MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The steady whir of wheels on pavement was suddenly broken as the board leapt from the ramp and hung suspended midair. Breathless silence exploded into shouts of encouragement and victory as the skater, in a seemingly effortless move, torqued his body into a 180-degree turn and gracefully landed his board on the down slope of the ramp.
Seven contenders competed amongst each other May 22 in a Station-wide competition at the Station Skate Park.
A fierce battle was waged among the beginners, but the best scores for the first and second freestyle rounds went to Nick Forti, age 8.
"The best part of the day was seeing Nick win," said competitor Ryan Peters. "I didn't see it coming."
The intermediate/advanced skaters also competed in two freestyle rounds. Each competitor was allowed a total of three minutes apiece to perform his best selection of tricks using the variety of ramps and rails available at the skate park.
"Competition is stressful, and remaining focused is key," said Hans Holback, a 14-year-old Station resident and competitor. "You have to remember to be steady and not give into the pressure."
The riders were judged according to the difficulty involved in each move, their technical precision and crowd participation, said Alex Perkins, Marine Corps Community Services special events coordinator and skate competition judge.
"The most difficult move I performed was grinding along a bar on top of the pyramid," noted Holback.
Competitors Ryan Peters and John Eason challenged Holback for first place. However, final scores reflected Holback's effort and confidence, and he came away with the victory.
In an awards ceremony, Forti and Holback, along with second and third place and honorable mention competitors, received prizes provided by the Marine Corps Community Services Special Events Department.
"We give these guys a lot of credit," said Perkins. "They spend hours practicing. Skating isn't for everyone -it's kind of an extreme sport."