Competitors to watch

Ryan Sheckler, San Clemente, Calif. — At 4, Sheckler began his skating career in the driveway. Three years later he took the local skate park scene by storm, winning the California Amateur Skateboarding League. After turning pro in 2003 at the age of 14, he claimed victories at the Vans Triple Crown, Gravity Games, and Slam City Jam. He also walked away with a first-place finish at the X Games, becoming the youngest winner in the contest's history.

Paul Rodriguez, Chatsworth, Calif. — The 2002 TransWorld Skateboarding Rookie of the Year, Rodriguez has become a ground breaker in his sport. The first skater to be sponsored by Nike, his back-to-back street skate titles at the X Games (2004-05) marked another first among his park peers.

Greg Lutzka, Milwaukee — In his six years as a pro, Lutzka has consistently kept up with the sport's top skaters. In 2005, he took the title at the Vans Invitational en route to a third-place finish in the year-end Dew Cup standings.

Jereme Rogers, Boston, — The king of switch riding, Rogers placed fifth in the 2005 year-end Dew Cup standings in just his first year as a pro. He was ranked the No. 1 North American WCS street skater in 2005.

SKATE VERT:

Bucky Lasek, Baltimore, — With 17 years of professional competition under his belt, Lasek is considered one of the most consistent athletes in skate vert. Known for his smooth style, he made X Games history when he became the first skateboarder to claim back-to-back first-place finishes in 1999 and 2000, a feat he repeated in 2003 and '04.

Bob Burnquist, Rio de Janiero, Brazil — A virtual unknown back in 1995, Burnquist showed up at the Slam City Jam and walked away with the event title. A switch skater, he was crowned the OP "King of Skate" in 2002 in addition to receiving the Laureus World Sports Award for Alternative Sportsperson of the Year.

BMX PARK:

Daniel Dhers, Caracas, Venezuela — New to the BMX park scene, Dhers spent only one summer in the United States before competing on the AST Dew Tour in 2006. Dhers took his first Tour victory at the Right Guard Open prior to placing third in BMX park at the summer X Games.