Finalists John Canton of Lumberton and Jennifer Soto and TJ Saccoh of Jersey City take a break.
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Maple Shade man takes top prize in Jersey City skateboard competition

Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Mark Maurer/The Jersey Journal

A 21-year-old South Jersey man was named victor at the ?Shoe Power? skateboard contest at Parlay Studios in Jersey City on Saturday.

The panel of judges observed 14 skaters as they worked their magic in a jam-formatted invitational trick contest at a makeshift park outside the studio. Alex Grimes, of Maple Shade in Burlington County, won $500 and a custom skateboard with screen printing.

Grimes, who has been skateboarding since age 13, said his consistency and style impressed the judges.

?Skateboarding is considered a much more original sport now,? Grimes said. ?It?s not just about throwing yourself down a flight of stairs.?

About 350 people attended the skate-a-thon, film and competition, said managing partner Arnie Friedland.
NYC-based Ride5 Media Group organized ?Shoe Power,? a social media-driven marketing campaign as well as a three-minute short film.

Of the 14 participants, three moved on to the final round. Runner-up Mike Griggs won $250, and third-place contestant Jennifer Soto won $100, Friedland said.

The event was sponsored by Newark Avenue's Nine Lives, Jetty, Emptypools Indie Apparel, Red Bull, New Jersey Beer Company, 5boro nyc and Grove Street Bicycles.

http://photos.nj.com/4505/gallery/jer ... teboard-a-thon/index.html