Monster Energy congratulates team rider Moto Shibata on taking first place in Men's Vert Best Trick at the Tony Hawk's Vert Alert contest in Salt Lake City, Utah.
SALT LAKE CITY, June 26, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Style and progression for the win! Monster Energy congratulates team rider Moto Shibata on taking first place in Men's Vert Best Trick at the Tony Hawk's Vert Alert contest in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the vertical competition hosted by skateboard icon Tony Hawk at Vivint Arena, the 27-year-old from Osaka, Japan, also took second place in Men's Skateboard Vert in an elite field of vertical skateboarders.
Introduced in 2021, Tony Hawk's Vert Alert is dedicated to showcasing the progression and history of vertical skateboarding. From June 23-24, this year's contest took place as part of the Road to X Games series, allowing the top six riders in men's competition as well as the top eight riders in women's direct qualification into X Games California 2023 in July. Presented by the Utah Sports Commission, the event also featured a skateboard legends demo – including Tony Hawk himself – and offered a total purse of $75,000 for men's and women's halfpipe skateboarding competitions.
The halfpipe competition was showcased on Tony Hawk's private vertical ramp, moved to Utah for the event, and featured a huge channel as well as massive vert extensions. For the Best Trick contest, the energetic crowd inside Vivint Arena was treated to the most innovative and progressive halfpipe skateboarding in the world, with several never-been-done tricks landed, including the first women's 720 aerial by Arisa Trew.
For the Best Trick event, Monster Energy's Shibata also brought a never-been-done aerial trick to the table. But as the 20-minute time limit for the session kept moving forward, the Japanese style icon was having trouble landing the innovative move. With only 38 seconds remaining in the final, Shibata finally pulled the landing on a historic maneuver: An alley-oop kickflip McTwist earned him the win in Saturday's Best Trick competition, as well as standing ovations from the crowd in Utah.
Also putting on a strong showing in the Best Trick event, 23-year-old Tom Schaar from Malibu, California, put down two innovative tricks over the vert ramp's massive channel: A technical alley-oop kickflip backside lipslide and alley-oop Caballerial backside lipslide put the vert skating powerhouse in contention for the top spot.
In Saturday's Men's Vert final, the eight qualified riders were judged on overall impression in a 45-minute jam session. When all was said and done, Shibata brought home a strong second-place finish after working the entire ramp with style, speed, and technical moves throughout the session.
Shibata's trick highlights at Tony Hawk's Vert Alert included huge crossbone and judo airs, alley-oop McTwist, stalefish McTwist, fakie 540 backside grab, frontside Caballerial Madonna, frontside Caballerial bigspin varial frontside grab, alley-oop front foot impossible, kickflip McTwist, sugarcane grind, front foot impossible Madonna and fakie backside 540 tailgrab for 89.55 points and second place.
Monster Energy's Shibata has competed as a professional skateboarder since the age of 13. He is known for his stylish blend of high airs, old-school tricks, and new-school innovation. In 2016, he made history as the first male Japanese skateboarder to earn a medal at an X Games (Austin). After recently winning silver in Vert Best Trick at X Games Chiba 2023, he currently owns five X Games medals (one gold, four silver).
Also putting down technical runs in the final, Monster Energy's Schaar finished in sixth place, thereby earning qualification into X Games California alongside teammate Shibata. Schaar's highest-scoring run included alley-oop backside lipslide over the channel, massive tailgrab 540, heelflip Indy, 360 kickflip Indy to fakie, switch backside disaster, Caballerial backside disaster revert, and a no-handed switch kickflip.
The perfect run netted sixth place in the session judged on overall impression, but as contest commentator Paul Zitzer said: "No one could ever replicate that run!"
For more on Moto Shibata, Tom Schaar, and the Monster Energy skateboarding team, visit http://www.monsterenergy.com. Follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok for exclusive updates as the action sports season continues.
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About Monster Energy
Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes, and musicians represent. More than a drink, it's the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers, and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at http://www.monsterenergy.com.
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