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: Maloof Money Cup 2011 DC - Maloof Money Cup press images

The first Maloof Money Cup event in DC is under way and Saturday, September 3, 2011 had the Am Regional Open, Pro Qualifiers, and the Pro Semi-Finals.

Maloof Money Cup encapsulates everything that is great about skateboarding: accessibility for fans and participants, intense and creative athleticism, laid back atmosphere, feeling of freedom, and good times. Skateboarding transcends conventions of social class and politics and has a way of bringing people together to enjoy the experience of diligence and excellence. These are some of the reasons that I love this sport so much. In a place like Washington DC where there is so much rancor over issues in the US, political denizens could learn a thing or two by just chilling out and observing the ambassadors of skate that came to town.

Maloof Money Cup 2011 Prelim Day

Today's Maloof Money Cup events had all of this going on with the Am Regional Qualifiers where locals could earn a chance to compete in the Maloof Vitamin Water Am contest, as the Pro Qualifiers and

Semi-Finals. There were riders fans only get to see in videos and skaters that don't do lots of contests right in there with contest mainstays, so there was a variety of riding styles and approaches to competing to make things even more interesting. The Pro Qualifers brought out such luminaries as Daryl Angel, Ryan Gallant, Jordan Hoffart, Matt Bennett, Darrell Stanton, Lizard King and Andrew Cannon. The top ten and two wildcards chosen by the judges joined in the Pro Qualifier competed in the Semi-Finals against the 12 pre-qualified pros.

Maloof Money Cup Created Vibe Stronger than the East Coast Earthquake

The crazy earthquake that hit a little over a week ago as well as Hurricane Irene threatened to impede the progress of completing RFK Street Plaza, the new skatepark created for the MMC that will be left after the event; but all went according to schedule. RFK Plaza, in the shadows of historic RFK Stadium, features well-known and heavily-frequented D.C. skate spots immortalized in concrete by California Skateparks, including the Archives, Bridge Spot/Garfield Park, and Pulaski Park/Freedom Plaza.

The Maloof Money Cup You Tube Channel features video "tours" of local spots, The Road to MMC6 ,with none other than the self-appointed Barack Obama and MLK of skate, D.C. pro skater extraordinaire and philanthropist, Darren Harper. When he says that skateboarding saves lives, he isn't kidding; this is the transformative power of the sport. He's a source of information and inspiration to many skaters in the DC scene. Harper said, "It's more genuine when you're here being a role model, things like that. The kids can look up and touch me or see me in the streets and they know I'm doing it. That's why I love being in my city."

Vitamin Water Am Qualifier

Am Regional Qualifer, Corey Huber, from Waynesboro, PA will compete in Sunday's Vitamin Water Am Finals. He hit the course hard with style and ease, throwing down stuff like a frontside half cab and a nollie cab over the bump up and over the Vans can. There will be four heats of skaters in the finals and the breakdown is on the SkateParkofTampa site.

Maloof Money Cup Pro Semi-Finals

There were eight three-minute jams of three skaters skating in all three of the course sections. While the competition happens and also in retrospect, it's easy to analyze and impose a strategy on what was happening, but honsetly in the heat of intense competition, these guys are trying to stay alive, stay on their boards and have a good time while focusing. Skaters were reaching deep in their bags of tricks to come out with something solid, dazzling and dialed; others were just over-reaching and couldn't stay with it.

Highlights of Maloof Money Cup 2011 Pro Semi-Finals

Magic moments of the Semi-Finals included: Ronnie Creager landing a huge feeble grind on the golden rail and also slamming his head, yet getting up and throwing down a switch hardflip and a switch frontside flip ? you don't get much gnarlier than that. Vincent Alvarez checked in with tech that included a wallie 50-50 grind up to boardsldie down the A-frame ledge; Collin Provost landed a huge transfer from one quarter pipe to the other, charting territory in a whole other dimension of air in the contest.

Bastien Salabanzi didn't disappoint, landing a half-cab flip on the bump up over the Vans can, then came right back and landed his patented full cab flip over the can, landing fakie. Ryan Decenzo floated good stuff like a 180 heel flip, and Pete Eldridge shredded the air over the rail with a tight switch heel. Manny Santiago once again slayed all with a 360 flip and laser flip on the bump up over the Vans can and also went 11 for 12 with tricks on the golden rail. Lutzka and Reynolds dominated, banging out a zillion tricks with tech and combos that left the crowd and judges speechless.

Maloof Money Cup Finals Sunday, September 4, 2011

The finals will feature head-to head battles; to see the brackets, check them out at Maloof Money Cup's site. These are the skaters that made it to the Finals:

1. Andrew Reynolds, 2. Greg Lutzka, 3. Ronnie Creager, 4. Bobby Worrest, 5. Manny Santiago, 6. Collin Provost, 7. Bastien Salabanzi, 8. Ryan Decenzo, 9.Jack Curtin, 11.Tom Asta, 12. Vincent Alvarez, 13. Johnny Layton, 14. David Bachinsky, 15. Brandon Westgate, 16. Sierra Fellers, 17. Dennis Busenitz,18. Theotis Beasley, 19. Anthony Schultz, 20.Garrett Hill, 21. Pete Eldridge, 22.Caswell Berry, 23. Eli Reed, and 24. Heath Kirchart

The Vitamin Water Am begins at 10:00am EST and the Pro Finals will follow that. The contests are being aired live at the Maloof Money Cup's You Tube Channel so be sure to check it out.

Copyright Leigh Roche. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication. Leigh Roche, Skye Roche