Taiwan's high-flying in-line skaters are to take on the world, at the Nutrilite Extreme Challenge this month in Taipei.
Seven world-ranked skaters are slated to appear at the Nutrilite Extreme challenge on Nov. 10 and 11, near the Warner Village complex in Taipei.
Additionally, local in-line skaters will get the chance to compete for US$10,000 in prize money and book a berth for next year's world championships.
"So the event has a two-fold significance," said Jim Mehren, the president of Bayshore Pacific Sports, which is organizing the competition.
"First, there is the international presence of seven of the world's best skaters coming to Taiwan for the first time.
"Second, local skaters have the opportunity to represent Taiwan in the world championships next year."
Among the big names swooping in on Taipei are the dynamic Yasutoko brothers from Japan. The 15- and 17-year-olds were raised at their father's skateboard park and have begun to dominate the skating world.
Relative veteran and former number one Matt Lindenmuth, the first person to do a triple flip, is also expected to turn up.
Mehren said that previous events in Taiwan featured mainly street skating, whereas this competition would highlight the half pipe -- which is an inverted arch construction.
"This is probably the most exciting event in skating, because of the speed that can be generated and the agility of the tricks."
Already, 120 local skaters have signed up for the challenge, to be held in the parking lot, between New York New York department store and the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
A squad of the biggest names in Taiwan are slated for the event, including Jacky Chen (
Andreas Lai (
A BMX tourney and skateboard competition -- which will include "the king of skateboarding" Huang Yao-te (
To complete the picture there is Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
Other sideshow events, such as a performance from Taiwan's hottest hip-hop dance group TBC, have also been set up.
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