People flooded the parking lot on East Roosevelt and North Fourth streets to watch the Red Bull Triple Set competition, a component of First Fridays that saw more than 50 local and out-of-state skateboarders strive to win $1,500.
The last time Red Bull sponsored a skateboarding event at First Fridays was “Manny Mania” in September 2009. Those skateboarders focused on “manualing,” or riding boards using only two wheels. The skateboarders this year had 45 minutes to display their talent on a makeshift triple staircase. The Red Bull website described the triple set as a “challenging skateboarding obstacle.”
The crowd, ranging from children to adults, surrounded a wire fence encasing the triple staircase structure. Competitors were split into three groups with 20 minutes each to impress the three judges. Cheers or boos interrupted the alternative rock music as skateboarders excelled at a trick or wiped out.
Sophomore theater major Kevin Commons came from Tempe to attend First Fridays and spent most of the night with his friends watching the Red Bull competition.
“I’m not really into playing sports, but I do enjoy watching sports like this. This is really cool,” Commons said.
The competition narrowed down to 15 finalists. The contestants caught air, performed tricks, and grinded the stair rail for 20 minutes. After one last judgment, the Red Bull workers retrieved the giant checks for the winners. The crowd cheered as Josh Hawkins received $250 for third place, Aldrin Garcia collected $500 for second place, and ‘Moose’ obtained the $1,500 check for first place.
Moose, whose real name is Luis De Los Reyes, traveled to Phoenix with his skateboard team, Bones Wheels, from Oxnard, Calif. The 21-year-old who “skates all day, every day” said he has participated in several competitions but had never placed first until the competition Friday.
“My strategy was to come out here and have fun. If you don’t have fun, what’s the point of skateboarding?” Reyes said. “I’ll probably spend and waste the money on gas and food.”
With the event over, the crowd migrated out of the parking lot while Reyes signed autographs.
Contact the reporter at alicia.m.canales@asu.edu
