FUEL TV: Vans Downtown Showdown

The 2009 Vans Downtown Showdown absolutely blew up last night at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, CA! Congrats to Nick Merlino, Jani Laitiala (again), and the Foundation team for killing it the hardest (at least according to the judges). Here are the official results and don't forget our HD video replays.

 

Girl's Little China Girl
1.Zered Bassett (Zoo York) - $2,500
2.Angel Ramirez (Foundation) - $1,500
3.Ron Deily (Zoo York) - $1,000

Flip's Extremely Sorry
1.Jani Laitiala (Blind) - $2,500
2.Nick Trapasso (Toy Machine) - $1,500
3.Louie Lopez (Flip) - $1,000

Creature's Hesh Cross
1.Vince Del Valle (Black Label) - $2,500
2.Angel Ramirez (Foundation) - $1,500
3.Jani Laitiala (Blind) - $1,000

Black Label's Drunk Tank
1.Nick Merlino (Foundation) - $2,500
2.Billy Marks (Toy Machine) - $1,500
3.Felipe Ortiz (Blind) - $1,000

Top Am Performance
Nick Merlino (Foundation) - $5,000

Top Pro Performance
Jani Laitiala (Blind) - $10,000

Overall Team Winner
Foundation ($30,000)
Blind 2nd ($15,000)
Toy Machine 3rd ($5,000)

 

(photo: Vans)

Get ready to see skateboarding’s top pros and ams vie for their piece of $85,000 as the 5th Annual Vans Downtown Showdown presented by Rockstar Energy Drink invades Paramount Studios’ Back Lot this Saturday, September 26. The top teams in skateboarding including Girl, Flip, Blind (2008 Top Team), Creature, Black Label, Foundation, Toy Machine, SK8MAFIA and Zoo York each submitted plans for obstacles and Vans has picked the best of the lot.

(UPDATE: You can check out the 2009 obstacles here.)

Girl, Flip, Black Label and Creature’s designs have been chosen and custom built as part of this year’s Showdown course. Each team will session the four unique obstacles in a round-robin format with awards going out for top team, best pro, top am, best performance by obstacle and FUEL TV’s Viewer’s Choice.

Expected skaters include Mike Carroll, Rick Howard, Brian Anderson, Alex Olson, Sean Malto, Mike Mo Capaldi, Guy Mariano, Geoff Rowley, Louie Lopez, Curren Caples, David Gonzalez, Jake Duncombe, Ronnie Creager, Jani Laitiala (2008 Top Pro), Neil Heddings, Sam Hitz, Shuriken Shannon, Chris Troy, Adam Alfaro, Corey Duffel, Sierra Fellers, Abdias Rivera, Ed Templeton, Austin Stephens, Johnny Layton, Billy Marks, Leo Romero, Kellen James, Peter Smolik, Wes Kremer, Zered Bassett, Brandon Westgate, Chaz Ortiz, Eli Reed and more.

Those that can’t make it to this year’s Showdown can catch a live HD webcast powered by FUEL TV this Saturday, September 26 from 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm at fuel.tv/downtownshowdown.

Viewers will also have a chance to win a Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart, an Epiphone Les Paul Special II guitar and other great prizes from Vans and Rockstar Energy drink. Visit www.vans.com/downtownshowdown today for details and tune in to the webcast for your chance to score.

The Vans Downtown Showdown is made possible by the support of Rockstar Energy Drink, FUEL TV, Mitsubishi Motors, Epiphone and SPoTlight Productions