By Shannon Russell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mt. Auburn skateboarder Gary Collins figured he'd go pro someday. He just didn't think it was going to be Monday. The 26-year-old defeated 60 of the Midwest's best amateurs to win the World Cup Skateboarding Amateur Street Series contest Monday at Sawyer Point. His pro distinction was announced at the awards ceremony afterwards.

"It's not that big of a difference because I skate all the time anyway," Collins said.

Collins can begin earning money now that he's a pro.

TODAY'S SCHEDULE

At Sawyer Point Open Skatepark • 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. - Session I (Freestyle BMX) • 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. - Session 2 (Skateboard and Inline) • 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. - Session 3 (Skateboard and Inline) • 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. - Session 4 (Skateboard and Inline)

RELATED STORY

• Brazilian skateboarder hits the heights

WEEKEND COVERAGE

• Nyquist rides to the sky • Inliner on line for X Games • Muscle, fitness key to competing • Amateurs meet pros, show skills • Skate event a prime target

World Cup judge and Mobile Skatepark Series head skateboarding judge Jason Rothmayer said the toughest part of turning pro is that you can't go back. If Collins can't hang with the pros, he can never regain his amateur status.

But Rothmayer doesn't foresee troubles for Collins.

"He looked great and skated great," Rothmayer said. "This (street course) isn't even his forte. He's one of the best guys you'll see in a cement park.

MOVING ON: After competing in Cincinnati, several athletes received bids to premeire contests. Inline street skaters Brian Aragon qualified for the X Games and Gravity Games, and inliner Stephane Alfonso received an X Games invite.

Pro vert inliners Marco de Santi and Thumper Nagasakso earned Gravity Games invites and X Games berths went to Sven Boekhorst and Fabiola da Silva.

SAFETY FIRST: Dr. Scott Slivka, with Peak Performance Orthopedic & Sports Medicine, reported few injuries after four skatepark days. There were two concussions, one fracture and one lost tooth.

RAIN RECOVERY: The Freestyle BMX Street and Vert Best Trick contests were held Monday after rain canceled the events Sunday. John Parker won the Vert Sick Trick with a Double Tail Whip, and Allan Cooke won the Street Sick Trick with a Tail Whip Transfer.

PIECE OF THE PUZZLE: Rick Thorne unleashed a brand new move in Monday's Vert Sick Trick contest and took a second place finish. His Alley Oop 540 Air - a backward spinning landing on the ramp - was a big hit, he said.

"I was pretty stoked because it's something I really wanted to do," said Thorne, 33.

Thorne came in first among extreme athletes in an impromptu Most Tattoos survey. The Californian got his first tattoo at age 20, and has 45 tattoos and counting.

Most are Biblical quotes, inspirational quotes and names.

"They're all one big puzzle. They're the story of my life," Thorne said.

FINALE: Competition concluded Monday with skateboarding contests. Danny Mayer of California won the Pro Vert Best Trick, and Chad Bartie won the Pro Street Best Trick.

E-mail srussell@enquirer.com