By Colleen Kane
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A pair of brothers could have the Mobile Skatepark Series crowd doing double-takes today at Sawyer Point. And we're not talking about the high-flying Yasutoko brothers, professional in-line skating's power duo.

PHOTOS

Photo gallery: Mobile Skatepark Series

This twosome is still trying to get recognized, and Friday they got off to a good start.

Twins Kevin and Scott Raser, 18, of Snellville, Ga., qualified first and third in the amateur in-line street prelims to advance to today's finals. Fifty-six skaters competed in the first major event of the five-day series. Fifteen advanced to the finals.

"When I first got here, I didn't think I'd have that good of a line," Scott said. "But I'm really happy about it. I landed everything nice and clean. I'm just glad I didn't mess up."

Scott finished with an average score of 77.50 after two runs. Kevin scored 81.00. Mike Falcone of Eldersburg, Md., nudged in between with 79.75 points.

If you go

When: Today-Tuesday. Times: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. today; 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday; 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday; noon-8 p.m. Tuesday. Where: Sawyer Point. Admission: Free for spectators; $8 for any skateboarder, biker or skater who wishes to use the skatepark Tuesday. Related story • Skaters' cash infusion small

The Rasers will try today to advance to the Amateur World Championships. Scott placed 36th in the prelims at last year's Championships; Kevin was 43rd.

"Skill-wise we're pretty much the same, but the kind of tricks we do are different," Kevin said. "I do more stunts and fakie spins.

"Scott does a lot more technical tricks."

The pair began skating 6 1/2 years ago when a roller-hockey hobby morphed into trying out skateparks.

Now, they're both working toward turning professional.

They'll continue that in the finals at noon today at Sawyer Point.

And for more brotherly love, Eito and Takeshi Yasutoko will be in action as the professional competition kicks off with the in-line street and vert finals at 2 and 4:15 p.m.

Mobile Skatepark Series at Sawyer Point Park

Amateur Street Prelims advance to finals

Aaron Pyle (Middletown, OH)
Kevin Raser (Snellville, GA)
Mike Falcone (Eldersburg, MD)
Scott Raser (Snellville, GA)
Kacey Norris (Woodward, PA)
Warren Digne (Drancy, France)
Jimmy Hake (Youngstown, OH)
Jerry Butler (Shaker Heights, OH)
Nick Rother (Westminster, CA)
Isaac Callen (Aukland, New Zealand)
Steven Aleil (Paris, France)
Julien Spitzer (Paris, France)
Aviram Druckman (Israel)
Steve Heivly (Allentown, PA)
Scott Conner (Gaithersburg, MD)
*Amateur inline street finals begin today at noon

Amateur Vert Finals advance to Amateur World Championships

Steven Aleil (Paris, France)
Jesse Diana (Brick, NJ)
Bryant Castens (Columbus, NJ)
Mikey "Lightning" Benedetto (Belvedere, NJ)