 flip in his first two runs, but it was a difficult trick in his final run that gave him the win.

"It was the nollie flipboard slide," said SPoT manager Ryan Clements, who also finished fourth in the Old Man Bowl Jam. "There was the consistency and difficulty of his tricks. He really put that final run together."

"I knew it was my last run," DeCenzo said. "I was either going to make it or break it. I figured I was already in the top 10 so why not go for it."

Tampa native Dylan Perry did not make the finals, but finished 29th.

"It was a fun experience," Perry said. "There's always next year."

Vince Del Valle was awarded Best Trick for landing a kickflip frontside lipside. Columbian David Gonzalez, one of the high-profile amateurs at the event, took second in Best Trick for landing a kickflip backside noseblunt.

After the contest, which was streamed live on the Internet, park staffers threw gifts and prizes to the remaining skaters.

"Like every year, it was a total success," Clements said. "The judging came out real fair."

(For complete results, visit skateparkoftampa.com).

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 865-4848 or nwilliams@tampatrib.com.

RESULTS

TAMPA AM FINALS

Skater

Highest run

1. Ryan DeCenzo, Canada

97.33

2. Ben Hatchell, Texas

93.67

3. Davis Torgerson, Minn.

90.00

4. Felipe Gustavo, Brazil

88.33

5. Vincent Alvarez, Calif.

83.67

6. Chazz Ortiz, Illinois

82.00

7. Chris Gregson, Calif.

81.67

8. Shane O'Neil, Australia

80.00

9. Taylor Smith, California

77.67

10. Filipe Ortiz, Brazil

76.67

11. Theotis Beasley, Calif.

73.33

12. Chris Troy, California

59.67