The year was 2008, the first ever Maloof Money Cup had just wrapped up and Paul Rodriguez had just pocketed the largest cash prize in skateboarding history (up until that point) $100,000. The last name of the second place finisher was Huston. Fast forward to the forth Money Cup in this the year 2010. A man with the last name of Cole pocketed his third straight $100,000 check, and the last name of the runner-up was once again Huston. It marked the second time that the 15-year-old skateboarder had missed out on a hundred grand by one place. Not to mention the fact that he also finished second at the Tampa Pro and X Games just a few months earlier. That's why when the dust settled, and the name on the new largest check in competitive skateboarding was Huston, it was such a big deal for anyone who has followed the career of the youngster. Nyjah Huston was finally able to bring home that ever-so-elusive big booty.
Speaking of big booties, $1 million is a pretty big ol' booty, and that was the price being offered by Joe Maloof for four consecutive Money Cups. A prize aimed at one person, the most dominant force in competitive skateboarding, Chris Cole. He had just won his third in a row. All he would have to do is win next year's opening Money Cup, and he'd have an easy million. Well, Cole had already signed an exclusive contract with Street League, one that would not allow him to skate in any other contests next year. So pretty much, if he showed in AZ he was making a statement that he was fully behind Street League despite the possibility of a big bonus. He showed, and even went on the record that he feels Street League is the next big thing in competitive skateboarding.
Then there's Nugget, aka Shane O'Neill, aka The Internet Pro. The 20 year-old Australian is called a professional of the World Wide Web because that is where all his video parts have been released. Virtually unknown a year ago he went from You Tube to his much anticipated Berrics video section that blew people's minds. The skateboarding industry has know how good this guy is for the past 10 months or so, and on Saturday the world learned when he pocketed $80,000 as runner-up of the inaugural Street League Skateboarding contest.
Next stop, The Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, CA. Things should heat up with Paul Rodriguez and Cole looking to rebound from a bit of a disappointing showing in AZ. We'll see if Huston can defend his title, and how consistan Nugget really is. And then there's Torey Pudwill who finished third last weekend, but had possibly the video section of the year in Transworld's Hallelujah, and could easily bring home the win.
