PIERRE-LUC GAGNON GIVES CANADA GOLD AT $104,400 USD SOLO MOBILE SLAM CITY JAM

VANCOUVER (Monday, August 29, 2005) – North Americans dominated the final results of the $104,400 USD Solo Mobile Slam City Jam, a three-day festival of skateboarding contests, culture and camaraderie held at BC Place Stadium.

The final day crowd packed the stands near the Vert Ramp and had plenty to cheer about as Canadian Pierre-Luc Gagnon of Montreal took the gold in the Men’s Vert. Gagnon made headlines earlier this month by winning the X Games held in Los Angeles and televised around the world on ESPN. Gagnon took home the first-place prize purse of $15,000 USD.

The balance of the podium’s gold medal awards were swept by Americans: Paul Rodriguez (a.k.a. P-Rod) took first place in Men’s Street, Amy Caron won Women’s Street and Cara-Beth Burnside was first in Women’s Vert.

The final results for the $104,400 USD Solo Mobile Slam City Jam:

Men’s Street

1. Paul Rodriguez - 20 - North Hills, CA, USA - $15,000US
2. Jereme Rogers - 20 - North Hills, CA, USA - $8,000US
3. Ryan Sheckler - 15 - San Clemente, CA, USA - $5,000US

Men’s Vert

1. Pierre-Luc Gagnon - 25 - Montreal, PQ, CAN - $15,000US
2. Bob Burnquist - 28 - Rio de Janiero BRAZIL - $8,000US
3. Bucky Lasek - 32 - Baltimore MD, USA - $5,000US

Women’s Street

1. Amy Caron - 20 - CA, USA - $2,500US
2. Lacey Baker - 13 - Covina, CA, USA - $1,250US
3. Lauren Perkins - 16 - Huntington Beach, CA, USA - $800US

Women’s Vert

1. Cara-Beth Burnside - CA, USA - $2,500US
2. Mimi Knoop - 26 - Chesapeake VA, USA - $1,250US
3. Lyn-z Adams Hawkins - 15 - Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA, USA - $800US

The Concrete Powder Invitational Manual Pad Contest

1. Ronnie Creager - 31 - Orange, CA USA - $1,500US
2. Geoff Dermer - 25 - Vancouver, BC CAN - $1,000US
3. Chris Haslam - 24 - Richmond, BC CAN - $700US
4. Brandon Biebel - 29 - Sacramento, CA CAN - $500US
5. Malcolm Watson - 27 - Los Angeles, CA USA - $300US

The Legends of Street Contest

1. Chris Pastras - Los Angeles, CA USA - $1,000US
2. Eric Dressen - Los Angeles, CA USA - $800US
3. Steve Caballero - San Jose, CA USA - $600US
4. Rob Allen - Oakland, CA USA - $500US

In the “Best Trick” contests, Gailea Momolu won $1,000US on the Bones Rail with a nollie big spin backside lipslide. Chis Haslam scored $1,000US for Best Trick on the Sessions ledge, with a crooked grind to front-foot late flip. For the KR3W “Farthest Gap” contest, Johnny Layton and Alex Chalmers landed across a 17’6” divide to tie for first, and together made a special request to the judges to share their prize with Josh Evin, awarding him an impromptu honourable mention.

Event organizers were buoyed by strong feedback from athletes, fans and sponsors.

“We’re exactly where we want to be”, said Solo Mobile Slam City Jam President Kleo Landucci, the 27-year-old Vancouver business woman who headed up the organizing committee. “The attendance is up from last year, despite the date change, and we feel that we are in an excellent position to take this event to the next level, to showcase these extraordinary athletes, and help to build with the community as part of our year-round commitment to skateboarding.”

Total attendance for the three day event was 20,162, with a total attendance of 9,673 for the finals on Sunday.