The Street League DC Pro Tour has announced that Ishod Wair, Austyn Gillette, Jimmy Carlin, Tom Asta, and Matt Miller will be the pro skateboarders awarded competitive spots in its 2012 series.
In March, Street League revealed a new aspect of the competition entitled “The Selection,” in which a voting-based qualifier would determine who would earn five of six open spots in the league. Ten prominent pros -- not yet in the league -- released never-before-seen footage that was then voted on by fans, Street League judges, and current Street League pros.
Using a point system mirroring that of the championship, the ten candidates were ranked and the top five were selected for the league. The sixth and final open spot will be given to a European pro through a similar qualifier held at the DC Embassy Park in Barcelona, Spain.
Spearheaded by skateboard mogul Rob Dyrdek, Street League has made its mark as the premier skateboard series in its first two seasons. The league’s assembly of world-renowned skateboarders and its large prize purse were previously unheard of in skateboard competitions. According to their official press release, the 2011 season was the highest viewed contest series in skateboarding history with nearly 50,000 fans in attendance and over 1.4 billion global impressions.
The series aims to further catapult its success with the addition of the new selection process, customized course designs, and updated competition format.
“Our goal is to continue to refine the series and make it better year-after-year,” said Dyrdek in the press release. “Beyond the evolution of our courses, format, and qualification process, 2012 will mark significant expansions in Street League’s licensed products, permanent plaza efforts, and international presence as we solidify our position as the definitive professional skateboarding property.”
In March, Street League announced its 2012 schedule for its cross-country tour. Past champions Sean Malto and Nyjah Huston will compete against skateboard heavyweights such as Chris Cole, Paul Rodriguez, and Ryan Sheckler for a chance to win more than $1.6 million in prize money.
The competition will kick off on May 18 in Kansas City, Missouri, the hometown of defending champion Sean Malto. The tour will then make its return to Southern California on June 15 in Ontario. The third stop will be in Glendale, Arizona on July 14, followed by the final event in New Jersey on August 26, where one pro will be crowned a Street League champion.
By Jean Ortiz-Luis
Contributing Writer for The Daily Sports Herald
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