What began as hobby to some has evolved into an obsession to millions across the world. In the last decade, skateboarding has grown from the back alleys and empty swimming pools of southern California to become an international sensation, drawing crowds in the tens of thousands to vert ramps and park courses in Europe, Asia, South America and Australia.
“Europe has a great skateboarding scene. Brazil is great and one of the best places to go is Melbourne in Australia,” Montreal?s Pierre-Luc Gagnon said.”Sometimes, of course, the crowds can be a bit disappointing, but usually they are really good.”
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A handful of the best from beyond the seven seas joined the best the states have to offer this past weekend at the AST Dew Tour?s Panasonic Open at the Camden Yards Sports Complex.
The most renowned of international skaters is Brazil?s Bob Burnquist. After finishing fourth in last year?s Dew Cup standings, Burnquist reached the skateboard vert finals at the Panasonic Open and placed second in the event.
Burnquist?s countryman Sandro Dias said that the skateboarding scene in Brazil has boomed in the last few years and is still growing.
“Before Brazil had no skate parks, there was no place for the kids to go,” said Dias, who came to the United States to skate for the first time in 1986 at the age of 13. “Now it is different. Brazil now has big crowds. People are starting to recognize us down there.”
Denmark?s Rune Glifberg said the skate scene in Europe is comparable to that of the sport in America in the mid-1980s.
“It?s far from where it is in California or around here, but it?s building,” he said. “It hasn?t been fully accepted as a sport, but the level [of skaters] is getting to be really good.”
Glifberg took first place at the Quicksilver Bowlriders competition in Malmo, Sweden earlier this month as part of the World Cup of Skateboarding tour. The World Cup of Skateboarding has also made stops in Shanghai, China; Bondi Beach, Australia; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Toronto in the past year to go along with its visits to American cities.
Both Dias and Glifberg failed to reach the skateboard vert finals this year.
Gagnon took fifth while Australia?s Jake Brown placed seventh, France?s Jean Postec finished tied for ninth and Sweden?s Mathias Ringstrom rounded out the finalists in 10th.
