Vans Downtown Showdown Results

By: Matt Bauer | Tuesday, September 29, 2009 //

Foundation Takes 5th Annual Vans Downtown Showdown Team Title
Foundation’s Nick Merlino Named Top Am and Blind’s Jani Laitiala Top Pro of Day

Hollywood, CA (Saturday, September 26, 2009) – The 5th Vans Downtown Showdown presented by Rockstar Energy Drink went down on the Paramount Studios back lot Saturday with the world’s top street skaters attacking custom-built obstacles set against a New York City backdrop. The Foundation board crew claimed team honors and $30,000, while Foundation’s Nick Merlino won $5,000 as top am and Blind’s Jani Laitiala was named top pro for the second year in a row, pocketing $13,500 total.

Angel Ramirez kickflip

The Vans Downtown Showdown attracted many skaters who rarely take part in contests from Girl, Flip, Blind, Creature, Black Label, Foundation, Toy Machine, SK8MAFIA and Zoo York.

Each skateboard team submitted designs for a custom obstacle with the top four chosen and built to that team’s specifications. Skateboard teams then chose three riders, consisting of at least one pro and one am, to jam on each of the four features.

Jani nollie back 180

Thousands of skate fans took in the evening’s action on a live HD webcast powered by FUEL-TV which featured live cut-ins on FUEL as well as prize giveaways throughout the evening. One lucky viewer won a Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart.

Nick switchflip

Here’s a break down of the best performances of the day:

Girl’s Little China Girl
1.        Zered Bassett (Zoo York) – $2,500
2.        Angel Ramirez (Foundation) – $1,500
3.        Ron Deily (Zoo York) – $1,000

Flip’s Extremely Sorry
1.        Jani Laitiala (Blind) – $2,500
2.        Nick Trapasso (Toy Machine) – $1,500
3.        Louie Lopez (Flip) – $1,000

Creature’s Hesh Cross
1.        Vince Del Valle (Black Label) – $2,500
2.        Angel Ramirez (Foundation) – $1,500
3.        Jani Laitiala (Blind) – $1,000

Black Label’s Drunk Tank
1.        Nick Merlino (Foundation) – $2,500
2.        Billy Marks (Toy Machine) – $1,500
3.        Felipe Ortiz (Blind) – $1,000

Top Am Performance – Nick Merlino (Foundation) – $5,000

Top Pro Performance – Jani Laitiala (Blind) – $10,000

Overall Team Winner – Foundation ($30,000), Blind 2nd ($15,000), Toy Machine 3rd ($5,000)

A big thanks to each of the teams that represented:

Black Label: Shuriken Shannon, Chris Troy, Adam Alfaro, Kyle Leeper, Vince De Valle, Peter Raffin
Peter Watkins, Ben Skrzpek, Ethan Fitzpatrick

Flip: Louie Lopez, Curren Caples, Geoff Rowley , David Gonzalez

Zoo York: Zered Bassett, Brandon Westgate, Chaz Ortiz, Eli Reed, Ron Deily

Blind: Jake Duncombe, Ronnie Creager, Morgan Smith, Jani Laitiala, Kevin Romar, Felipe Ortiz, Danny Cerezini, James Craig

Foundation: Corey Duffel, Sierra Fellers, Gareth Stehr, Angel Ramierz, Nick Merlino, David Reyes,
Abdias Rivera, Alex Gourodorous

Toy Machine: Ed Templeton, Austin Stephens, Johnny Layton, Billy Marks, Leo Romero

SK8 Mafia: Kellen James, Peter Smolik, Brandon turner, Wes Kremer, Tyler Surrey, Nick Tucker, Jamie Palmore, Larelle Gray, Marshall Heath

Creature: Neil Heddings, Sam Hitz, Truman Hooker, Adrian Mallory, Sean Conover

Girl: Mike Carroll, Rick Howard, Brian Anderson, Alex Olson, Sean Malto, Mike Mo Capaldi, Cory Kennedy, Guy Mariano

For photos, video streaming and downloads and more commentary on the Vans Downtown Showdown, check out www.vans.com.

The Vans Downtown Showdown is made possible by the support of Rockstar Energy Drink, FUEL TV, Mitsubishi Motors, Epiphone and SPoTlight Productions.