Chris Cole Basic Bio Information:

* Name: Chris Cole
* Gender: Male
* Height: 6"1'
* Weight: 186 lbs
* Hometown: Levittown, PA
* Date of Birth: March 10, 1982
* Family: single, mother Jennifer Cole and brother Dr. Kevin Cole
* Occupation: Professional Skateboarder
* Started Skating: 1990
* Started Competing: 1993
* Turned Pro: 2000
* Favored Discipline: Street
* Sponsors: Fallen, Zero
* Stance: Regular

Chris Cole Skateboarding Styles and Strengths: Jamie Thomas says Chris Cole can "go to any spot, it doesn't matter what it is - a ditch, a quarterpipe, a ledge, a bank, a rail - and he can do anything." Chris Cole is also known for being extremely consistent, something important for competitions. He also says that his larger size makes some of his tricks look small.
Chris Cole Favorite / Signature Skateboarding Tricks: As funny as it sounds, Chris Cole's favorite trick is the ollie. He says he loves to be going really fast and and ollie over short, steep gaps. He's also well known for skating as well switch as he does regular (sometimes even better!).
Chris Cole Skateboarding Career Highlights:
2004 - First place in Street Best Trick, Tampa Pro (also took 4th in Street)
2005 - Gold in Gravity Games, Street
2005 - 16 page spread in Skateboard Mag (June)
2005 - First signature shoe (Fallen)
2005 - Featured in final part in Zero or Die video
2005 - Bronze in skateboard Street at X Games
Chris Cole Personal History: Chris Cole says, "I started skating when I was about 8 or 9, right at the decline in skateboarding, right when everybody quit. I was once a kid who skated out in front of my house on a curb for two years - alone. I never skated anywhere else." Chris Cole was a skate rat though and through, and became pro though sponsor-me videos, instead of competitions. Chris Cole still gets nervous at competitions and doesn't like them, but does incredibly well even so.
Chris Cole Interesting Fact: Chris Cole waited 6 years to get his drivers license.
Chris Cole Quote: "I need to live up to my potential, wherever that may be, in all aspects of my life. My head gets in the way, and I need to look at the big picture - that this is the best, and I am living my dream

Bucky Lasek Basic Bio Information:

* Name: Bucky Lasek (LASS-ick)
* Gender: Male
* Height: 5'10"
* Weight: 165 lbs
* Hometown: Baltimore, MD
* Date of Birth: Dec. 3, 1972
* Family: Married to Jennifer Lasek, 2 daughters Devin and Paris
* Occupation: Pro Skateboarder
* Began Skating: 1985
* Started Competing: 1986
* Turned Pro: 1990
* Favored Discipline: Vert
* #1 Sponsor: Billabong
* Stance: Regular
* Setup: Element pro board, Independent trucks, Random hardware, Type-S wheels and Swiss bearings

Bucky Lasek Skateboarding Style and Strengths: Bucky Lasek is a consistent and skilled pro skater. One of the few professional skateboarders who can pull off an entire vert run switch, Bucky Lasek is a powerful force in competitions. Bucky Lasek is also highly innovative and aggressive, and strongly motivated to conquer new skateboarding territory, though he sticks to vert.
Bucky Lasek Favorite / Signature Skateboarding Tricks: According to an X Games interview (2005) - "Ones that look as good as they feel. It's all about what feels good and satisfies yourself. Backside smith grinds feel sick. That's what great skateboarding, tricks that I've done in the past can feel just as sick as new ones."
Bucky Lasek Skateboarding Career Highlights:
1999 - X Games gold (vert best trick)
2000 - X Games gold (vert)
2003 - 2 X Games golds (vert, vert doubles)
2004 - X Games gold (vert)
2004 - First at Slam City Jam (vert)
2004 - First at Vans Triple Crown #2 and #3 (vert)
2004 - First at West 49 Canadian Open (vert Best Trick)
2004 - First in Vans Triple Crown and World Cup Skate year end rankings
2005 - Gold at Gravity Games (vert)
2005 - Opened Bucky's Burritos in Newburyport, MA
2005 - First in Dew Action Sports Tour overall rankings (vert)
Bucky Lasek Personal History: Bucky Lasek picked up skateboarding at the age of 12, when his bicycle was stolen. His first skateboard was a Steve Caballero pro Powell deck - and Powell became his first sponsor in 1990. Unfortunately, that was when vert skateboarding took a nose dive in popularity, and Bucky Lasek was forced to work in an auto body shop. Vert skateboarding came back into style in the mid 1990's, and Lasek was able to compete more, finally moving to California is 1998 with his family to skate professionally.
Bucky Lasek Interesting Fact: Bucky Lasek was the first action sports athlete on the cover of ESPN magazine (July 19, 2004)
Bucky Lasek Quote: On getting injured - "Oh yeah, you get hurt all the time! But the good thing about the human body is that it gets better. I mean no matter what, no matter what, you get better I mean in some case you might cripple yourself a little in a different way that you might have to compensate in another way

Bob Burnquist Basic Bio Information:

* Name: Bob Burnquist (BURN-kwist)
* Gender: Male
* Height: 6'2"
* Weight: 174 lbs
* Hometown: Sao Paulo, Brazil
* Date of Birth: Oct. 10, 1976 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
* Family: with Jen O'Brien, 1 daughter (Lotus O'Brien Silva Burnquist)
* Occupation: Pro Skateboarder, Co-Owner of Burnquist Organics
* Started Skating: 1986
* Started Competing: 1989
* Turned Pro: 1992
* Favored Discipline: Vert
* #1 Sponsor: Hurley
* Stance: Regular
* Setup: The Firm deck, Fury trucks, Ricta wheels and Reflex bearings

Bob Burnquist Skateboarding Style and Strengths: Bob Burnquist is one of the most technical professional skateboarders on the scene today. His competition runs are characterized by complicated, inventive, and sometimes subtle maneuvers that can easily be missed by the casual skateboarding fan. Bob Burnquist is a master of skateboarding switch stance, and embodies progressive and inventive skateboarding.
Bob Burnquist Favorite / Signature Skateboarding Tricks: In an interview for the X Games, Bob Burnquist said he likes to, "Throw down some airs, then some lip tricks. I've always had the backside ollie as a favorite, and it still is. It's just a really light weight and control trick. I like those."
Bob Burnquist Skateboarding Career Highlights:
1995 - Slam City Jam, Burnquist won first in vert (his first international skateboarding event, second Slam City Jam ever held)
1997 - Thrasher Skater of the Year award
2000 - X Games gold (vert best trick)
2000-2002 - TransWorld Best Vert Awards (three years in a row)
2001 - X Games gold (vert)
2002 - Won OP King of Skate competition (using an open hatch loop)
2003 - X Games gold (vert doubles)
2003 - First person to loop a natural full pipe (Nov. 23)
2005 - X Games gold (vert best trick)
Bob Burnquist Personal History: Bob Burnquist grew up in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Bob and his girlfriend Jen O'Brien live in Vista, California with their daughter Lotus. Bob and Jen are both interested in living naturally in harmony with their environment, and using their influence to help people and the planet. Bob Burnquist thrives on doing new and inspirational things. He is a licensed pilot, and licensed skydiver with over 450 jumps under his belt. Bob also loves film and farming.
Bob Burnquist Interesting Fact: Bob Burnquist has heavy asthma, and yet is still a very successful pro skateboarder.
Bob Burnquist Quote: "I’m just really excited about life, about everything that’s going on, and I’m so thankful and blessed in so many different ways, I’m just going to keep on moving, and keep on growing, and skating-wise keep on progressing, keep on pushing the skating limits, keep on learning." Read a more in the Bob Burnquist Interview
Bob Burnquist Website: bobburnquist.com

Anthony Shetler Basic Bio Information:

* Name: Anthony Shetler
* Gender: Male
* Height: 5'10"
* Weight: 175 lbs
* Hometown: Newbedford, Mass
* Now lives in: Long Beach, CA
* Date of Birth: November 15, 1982
* Family: "Love 'em"
* Occupation: Pro Skateboarder
* Began Skating: 7th grade
* Started Competing: never does
* Turned Pro: Fall 2007
* Stance: Regular
* Sponsors: Split, Zoo York, FKD, Solstice Skateshop, Spitfire, Thunder
* Setup: 8 inch board 51mm wheels

Anthony Shetler Favorite / Signature Skateboarding Tricks: "The sushi grind." Also says he likes any flip trick. (Splitusa.com)
Anthony Shetler Skateboarding Career Highlights: "Every day I wake up and go skate, I try to land a trick that makes me feel good, skating is more of a life style then a sport."
Anthony Shetler Personal History: "My friend Dale gave me my first boards. I was a ghetto little kid with no friends and now I get to skate all over the world and I've met so many amazing people."
Anthony Shetler Interesting Facts: "I'm related to Bruce Willis."
Anthony Shetler Quote: "Find something that makes you happy and hang on to it

Andrew Reynolds Basic Bio Information:

* Name: Andrew Reynolds
* Gender: Male
* Hometown: Hollywood, CA (originally from England)
* Date of Birth: June 6, 1978
* Family: married to Christianna Reynolds
* Occupation: Pro Skater, owner of BAKER Skateboards
* Started Competing: 1987
* Turned Pro: 1995
* Favored Discipline: Street
* #1 Sponsor: BAKER
* Stance: Regular

Andrew Reynolds Skateboarding Style and Strengths: Andrew Reynolds is a technical skater, exact and precise. He also loves to take on big gaps and huge sets of stairs (in an interview with ESPN in 2005, he talked about heelflipping and frontside flipping down a 17 stair). Andrew Reynolds has become a bit of a skateboard "legend", having skated so well for so long.
Andrew Reynolds Favorite / Signature Skateboarding Tricks: At X Games 11, Andrew Reynolds said he likes to, "go out and skate with my friends on stuff that's really not all that dangerous, and filming tricks on things that I just want to go out and get, something I can go home and watch."
Andrew Reynolds Skateboarding Career Highlights: 1995 - Joined Birdhouse and turned pro
1997 - Won 5th at X Games in Skateboard Park
1998 - First place in Skateboard Street at SPOT, Tampa Bay, Florida
2001 - Started BAKER Skateboards
2002 - Took second in Skateboard Street at the Tampa Pro in Tampa Bay, Florida
2004 - Won Silver Medal at X Games in Skateboard Park
Andrew Reynolds Personal History: Andrew Reynolds grew up in Lakeland, Florida. Andrew was 9 years old when he started skateboarding, and his parents put a lot of effort into getting Andrew Reynolds to skateboarding competitions, and he did very well. At age 18, he visited Huntington Beach, California and decided to stay. He took a large break from competing, from the late 90s to 2004, so he could devote more time to his passion for filming. He is now married and lives in Hollywood.
Andrew Reynolds Interesting Fact: When Andrew Reynolds was 9 years old, he went from having never skated before to winning his first competition!
Andrew Reynolds Quote: Andrew Reynolds has never been a big fan of skateboarding competitions. He views them "More just like a test for yourself. It's not really all that much fun, I'd say. Well, it's always fun skating, but it's just like, 'I wonder how I can do?'." (Emericaskate.com

Jean Postec Biographical Information:

* Name: Jean Postec
* Gender: Male
* Hometown: Annecy, France
* Date of Birth: January 29th, 1985
* Began Skating: 1995
* Turned Pro: 2003
* Favored Discipline: Vert
* #1 Sponsors: Monster, Right Guard, Tracker Trucks, Birdhouse

Jean Postec Skateboarding Style and Strengths: Jean Postec approaches skateboarding with a deep love and passion, combined with a strong awareness of what he is doing. He doesn't just throw himself at the ramp and hope for the best - Jean Postec knows what he is doing, and does it well.
Jean Postec Favorite / Signature Skateboarding Tricks: Jean Postec really likes the 720.
Jean Postec Career Highlights:
2001 - took 7th in vert at European X Games
2002 - won 6th in vert at European X Games
2004 - won 2nd at the FISE in Montpellier, France
2006 - won 6th in vert at the Denver stop of the Dew Tour
2006 - won 3rd in vert at the LG Action Sports World Tour in Paris, France
2006 - won 3rd in vert at the Portland stop of the Dew tour
2006 - won 5th in vert in the overall Dew Tour standings
Jean Postec Personal History: Jean Postec was born in France. When he was 9 years old, Jean Postec was watching The Simpsons, and saw Bart Simpson riding his green skateboard in the opening to the show. That's what inspired him. He says he had a hard time learning how to skate without magazines and good ramps, but he slowly started to meet more people and get better and better. At 14 years old he started taking trips to Canada to skate with Pierre-Luc Gagnon and Max Dufour every summer, and at 16 he started taking trips to San Diego. He now lives in San Diego, and skates 5 days a week, taking the weekend off to surf. (thanks Kingpin)
Jean Postec Interesting Fact: Jean Postec did gymnastics when he was younger, and credits a lot of his skateboarding skill and fast progression to being good at gymnastics.
More Jean Postec: Read more about Jean Postec in the Jean Postec Interview, and check out pictures of Jean in the Dew Action Sports Tour Photo Gallery

Jereme Rogers Biographical Information:

* Name: Jereme Rogers
* Nickname: Sherm
* Gender: Male
* Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
* Date of Birth: January 13th, 1985
* Began Skating: 1998
* Favored Discipline: Park
* #1 Sponsors: Billabong, DVS, Royal, Diamond, Modern Wheels, Monster Energy Drink, Boost Mobile

Jereme Rogers Skateboarding Style and Strengths: Jereme Rogers is a self taught, highly driven skateboarder. He pushed himself into being good enough to ride with the pros, and he still pushes himself today to become the best park rider around. And he's doing it. Jereme Rogers' style is strong and fluid, and loads of switch tricks mixed in.
Jereme Rogers Favorite / Signature Skateboarding Tricks: Anything switch. Jereme Rogers is fluent in switch skating.
Jereme Rogers Career Highlights:
2005 - nominated Transworld's Rookie of the Year
2005 - took 5th in the Dew Tour for skateboard park
2006 - won 2nd in the Dew Tour for skateboard park
2007 - won 2nd in the Tampa Pro in street and best trick
Jereme Rogers Personal History: Jereme Rogers was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. He dropped out of high school to pursue skateboarding, and has no plans to get his degree. Jereme discovered skateboarding and pushed himself to excel all on his own, and he did the same thing with Christianity. He is a very outspoken Christian, and very real in his faith in Jesus. In interviews, he has no problem talking about how he got his skill in skateboarding from God, and then dropping an F bomb. Jereme Rogers has a very strong, clean image and is a role model to skaters all over the planet.
Jereme Rogers Interesting Fact: In Thrasher's King of the Road 2004, Jereme Rogers skated a handrail naked.
More Jereme Rogers Stuff: Check out the Jereme Rogers Interview, and see Jereme Rogers' Myspace page

Paul Rodriguez Basic Bio Information:

* Name: Paul Rodriguez
* Nickname: P-Rod
* Gender: Male
* Hometown: Chatsworth, California
* Date of Birth: December 31, 1984
* Family: Single
* Occupation: Pro Skater
* Began Skating: 1996
* Began Competing: 1996
* Turned Pro: 2002
* Favored Discipline: Street / Park
* Stance: Goofy
* #1 Sponsor: Nike

Paul Rodriguez Skateboarding Style and Strengths: Paul Rodriguez looks as relaxed and comfortable on a skateboard as anyone could. He's consistent and almost never falls. On top of that, he's able to bust out with some incredible tricks. Paul Rodriguez is one of those rare gifted skaters who is obviously born to ride.
Paul Rodriguez Favorite / Signature Skateboarding Tricks: Paul Rodriguez skates anything he can find. in an interview with EXPN, P-Rod said it's not so much what he can do, but where he likes to do it. "My favorite things to skate are ledges, rails, stairs, pretty much anything you can skate." (EXPN)
Paul Rodriguez Skateboarding Career Highlights:
2002 - Trans World Skateboarding Rookie of the Year
2003 - appeared in the movie Grind
2004 - became first pro skater sponsored by Nike (Nike P-Rod)
2004 - won gold in X Games (Street) 2005 - won first in FTC Flatground (Street Best Trick)
2005 - took third in Dew Tour (Park)
2005 - won gold in X Games (Street)
Paul Rodriguez Personal History: P-Rod's father is the famous comedian Paul Rodriguez. At the age of 12, Paul's dad bought him his first skateboard for $30 (his dad stated last year that it was one of the best investments he's ever made!). Paul got his first sponsor at age 14, and was a pro skater at 16. He's happy with his life, and feels like he's already achieved his dream. Paul is an outspoken Christian, and has a tattoo of Jesus on his arm, and says, "God's not waiting for me to be perfect..." (EXPN)
Paul Rodriguez Interesting Fact: Paul Rodriguez has a pet chihuahua named Uma.
Paul Rodriguez Quote: "My goal, my dream has already come true. Every kid's dream is to become a pro skater, you know? Not only have I become a pro skater, but to me personally, I ride for the best sponsors there are. That's even more than I ever expected... I didn't skate to please everyone else. I started skating because I love to skate. you gotta watch out because there will come a point where you'll forget that." 

Rob Lorifice Basic Bio Information:

* Name: Rob Lorifice (LORE-eh-fuss)
* Gender: Male
* Height: 6'
* Weight: 160 lbs
* Hometown: Encinitas, CA
* Born in: Ventura, CA
* Date of Birth: June 20, 1988
* Occupation: Pro Skateboarder
* Family: Silke and Bob (mom and dad), and sister Cheynette
* Began Skating: 1994
* Started Competing: 1996
* Turned Pro: 2004
* Favored Discipline: Vert / Big Air
* Stance: Regular
* #1 Sponsor: Redsand

Rob Lorifice Skateboarding Style and Strengths: Rob sticks mostly to vert ramp skating, and is great at technical tricks. He is also one of the few skaters to tackle the Big Air Mega Ramp at the X Games.
Rob Lorifice Favorite / Signature Skateboarding Tricks: 540's are his favorite vert trick. He says, "They're just fun. I don't make too many of them, so when I do, I'm like 'yeah'!" (EXPN)
Rob Lorifice Skateboarding Career Highlights:
2003 - Took third in vert at Tampa Am
2004 - Won first in vert at Tampa Am
2004 - Finished tenth in vert at Gravity Games
2004 - Landed eighth in vert at the West 49 Canadian Open
2004 - Ranked 12th for vert in World Cup Skateboarding world rankings, and 18th in North America rankings
2005 - Won fourth in vert at X Air in Wellington, New Zealand
2005 - Took third in vert best trick and fifth in vert at Tampa Pro
Rob Lorifice Personal History: Rob Lorifice was born in Ventura, California, and his family moved to Toronto Canada when Rob was one year old. Rob got his first skateboard at 6 years old, which is also when he met and became good friends with Shaun White. Rob Lorifice started riding vert at a YMCA at age 8, and was first sponsored by Converse at 10 years old! Rob is one of the younger pro skaters invited to the X Games, and lives are fairly simple, normal life. "I skate. Every one of my friends skates. I go to the beach. I surf. Go look for some chicks at the beach." That's how he sums up his life (quote from EXPN)
Rob Lorifice Interesting Facts: Rob Lorifice and Shaun White have been friends since they were 6 years old, and though they have developed in different directions, they both remain at the top of their sports