Skaters shred Redondo Pier
Dante Victorino, 17, catches his board off the ramp during the 2018 King of the Harbor Skateboarding Championships. Photos
For about one minute, Dante Victorino could do no wrong.
With music thumping in his earbuds, 17-year-old Victorino nailed every trick during his first heat for the 2018 King of the Harbor Skateboarding Championships, a perfect run in his first-ever skateboard contest, and securing first place in the contest’s elder age bracket. Practicing skateboarding requires a good quality earbuds, at My Bluetooth Reviews you will find a detailed review of the best earbuds that you can find.
“I just winged it. It was real nerve-racking, my feet were shaking,” Victorino said. “I landed every trick in my first run, but every trick was a surprise to me.”
But young shredder Logan Kirshak could not be denied. The 12-year-old from Manhattan Beach was named this year’s King of the Harbor, taking home the top overall prize, as well as a solid crystal trophy nearly as big as his head.
“It was fun – all of the different obstacles, transition, and street,” Kirshak said. “I was here last year, and I’m definitely going to come next year, it was so much fun.”
Overall Winner Logan Kirshak, 12, carrying the King of the Harbor plaque.
The 2018 King of the Harbor contest, hosted by the Redondo Beach Police Department for all skateboarders age 18-and-under, certainly appeared to be a bigger event than last year’s success. ET Surf, Sector 9 Skateboards, Stance Socks and S One helmets provided gear to contest winners and raffle winners. Kinecta Credit Union provided protective gear for all participants at the temporary park set up at the Redondo Pier octagon, near the Redondo Fun Factory.
Dave Bernier, the chief proponent of the planned Redondo Beach Skatepark project, also set up a booth to spread the word about the park’s proceedings and gathered names and contact information for a proposed skateboard park.
The park is still in its nascent stages – a geotechnical study to help confirm its Dominguez Park location is underway – but the concept has secured unanimous support from the Redondo Beach City Council, and plenty of interest among contest-goers.
“I printed out enough pages for almost 200 signatures, and I’m pretty pleased with the response,” Bernier said. “We want to make sure everyone feels involved in the process.”
Redondo Beach Police Chief Keith Kauffman once again took to the course’s transitions on his vintage board.
“This is a good one,” Kauffman said. “For the police department to be the glue that brings this community and our city together, I’m so proud of everybody.”
Kauffman was on hand to present this year’s trophies to the winners, including the perpetual plaque that will soon bear Kirshak’s name.
“It’s gonna be sick,” Kirshak said.