LOCAL SKATEBOARDERS MAKE MULLICA PROUD

By KELLY ASHE, For The Press of Atlantic City, Posted: Monday, June 29, 2009

In Upper Township, a summer spent on boards could keep them from getting bored.

Seventeen-year-old Pat Bilazzo of Mullica Township performs a frontside ollie over a gap between two ramps during the first contest in the King of Upper Township Skate Series sponsored by Bordz Skate Shop of Somers Point at the Amanda's Field Skatepark in Upper Township on Sunday.

UPPER TOWNSHIP - Skateboarders as young as 7 showed off their high ollies, hippie jumps and kick flips at Amanda's Field Skate Park on Sunday.

Twenty-six skateboarders, ages 7-23, competed in the opening round of Bordz Action Sports' King of Upper Township skate series in the Petersburg section of the township. The series will include two more competitions later this summer at the park.

Scott Guntz, owner of Bordz Action Sports in Somers Point, created the event to give the competitors, many of whom were teenagers, something fun and positive to keep them busy. Skateboarders can pay $20 to compete in any of the three events or $50 for all three.

Competition is broken up by age and skill divisions. Skateboarders will earn points toward the final in August. The skater with the most points for each group will receive sponsorships, in the form of free gear, from CIRCA footwear, Zero skateboards and DCMA apparel, Guntz said.

The turnout was not what Guntz had hoped, but he said the local talent pool is better than it has ever been.

"The best part is the newer and younger skaters that came out," Guntz said. "They are the ones who are going to help keep the sport alive."

The opening competition began with a 20-minute open jam during which all the entrants skated at once, followed by the high ollie, hippie jump, kick flip, distance launch and heel flip challenges. After a short break, a second open jam was held. The contest concluded with the limbo challenge.

Eight-year-old Stephanie Carty, from the Nesco section of Mullica Township, was the only female competitor. She won the limbo contest by successfully skating underneath a bar 9 inches off the ground without her feet leaving the board. Her winning approach was to lay on her stomach while using her hands to push her board along.

Stephanie has been skating since she was 5. This was her first competition.

"It's weird being the only girl," she said. "There's not many girls who skateboard, so I learned from my brother Stephen."

Her brother Stephen won the 13-15 division and the kick-flip challenge by completing 22 in a row. He also performed 11 heel flips in a row to win that challenge, too. Stephanie and Stephen's mother, Kathy Schofield, said Stephen gets up ever morning at 6, eats breakfast and is on his board by 7.

"He loves to practice. He won't get off his board till I make him," Schofield said.

The next round of the King of Upper Township series is July 25 and the finale Aug. 22.

"I am going to try harder and harder until I win the sponsorship," Stephen said.

Other highlights of the competition include Steve Lord's longest launch of 15.2 feet and his 46-inch hippie jump, Steve Beck's 30-inch high ollie and an appearance by Alex Ronan, a close friend and sidekick of pro skateboarder and reality TV star Bam Margera.

E-mail Kelly Ashe:

KAshe@pressofac.com

RESULTS

8-and-under girls-1. Stephanie Carty 100 points; 8-and-under boys-Chris Hendrixson 100; 9-12 intermediate boys: 1. James Russell 100, 2. Pat Malady 90; 9-12 novice boys: 1. Jim Hammerstedt 100; 13-15 boys: 1. Steve Carty 100, 2. Tom McGivney 90, 3. Mike Schenker 80; 160-older males: 1. Pat Bilazzo 100, 2. Steve Beck 90, 3. Travis Conover 80; 16-older advanced and best all-around skater: 1. Steve Lord 100.