By Shannon Russell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Josh Ketcham, 13, of Silver Grove, KY., leans on his skateboard near the vert ramp. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

Professional inline skater Brian Aragon, 19, came to Cincinnati's Mobile Skatepark Series stop hoping to challenge some of the world's best inline competitors.

He left with an invitation to the August's X Games IX.

"I just can't believe it," Aragon said. "Last year I was always so close to qualifying (for the X Games), so to finally get it is so amazing."

After Saturday's ASA Inline Pro Street Prelims, the Colorado native was .38 of a point behind then-first Chris Fleener. Aragon took control in Sunday's 10-man finals and finished with an 89.75, two-run total, edging out France's Stephane Alfano (87.25) for his first professional contest win.

Aragon, who competed in last week's X Games Global Championships in San Antonio, also earned a bid to the Gravity Games with his street final score. And before he left Sawyer Point on Saturday afternoon, the second-year pro won the Best Trick award in the ASA Street Inline Sick Trick Contest.

RAIN DELAY: Competition was suspended at 2:30 p.m. Sunday because of rain and the event was called off by 5 p.m. Competition begins at 11:30 a.m. today.

STRESS TEST: Professional inline skater Jaren Grob landed on his face Saturday attempting a spin off a wedge and loosened his right front tooth's veneer.

But Grob's teeth have been the least of his worries. The 22-year-old skater was burglarized at the X Games Global Championships last week, and his skates, shirts, phone charger and Team USA gold medal were stolen.

Grob missed his flight to Cincinnati and had to catch a train and a bus, arriving at his hotel an hour before he was to skate. He wore skates provided by pro pal Ian Brown and finished sixth in Sunday's ASA Pro Inline Street Finals.

HUH?: Brazilian female inline skating Fabiola da Silva qualified for the X Games after placing eighth in Saturday's ASA Inline Pro Vert Finals. She had no idea until she was asked about it Sunday afternoon.

"I did? That's good," said da Silva, 23. "I know a lot of girls look up to me so when I don't do good I'm really hard on myself."

AMATEUR INLINE SKATE: Aaron Pyle from Middletown qualified for the ASA World Amateur Championships with a second-place finish. Championship berths also went to winner Randy DeLand of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, as well as Steven Bundy (National City, Cal.), Mike Currier (Toledo), Chad Taylor (Mt. Airy, Md.), Kevin Raser (Snellville, Ga.) and Steve Badger (Alexandria, Va.).