GLENDALE – On a cool winter afternoon, 208 skateboarders of all ages competed in the Cowtown Skateboards’ Union Hills Classic, eager for the chance to win bragging rights and an Arizona-shaped trophy. Others were stoked to win raffle prizes from such skate brands as OJ Wheels and Santa Cruz Skateboards.
The competition, which included divisions for different age brackets (from pee wee to 40+), men, women and sponsored skaters. Each heat included four skaters, with three minutes to show judges their best tricks.
Janthavy Norton won first place in the women’s advanced division at the Union Hills Classic, sponsored by Cowtown Skateboards. Norton is sponsored by nine companies, including Arizona-based Dead Canary Skateboards and Straye footwear. (Photo by Sarah Donahue/Cronkite News)Being a girl in the skate world is empowering for Ava Sorensen, 14. “It makes me feel like I can intimidate people,” she said. “… like I’m the best out there.” The Phoenix teen placed third in the women’s advanced division. (Photo by Sarah Donahue/Cronkite News)Janthavy Norton, Ava Sorensen and Christine Cottam won awards for their performances in the women’s advanced division of the Union Hills Classic in Glendale. (Photo by Sarah Donahue/Cronkite News)“I have so much energy so I can’t sit and meditate if I tried … skateboarding has brought me a lot of peace and self expression and helped me set into my identity,” said Janthavy Norton, 22, of Phoenix. (Photo by Sarah Donahue/Cronkite News)Friends Savannah Irvin (left), and Paige Heyn competed together. Irvin’s advice for those who compete: “Make friends and just have fun with it, don’t take it super seriously.” (Photo by Sarah Donahue/Cronkite News)Although too injured to compete, Christina Pantea, Mikey Ann and Tyler Phillips still came out to support fellow skaters. (Photo by Sarah Donahue/Cronkite News)
