Last week, I informed you about the Dew Tour, an action sports competition that travels throughout the country. Before athletes think about advancing into the further stages in Portland, Oregon, Salt Lake City, Utah and Las Vegas, Nevada, they have to prove their worth in wonderful Ocean City, Maryland! In my previous article, I discussed what you will see at the Dew Tour. This time, I’ll let you know what notable athletes will be here and what they’re competing for.

Skaters
Shaun White
Age: 25
Hometown: Carlsbad, Calif.
Competing in: Vert
    Shaun White is the biggest attraction in action sports since Tony Hawk. The two-time Olympic gold medalist has been part of the Dew Tour since its inception and is a dominant force on the vertical ramp. He is looking to earn his second Dew Cup after winning the Skate Vert in 2007.

Bucky Lasek
Age: 39
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
Competing in: Bowl, Vert
    Our hometown hero is a skateboard veteran who has been an intense competitor for over 20 years. Lasek is another formidable opponent on the Skate Vert since taking home the cup four of the last six years. He is the only skater who has performed a 720 on the vert and landed backwards.

Bob Burnquist
Age: 35
Hometown: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Competing in: Bowl, Vert
    Here’s another skateboarder you’ve been dying to see ever since you performed your first trick as him in the Tony Hawk video games. Burnquist is known for his innovative vert tricks such as the Burntwist, and is sure to put on a hell of a show for fans.

Rune Glifberg
Age: 36
Hometown: Copenhagen, Denmark
Competing in: Bowl, Vert
    This veteran is one of the most wild and skilled skaters in the world. Whatever obstacle is in the way, he is willing to dig into his deep bag of tricks to earn a big score. The Kickflip Backside Lipside is known as his best trick.

BMX Bikers
Dave Mirra
Age: 38
Hometown: Syracuse, NY
Competing in: Park
    Just as Tony Hawk made a massive impact in skateboarding, Dave Mirra is a BMX icon and legend. The man with the most X Game medals will definitely put on one of the best shows of the weekend.

Daniel Dhers
Age: 26
Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela
Competing in: Park
    Although he’s been riding BMX for most of his life, Dhers has entered competition in the US only a few years ago. He has since made a name for himself by winning the Dew Cup four times since his debut in 2006; his latest championship coming from last year’s tour.

Garrett Reynolds
Age: 20
Hometown: Toms River, NJ
Competing in: Park
    You would think this kid is a rookie or even new to professional competition, but Reynolds has been a pro since he was 13! This experience allows him to perform very technical skills smoothly and with a calm presence. He is the only athlete who has won the cup since Dhers came on the scene, so look for fierce competition between the two.

Jamie Bestwick
Age: 40
Hometown: Nottingham, Great Britain
Competing in: Vert
    Quite simply, Bestwick owns the vert. The BMX legend has won the cup every single year for this event and will look to continue his reign this year.

Surfers
Eric Geiselman
Age: 23
Hometown: New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
    A skater turned surfer once his family moved closer to the beach, Geiselman has won many East Coast championships while displaying his fun and laid back attitude.
Evan Geiselman
Age: 17
Hometown: New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
    No, that name is not a typo. Evan is the biggest motivator of his older brother, Eric. And like his brother, he has won many East Coast championships in his very young career.
    Competing against the Geiselman brothers are two local talents that have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Vince Boulanger from Ocean City and Colin Herlihy from Bethany Beach will represent Delmarva’s talent and may catch a big break with quality performances!
    This sounds like an intense competition. What is all of this worth?
    While the Dew Cup can’t be compared to one-and-done contests such as the X Games, winning the cup is still a goal that action sports athletes aspire to achieve. Athletes view the cup as a great accomplishment and aim to defend their title each year. Moreover, these athletes enjoy competing over the length of a season and take each round of competition as serious as any other event.
    Even if an athlete doesn’t win the Dew Cup and its $2 million purse, there are a few other awards they can earn:
• Toyota Athlete of the Year: This award goes to the athlete who has scored the most points in one discipline over the season. They are given a solid monetary award as well.
• Ball Park Rookie of the Year: This is awarded exactly as the Athlete of the Year, only that it’s given to a rookie. The rookie will also be awarded $5,000.
• PlayStation Pro Moment: Fans get to choose the best skate and BMX trick from each stop of the tour. At the end of the year, all nominees will be voted on by a panel of judges.
• PowerBar Performance of the Year: At the end of each event, one athlete will be noted as having the most clutch run. Each athlete will be an option on an online poll, which will determine the winner. They will also receive $5,000.
• Paul Mitchell Breakthrough Athlete of the Year: Though this award does not require much explanation, it is given to the one athlete who has surpassed expectations. The winner will earn a $5,000 sponsorship next year.