It's the fourth edition of the Maloof Money Cup Contender Spotlight here on Grind TV, and the tough decisions have started. The first three were gimmes in my opinion: Chris Cole, Paul Rodriguez and Torey Pudwill. If one of those guys doesn't win either contest, I'm going to be surprised. Although, that's not to say they're aren't plenty of other skaboarders capable of winning: Tommy Sandoval, Najah Huston, Sean Malto, Mike Mo Capaldi, Chaz Ortiz, Greg Lutzka, Peter Romandetta, Keegan Suader, Dennis Busentiz, Leo Romero, Davey Gonzalez, Luan Oliveria and Mark Appleyard.

Who am I going to go with in the 4th contender slot? None of them. And the lucky winner of the forth contender slot goes to...clear your mind and imagine a drum roll. Are you mind drumming yet? Numero quatro is...Ryan Sheckler.

Yup, I'm going to get criticized for this pick by both ends of the skate spectrum. The so-called "core" guys are going to call me sellout and say I don't know anything about "real" skateboarding. Then, the contest crew is going to make the argument of the fact that he hasn't had that many good contest finishes in the past two years. My answer to both sides is you guys know how good Sheckler is. Whether it's winning a contest, or backside flipping El Toro, which he may or may not of done, but let's not forget what Jamie Thomas told Thrasher editor, Jake Phelps. Thomas was a god amongst my generation as far is going big is concerned, and his most talked up godly act is known as The Leap Faith. It goes as follows, you ollie over a handrail and drop two stories. Thomas' board broke and he didn't ride away, but the fact that he came so close, made the feat that of a legend. Later, one poor copy cat made an attempt, broke his leg and the bone ripped through his skin. That said, Thomas told Phelps he thinks Sheckler can not only ollie The Leap of Faith, but kickflip it.

Alright, so back to the Maloof and what it takes to win a contest. Finishing on top is all about having a big bag of tricks that you can consistently land on a diverse range of obstacles. Come on, we all know he has that, he's a skate trick machine. When he's healthy and feeling it he has one of the best and most consistent repertoire in the game. Everyone knows how much of a competitive force Sheckler was a few years back winning Dew Championships, X Games golds and for you "core" guys a Thrasher Bust or Bail contest at a 17 stair handrail. Since all that his winning ways have slowed down , and why? He has had to deal with injuries. A recurring elbow dislocation that slowed him down at the first Maloof, and a broken foot suffered at the 2009 Summer X Games, which sidelined him for a few months, and only days before the injury he had looked pretty unstoppable on his way to winning the first stop of the 2009 Dew Tour in Boston.

Now, Sheckler seems like has made a recovery from his injury, and as competitive as he is I know he is hungry to prove he still has it. He just won a Best Trick contest in China, which wasn't against a very stellar crew, but he did taste victory. And here we are in the midst of Maloof season, a series of contests Sheckler hasn't really shined at. He finished forth at the first Maloof in 08', and fifth in 09'. Now, in 2010 and we have two. Two shots for Sheckler to win what is being called "the biggest contest in skateboarding," that if you don't already know comes with the biggest cash prize $100,000. I'm going to go out on a medium sized limb and say Sheckler may win one Maloof Money Cup this year.

Here's a little video interview with Ryan courtesy of Etnies: