Chris Cole, Alex Perelson and Leticia Bufoni rise to the top at Maloof Money Cup!
Written by Sasha Steinhorst
Monday, 06 July 2009
The largest prize purse in skateboard history $450,000+ USD was given away this weekend at the Maloof Money Cup. Alex Perelson pulled the 900 on his way to claiming the Vert title and $75,000. Chris Cole was simple unstoppable on his was to winning a cool $100,000 for his efforts in the street. And young Brazilian phenom Leticia Bufoni walked away with the Ladies title and $25,000.
Maloof Money Cup 2009
The 2nd annual Maloof Money Cup just wrapped up and it was a chart topping event. The Orange County Fairgrounds was the place to be this past weekend as it provided an ideal location for the world's best skateboarders to go off. When the Maloof's decide to do something they go all out, from constructing one of the best contest courses in history to having Snoop Dogg and Koby Bryant on the premises.
The girls contest was the first to kick off the weekend, and let me tell you these chicks ripped. Elissa Steamer came out swinging in the first 2 sections and was on top but got stuck on a few moves on the Rincon area and ended up getting Elissa into a well deserved 3rd place finish. Lacey Baker got on the podium with hardflips down the Rincon stairs and nose wheelie nollie heels out across the 3 up 3 down stairs. Lacey snagged 2nd place and $6000 bucks for her efforts. But it was Leticia Bufoni that walked away in 1st place and $25,000 richer. Leticia ripped all three sections with smooth casual style and a big bag of tricks. Congratulations to all the ladies that put it down.
Next we have the Vert event and let me tell you that this was one of the most exciting vert contests ever. Bob Burnquist had the mini mega section on lock with switch lips and switch nosegrinds across the rainbow rail and was in the top spot after the first round. Bob also ripped section 2 with over head high frontside 540's and frontside Cab's and ended up in 3rd place. Pierre-Luc has proved time and time again that he can stay cool in these situations. PLG did Pop Shove It Nosegrinds across the rainbow rail as well as massive 720's and a 360 flip mute grab to fakie. On just about any other day PLG would have got the victory but this wasn't any other day. It was actually Alex Perelson's day because this low key ripper pulled it all and just ripped the shit out of the ramp. Alex was just in that mode and went off with massive kickflip 540's, Indy 360's over the channel, and a first try enormous 900. It was no surprise to anyone that Alex got 1st place and the $75,000 bucks except for maybe Alex himself who actually cracked a smile for the first time when the final results were announced. If this is any indication of the future of vert skating then we are heading towards some good times.
The last event of the weekend was the Men's Street Finals and all I can say is F$%K! It was so insane it reminded me of a video game. Rookie Torey Pudwill is on some next level shit. Torey is the complete package with the biggest bag of tricks and one of the best flicks ever. Torey skating well all weekend and got slotted into 4th place. Nyjah Houston got on podium for the second year in a row with a 3rd place finish. Nyjah would rattle off extremely tough maneuvers like he's been skating for 30 years but the kid is only 14. I think the crowd favorite was Tommy Sandoval with his balls to the wall approach. Tommy skated the Rincon rail like it was a parking curb and pulled huge kickflips off the wall into the Zoo York banks. A well deserved 2nd place and $30,000 bucks was awarded to Tommy. But only one guy can win the $100,000 pay check and that guy was none other than Chris Cole. Cole brought his A game with him and destroyed all three sections. Cab front blunts down the rail and switch 360 flips down the Rincon stairs helped get Chris into a 1st place finish.
Thanks to all the organizers, spectators, and especially the skaters for making this one of the best contests in history. I also want to give Jake Brown a special thank you for his awards speech. Jake proved that human's can exist without having any brain cells left. I can't wait till next year.