AIL World Championships 2009

Event coverage on ONE magazine's web page. This years AIL World Championships was an event filled with tons of positive energy, friends skating with friends, and countless rollers coming together from all over the world to do what they dig the most, skate! There were rollers tearing up The Hanger at Woodward West from all over the States, East Asia and Europe. There were countless Pro riders like Demetrius George, Chris Haffy, Erik Baily, Alex Broskow, Dustin Latimer and many more, along with industry Legends such as Arlo Eisenberg, Chris Edwards and John Julio. Some of the most progressive Am skating went down this past weekend as skaters in the Elite division battled it out for a position in the top 10. The Advancing rollers from 1st place to 10th were:

1. Yuto Goto

2. Sean Cowen

3. Tad Tregeagle

4. Wake Shepman

5. Taylor Latouche

6. Louis Soares

7. Craig Brockelhurst

8. Harbor Bickmore

9. Zach Nelson

10. Will Jamieson

These boys went on to skate in Sundays Pro & Elite division of the competition for a $3000 prize purse. After an afternoon of all around amazing skating, the top three riders were; 1st- Julian Cudot- $1500, 2nd- Yuto Goto- $1000, and 3rd- Stephane Alfono- $500.  Although there was amazing skating on all levels of this event, the most impressive skating was during the Best Trick battle. This event winded down to Eric Baily with his Sweaty 360 Top Soul over the Golden Arches vs. Stephane Alfano and his 540 disaster TTS from quarter to quarter. The judges were so blown away by the this Frenchman with his huge disaster tricks and the smooth American that they settled on a even draw between the two.

 

 

Anyone who was not able to make it out to this event should make a point to come next year. There is a thriving community of rollerbladers throughout this world, and it is event like this that make our world as rollers seem a little smaller. Mad props and respect to Pam and Richie Velasquez for making events like this come to life. And also to Matt Mickey and Arlo Eisenberg for keeping the crowed alive on the mic!  -- Scott Moffat