Maloof Money Cup
Brazilian Leticia Bufoni brings home a whole lot of bacon
It was the biggest show in skate and everyone in the industry turned out for the Maloof Money Cup 2009. With a $25,000 purse for first, the top women’s street skaters grabbed their boards and hit the course. Media captured every moment as fans filled the stands in Costa Mesa, California July 10-12, the second annual “world’s greatest skateboarding event,” hosted by the Maloof brothers was in full swing. Young ladies in revealing plaid skirts and busty tops strutted through the aisles in the stands distributing energy drinks while girls in pink made their rounds, urging skater boys to spray themselves with Axe (double-pits-to-chesty).
Meanwhile on the course, girls also tore it up, with Brazilian Leticia Bufoni taking home the biggest money, a check for $25,000 made out to the sixteen year old.
The skaters shredded the world-class course (rumored to have cost $150,000) going above and beyond any park the boys of Dogtown could ever dream of in the 1970’s. Fast forward to present day in Southern California where sponsors and skaters make dreams come true and present the women of the skate world with a challenging course.
Each skater approached the course with her personal style and collectively the ladies illustrate attitude and finesse that defined them from the boys. Vanessa Torres, with her dark and wild hair, twisted and sprang to her feet after every missed landing. Bufoni used her hands to guide her stance with red polish glinting from her finger tips. Bufoni attacked the range of rails, ledges and stairs while Lacey Baker reminded everyone why she was crowned Money Cup champ in 2008.
Baker finished in second this year with a great contribution to the progression of women’s skating and amplifying the competitive energy. The Californian demonstrated her smooth style and over-the-shoulder look before launching her body and board to clear the staircase. Elissa Steamer pushed the pace, flying through the course to launch the biggest airs and epic drops of the day, off the Monster ledge and over the gap and finishing third.
All style-masters could not participate in the finals; unfortunately Lauren Perkins watched the women skate from the commentator’s stand, exchanging her skateboard for crutches after injuring her ankle the day prior during competition. Etnies rider and qualified finalist Rachel Reinhard sat the last heat out as well after medics wrapped her knee as the finals began. The eager 19 year old tested the waters, trying turns in the corner of the course before she was assisted out of the sun for the day with a pack of ice.
There were wounded ankles, elbows and everything in between as the ladies went all out for the Money Cup. A 50-slide off the ledge ended in a hard fall, Alexis Sablone wiped the blood from her head, picked herself up and continued the heat, taking sixth place overall.
Final Results:
Leticia Bufoni Sao Paulo, BRA $25,000
Lacey Baker Covina, CA USA $6,000
Elissa Steamer San Francisco, CA USA $4,000
Amy Caron San Francisco, CA USA $2,000
Marisa Dal Santo LaGrange, IL USA $1,000
- Add new comment
- 640 reads
