The Showdown at El Mirage was a battle, with 130 competitors (all Arizona locals) coming from as far as Tucson. The day started out with a small drizzle of rain looking to upset the riders, but was soon dispersed with the sun shining through the clouds.

With warm-ups out of the way, the little tykes started things out with the seven and under group. Tyson Zane, an Arizona Grind regular at age 6, took first place doing tricks some of the older crowd still have trouble with.

Next up was the 8 to 12 division with riders tearing it up in every section of the park. The field was filled with the likes of Joey Cattabiani, Justin Cymbalski, and Julian Jacquez, the three leaders in this division. Joey was shredding everything in site, with his over-extended “smith grinds” earning him a well-deserved first place.

The next division, 13 to 16, was another strong field of up and coming riders with one of the only board slides of the entire double kinked handrail by second place winner Dakota Osusky. Tyler Brandt of Mesa took first place, killing both the six set rail and the flat bar. Sabian Miller was a close follower landing third place in a large field of riders.

Thirty-one riders made up one of the hardest judged divisions, 16 and up. The tricks were flying with first place winner Ryan Cedro shredding back to back flat land tricks down the six set. Brenden Johnson received second place with Brandon Perdue following close behind to secure third place. This large field of riders had some confused, with Aaron Westerfield going unscored by skating the wrong heat. After killing everything in site, he was informed but was to tired to ride back to back heats.

The Girls division had a small turnout but with the GRO event on the same day we were lucky to see them at all. First place went to Natalie Das, one of the veteran local girls in Arizona, but it seemed all eyes were on Kora Gryzyb. Although the transition was not one of the scoring areas she pulled out an invert followed by a front and backside air. Be on the look out for her in the future, she will be out-skating most guys in a few years with her fearless style. Third place was a close call with Gabrielle Manning taking home the prize.

Lastly, the Advanced Sponsored was a session to be watched. Unfortunately as a photographer I needed to be watching less and shooting more, but how can you not just stare as Isaiah Johnson sails a tray flip down the big 4 flat 4 or Rayce Davis almost kills the videographer from Ocean_films tail sliding down the six set. First place went to Nick Florini who was having too much fun to stop skating when he was announced the winner and second place went to JP Pedilla. Third and fourth place went to Rayce Davis and Isaiah Johnson.

GIRLS

1. NATALIE DAS
2. KORA GRYZYB
3. GABRIELLE MANNING

7 & UNDER

1. TYSON ZANE
2. CARTER CYMBALSKI
3. ARMONDO LURMA

8-12

1. JOEY CATTABIANI
2. JUSTIN CYMBALSKI
3. JULIAN JACQUEZ

13-15

1. TYLER BRANDT
2. DAKOTA OSUSKY
3. SABIAN MILLER

16 & UP

1. RYAN CEDRO
2. TAYLOR AWAYAR
3. BRENDEN JOHNSON

ADV SPONSORED

1. NICK FIORINI
2. JP PADILLA
3. RAYCE DAVIS

BEST TRICK TJ ROGERS – Switch Big Heel, Switch FS Flip