Greg Lutzka has been competing on the Dew Tour since it started in 2005, but this season is definitely working for him. He holds the overall lead in the skate park discipline, which has been hands down one of the tightest comps all season.
Greg Lutzka learning he won at the Skate Open
“I worked really hard to win the stop in Boston and I got second in Portland and second in Salt Lake City,” Lutzka said. “I’ve always wanted to win the Dew Cup and that would be a dream come true for sure.
“I just try to go out there and have fun, enjoy riding my skateboard and do what I love to do at the end of the day. Some days I’ll be feeling it. I just show up and I start skating and that’s normally how I do my best.”
Greg Lutzka
As the top-ranked skater heading into this week’s Dew Tour Championships in Las Vegas, Lutzka can collect his first Dew Cup with a win or a second place finish. But the rest of the top-five guys aren’t far behind, and they’re all gunning for it.
Chaz Ortiz
There’s been a different winner at each stop this season, and it was Chaz Ortiz’s turn in Salt Lake. Now he’s in second overall with 264 points to Lutzka’s 280 and he’s stoked for the finals.
What the skate park course will look like in Vegas
“It’s good to be on the podium, but it’s better to be on top,” Ortiz said. “I’m just excited for Vegas.”
Lutzka's finished on the podium all season long
If Lutzka finishes fourth or lower, and Ortiz wins or gets second, Ortiz becomes a two-time Dew Cup winner. His earned his first Dew Cup during his rookie season when he was only 14 years old.
Ryan Sheckler
Ryan Sheckler is the next in line for the Dew Cup if either of those guys don’t come through. He’s ranked third with 248 points, and if he wins and Lutzka places fourth or lower, and Ortiz finishes third or lower, he wins the Cup.
Ortiz and Sheckler signing autographs
If that pans out, Sheckler would earn his fourth Dew Cup. He was the Dew Cup champ from '05-'07, and he’s had 12 career wins on the Dew Tour, but none so far this season.
Ryan Sheckler
“I’m just starting the get frustrated with myself not winning contests,” Sheckler said. “I’m going to try to do as much as I can to get that going again.
“You can’t mess up and win the contest, so I’m just going to work on my consistency a little bit more and on planning out my tricks,” he continued. “But it’s all good. I’m happy. Good for Chaz and good for Greg, but I’m coming out hot in Vegas.”
P-Rod used his switch mastery to win in Portland
Paul Rodriguez is also in the running for the Dew Cup as the skater ranked fourth overall. He can take it with a win in Vegas, as long as Lutzka finishes fifth or lower, Ortiz finishes third or lower and Sheckler finishes second or lower. P-Rod took the win in Portland at the Wendy’s Invitational, so it’s entirely possible he’ll walk away with the Dew Cup in Vegas.
Paul Rodriguez
“I come to always do my best and attempt to win, so that’s just always the mindset you got to focus on and keep your eye on the prize and try not to let anything deter you from that,” P-Rod said.
Bastien Salabanzi
France’s Bastien Salabanzi made a comeback this year after deciding to compete in the NYC Maloof contest, and just two weeks later he returned to the States for the first Dew Tour of the season in June. After spending a few years focusing on his family, it was clear his style and talent hadn’t gone anywhere.
Greg Lutzka
“I knew that at 25 years old I felt great and I really wanted to get it going,” Salabanzi said. “And there’s no place like America to really make it happen. We don’t have events like this in France.”
Bastien Salabanzi
He’s finished in top-10 all season, and he’s now fifth overall with a slim chance to win the first Dew Cup of his career.
Chaz Ortiz
All the action will go down at the Hard Rock this Friday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. For the first time in the Tour’s history, the park course will be set up inside the legendary concert venue, The Joint by Rogue. Dew Tour tickets are still available, so check out all the details for the Dew Tour Championships.
Check out the Alli photo gallery of the guys in the running for the Dew Cup in skate park.
Watch highlights of the skate park Dew Cup contenders from the entire season
