GRINDTV Newswire via Maloof Money Cup: (Irvine, Calif. -- May 4, 2010) The Maloof Money Cup presented by Vans and airing live on FUEL TV this summer -- announces the 48 pro street skaters who will compete in the first-ever MMC New York contest June 5-6 in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens.

"Our skater selection committee is made up some of the most respected people in the skateboarding industry. They really had a tough job," said MMC creator Joe Maloof. "They set out to put together the best collection of skateboarders to ever enter a contest and I think they did just that. One thing the committee agreed on was that there are too many amazing pros out there, creating a list of 48 skaters was really the key to putting together an unparalleled roster. Besides the big names like P-Rod and Chris Cole, we've got some highly respected skaters like Mike Carroll, Dustin Dollin and Marc Johnson who don't usually skate contests, and some amazing guys who are competing at MMC for the first time like Justin Brock and Anthony Van Engelen. With a group of skaters this talented and diverse, the field is wide open and fans are in store for a spectacular competition June 5-6."

"The best skaters, handpicked with Thrasher, ready to take a bite out of the Big Apple. Got it." said Jake Phelps, Thrasher Editor in Chief and head of 2010 selection committee.

Adam Dyet
Alex Olsen
Anthony Van Engelen
Billy Marks
Brandon Biebel
Brandon Westgate
Brian Anderson
Brian Hansen
Bryan Herman
Chris Cole
Chris HaslamChris Pfanner
Corey Duffel
Darrell Stanton
David Gonzalez
David Gravette
Dennis Busenitz
Dustin Dollin
Emmanuel Guzman
Eric Koston
Geoff Rowley
Grant Taylor
Greg Lutzka
Jake Duncombe
Jamie Tancowny
Justin Brock
Keegan Sauder
Leo Romero
Lizard King
Luan Oliveira
Marc Johnson
Mark Appleyard
Mike Carroll
Mike Mo Capaldi
Nick Dompierre
Nyjah Huston
Omar Salazar
Paul Rodriguez
Pete Eldridge
Peter Ramondetta
Ryan Sheckler
Sean Malto
Stefan Janoski
Tommy Sandoval
Torey Pudwill
Zered Bassett

NY Wildcard Skaters
Danny Falla
Eli Reed

Selection Committee
The 2010 skater selection committee included some of the industry's most widely respected experts: Jake Phelps, Bill Weiss, Ewan Bowman, Mike Sinclair, Jamie Thomas, Seamus Deegan, Kelly Bird, Steve Rodriguez, Mark Waters, Mike Burnett, Mark Nardelli, Jamie Hart, Remy Stratton and Tim Gavin.

Since the beginning, street skateboarding has been an outlet of expression for those, who for the most part, don't want to follow the stream into the bear's mouth. It's a solo thing, that's why it appeals to those who shy from organized sports. The guys who have been in it for the long haul will definitely remember the days went it was not accepted, but now with this explosion of worldwide popularity, it's as mainstream as the fore mentioned salmon.

Now, with all this exposure and profit potential corporate America is drooling all over itself in anticipation of its slice of word, metal and urethane pie. And what does this bring? Contests, duh. America's a capitalist country, it needs competition, and Americans need to know who is the best. Thus, we have skate contests, which aren't a bad thing. The guys that don't like them have the video outlet to go to, and the guys that want to compete have their options.

What's the point to all this? The contest guys have too many options when it comes to the mega contests. I'm talking about the big guys, "The Fortune 3": Cole, Sheckler and Rodriguez, they're skateboarding's indicators, if you see them at a contest you know there's some serious coin involved. The problem is they've all won different things, so technically we don't know who the best competitive skateboarder is.

There's just so many super-contests and no organization: Maloof Money Cup, Dew Tour, X Games and now Drydek's Skateboarding League. They all have different formats, and if I remember correctly from science class the way to figure something out is to create a control. Sooner or later some of these are going to have to merge. Cole has won Maloof and The Dew Tour Championship, Rodriguez has won Maloof and the X Games, and Sheckler has won the Dew Championship and the X Games. See, not one of them has won the same two.

Skateboarding should take a lesson from surfing on this one. If you want to be the best competitive surfer in the world you join the ASP World Tour. You start on the Qualifying series and work your way up to the main tour. Kelly Slater has won the World Title nine times, he is the best competitive surfer ever. That's that. Skateboarding's contest world on the other hand, is like a fire drill in that giant Asian country that's been all the rage of late.

Chris Cole at the Maloof Money Cup.

Ryan Sheckler has a message for anyone who's having financial problems in these bad economic times. Just kidding, The Sheck is just doing his part to stimulate the economy, it wasn't him that approved you for a home you couldn't afford. Anyway, Sheckler cruised by Etnies HQ to test out some shoes. Check out the footage below:

Yesterday, Paul Rodriguez edged out Najah Huston and Keegan Saunder to take the 2010 Tampa Pro. It's considered by many to be the most prestigious skate contest in the game, and now Rodriguez has proved, once again, that he has both sides of the spectrum covered. He is currently the reigning champ of X Games street, a cooperate mainstream contest for the masses, and now the Tampa Pro, a core skate contest for true skateboarders.

Some sides notes Peter Ramandetta proved he's the real deal by pulling in 4th, and Ryan Sheckler made his return to competition after an injury to take 5th. Matt Miller won Best Trick for his backside noseblunt up the ledge. Stay tuned for more coverage.

Full Results:

1. Paul Rodriguez
2. Nyjah Huston
3. Keegan Sauder
4. Peter Ramondetta
5. Ryan Sheckler
6. Torey Pudwill
7. Luan De Oliveira
8. Danny Fuenzalida
9. Greg Lutzka
10. Chaz Ortiz
11. DennisBusenitz
12. John Rattray

Best Trick:

1. Matt Miller
2. Torey Pudwill
3. Sierra Fellers
4. Jordan Hoffart
5. Joey Brezinski

Simpel Session is this weekend. February 6-7. It is their 10th anniversary and it is needless to say that they have come a long way. Watching their retrospective videos of the first Simpel Sessions is hilarious. Just dudes hucking airs over one jump in front of less than 20 people. It's awesome.

The gnarliest dudes of Skate and BMX will be there, yes that means Ryan Sheckler and Garrett Reynolds, and the full list of riders can be seen HERE.

You can watch the event live on freecaster this weekend. Hit up the Simpel website for that link. Well, for any more information hit up the Simpel website pretty much. www.SESSION.eesimpel session facebooksimpel session twitter



Here's the course overview for this year... My favorite obstacle? I'm a street dog so I dig the rails and hubba ledges buuut... I wanna see somebody grind that red rail from the VANS box jump to the end. Wonder if it will be like that.