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`The Monster' to face Taiwan's best

Ko Cia-en, left, Chang Hung-yi, center, and Liao Wu-hsiung are scheduled to participate in this year's Nutrilite Extreme Challenge. PHOTO: JULES QUARTLY, TAIPEI TIMES

Look out, "The Monster" is about to hang and land in Taiwan.

The best street in-line skater in the world, Jaren Grob, will compete against the rest at the 2002 Nutrilite Extreme Challenge in Taipei early next month.

Joining him for the ride will be top 10 international skaters Sam Fogarty and Randy Marino, along with female skater Fabiola Da Silva -- who's so good they changed the laws of the game for her.

All local and foreign skaters are invited to compete in the skateboard, BMX, vert and street course competitions, organizers said yesterday at the media launch of the second annual Extreme Challenge, at Taipei City Hall.

A record US$10,000 is up for grabs, as well as qualification for the Aggressive Skaters Association (ASA) Tour championship in the US later this year.

"This is by far the biggest and best extreme event of the year, bar none," said Jim Mehren, president of Bayshore Pacific Sports and Entertainments.

"We're building on the success of last year and expanding the event by inviting the best players in the game to come over and show everyone how it can be done.

"We have open registration for the competition, which means anyone can sign up and compete in the various disciplines, against the best in the world."

Last year's local in-line skating champion, Chang Hung-yi (章弘毅) and BMX title holder Liao Wu-hsiung (廖武雄) will once again take part, but it's expected they will have to hang tough against a fresh crop of local talent.

Organized with the Taipei City Government and the Olympia Foundation [which is associated with the International Olympic Committee], the Extreme Challenge has been adopted by Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and his "Use your head, Don't shake it," anti-drugs campaign.

Taipei City Hall Assistant Secretary Liu Pao-kuei (劉寶貴) said, "It's very important to involve children in sports, it's good for their health and something useful for them to do."

Chia Wei-jieh (賈偉節) amplified the theme by adding, "No drugs, more exercise. All the public must realize that sport like this can help in the fight against drugs."

This could be news to Grob, who is best-known for pushing the envelope as a skater and party animal.

His famed "no practices-no coaches-no regimen" approach to the sport hasn't held him back, as he was ranked No. 1 street skater and No. 8 on the vert course by the ASA.

According to his Web site, his philosophy is: "I'll stay out until like 4am before an event. ... We do whatever we want, and that's the whole skating thing: Freedom. You don't have to do anything."

The diminutive Utah, US-born skater is called "The Monster" because "he takes it to the limit," said Mehren. "He's an explosive skater and we're lucky to get him."

His friend and party partner, Randy Marino from Texas in the US, is also a pro snowboarder and is ranked in the top 10 for both street and vert.

Also confirmed for the event, Aussie Sam Fogarty was voted best all-around skater for two year's running from 1999 and finished last season as No. 3 in street and No. 5 in vert.

They will be joined by the unchallenged best female in-line skater in the world, Fabiola Da Silva, from Brazil, who is 23-years-old and already has four top-10 finishes in the men's vert division this year.

She's so good, the ASA adopted the "Fabiola Rule" in 2000, which allows women to qualify for the men's competition.

Another two top skaters will be confirmed for the event, organizers said.

2002 Nutrilite Extreme Challenge

Sept. 7 and Sept. 8

CKS Memorial Square

For registration: http://www.extremechallenge.net or http://home.kimo.com.tw/cssa_axc

Bayshore Pacific Sports and Entertainment (02) 2777.1725
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