NZsnowboard.com

21st April 2008

After a full day of jaw dropping half-pipe skateboarding by 45 of the worlds most high-profile action sports athletes, the first-ever Ultimate Boarder competition concluded in dramatic fashion. With Chad Shetler, a professional skateboarder from Encinitas, Calif., taking top honors for the day, both the field of competitors and crowd of thousands were still puzzled as to who would be named the overall Ultimate Boarder champion, a competition that has spanned the past week and featured snowboarding in Squaw Valley, Calif. and surfing and skating in Ventura, Calif. When the final numbers were crunched by a field of expert judges, Aaron Astorga (Carlsbad, Calif.) was named the top tri-athlete of our generation.

The newly crowned champion was rewarded handsomely, including a $30,000 check, one-of-a-kind Soul Ryde longboard with gold, silver and bronze Revenge Trucks embellished with custom spinner wheels, a personal home fitness training system by Redcord and an $8,000 audio system from Rockford Fosgate. Joining Astorga on the Ultimate Boarder podium was professional snowboarder and silver medalist Todd Richards (Encinitas, Calif.) and bronze medalist, professional skateboarding kiwi, Kristian Phillipp (New Zealand). Additionally, plenty of spoils were bestowed upon the runners-up, Richards now boasts a checking account that is $10,000 richer and Phillipp will bank a cool $5,000.

It was an amazing event and everyone had a great time, said Ultimate Boarder champion, Aaron Astorga. The contest organizers did an unbelievable job of bringing all of the surfers, skaters and snowboarders together and I know a lot of us are already looking forward to next years contest.

Not to be lost on the awards ceremony, was a day of near perfect skateboarding on a masterfully crafted half-pipe. After nine action packed heats, loaded with technical grinds, big airs and friendly competition, the ten man finals ended with Aaron Astorga (second place) and Chris Kays from the north shore of Hawaii (third place) joining Chad Shetler on the skateboarding winners podium.

I really didnt have any expectations this year; if ten guys showed up I would have been happy, said Ultimate Boarder CEO and Founder, Tim Hoover. The crowds were insane and the way the athletes just went for it was awesome. Im happy for the athletes and the fans-thats who I created this for.

The top ten overall placing athletes earned automatic entries for next years Ultimate Boarder. Along with Astorga, Richards and Phillip; Chad Shetler, Shayne Pospisil, Tosh Townend, John Warren, Nathan Fletcher, Kurt Wastell and Clint Allan, all have reserved spots in the second annual Ultimate Boarder. Registration will once again be open to the public this fall.

Ultimate Boarder would like to thank its sponsors Amtrak California, Flexfit, LIVE 105.5, Q104.7, Red Bull, Redcord, Revenge Trucks, Rockford Fosgate, Skateboarder Magazine, Snowboarder Magazine, Soul Ryde, Squaw Valley USA, Surfing Magazine, The Octopus 95.9, Trilogy Arts Board Co., Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau and Wahoos Fish Tacos.


MORE INFO:
www.ultimateboarder.com