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FROM THE VENTURA COUNTY STAR, Area skateboarders get shot at showcasing their skills at X Games

By Loren Ledin (Contact)
Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Pacific Palisades' Austin Squire works on his tricks at Skatelab in Simi Valley. Squire is one of 10 skateboarders who are part of the National High School Association and California High School Skateboard Club who will compete in the best trick skateboarding high school competition at the X Games.

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Roy Canright was 7 years old the first time he attended the X Games. But it's the next time he will always remember.

Instead of taking in the event as a spectator, the Simi Valley resident will get an up-close-and-personal vantage point when he vies in a best trick skateboarding competition for high school division entrants. He'll take his place in the spotlight on Friday at the Home Depot Center in Carson.

"It's pretty amazing," said Canright, a sophomore at Simi Valley High. "I've been going to the X Games since I was a kid and I love it. I've always told my mom, Can you imagine if I'm in this one year?' So when the call came, I could say, I made it!' "

Canright will be one of 10 Southern California skateboarders — including six who live locally — who will competes in what amounts to an invitation-only division.

Eighteen-year-old Cory Phillips, a Thousand Oaks resident and a recent graduate of Westlake High, is also among the competitors.

"It means a lot," said Phillips, who works at Skatelab in Simi Valley. "We all watch the X Games and wonder what it would be like to be in them. It's a great opportunity for all of us."

The 10 area competiors are members of the National High School Association and the California High School Skateboard Club that are headed by Thousand Oaks resident Jeffrey Stern.

For Stern, the chance for local skaters to demonstrate their skills is a virtual pinch-me opportunity.

He said the invitation came after a representative of the X Games attended a competition for the high school club.

"He told me we needed to talk," said Stern, 38. "I was invited to a meeting with the X Games people. When I got there I was thinking, Wow, is this really happening?' "

Stern said the X Games are the zenith of opportunity for skateboarders.

"For our guys, it's the Olympics," he said. "That's how important this is to them. This is their chance to shine on a national spotlight."

Stern allowed the members of the high school club to have a large role in choosing the 10 skaters who will compete.

Stern originally came up with a list of 11. The skateboarders finetuned the roster to complete the final choices.

"We were not only looking for good skaters, we wanted guys who really got along," said Canright, 16. "We didn't want anybody to get uptight about any of this."

Joining Phillips and Canright are local skaters Zack Krull of Calabasas, Lee Derber of Thousand Oaks, Matt Pierce of Oak Park and Justin Klegka of Agoura Hills. Also competing will be Kristos Andrews of Santa Monica, Josh Krakover of Stevenson Ranch, Austin Squire of Pacific Palisades and Sean Bloom of Brentwood.

Phillips lived in New Jersey before moving to Southern California. He found his place atop a skateboard.

"I wanted to come here because this is where all the best skateboarders are," he said. "I've learned a lot. I can't wait for the X Games. I've been working on four different moves I want to do.

"I'm not really nervous, just excited."

Canright said he's primed for the competition.

"I'm going to do as much as I can do," he said. "I'll just go in relaxed and have fun."

Pierce, a recent graduate of Oak Park, said the skaters will take a team concept into the event.

"I should be pretty relaxed," he said. "We all know each other and get along well. We're all going to enjoy the chance to be there."

The X Games will also feature club skaters and professional skateboarders in separate best trick events.