Skater of the Year 2103: the Top Five

12/04/2013

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Ishod Wair

Age: 22

Sponsors: Real, Nike SB, Thunder, Spitfire, Fourstar, Stance, Monster, Diamond, Shake Junt, Bones Swiss

Home: LA and Philly (via Bordentown, NJ)

Big Moves in 2013: East Coasters (and their purist brethren) rejoiced at the release of his gritty Fourstar Wair 'N' Tear part, so happy to see Eastern Exposure-style pushing around from such a high-profile rookie of their own. With two killer videos (Nike Chronicles 2 and a Thrasher bonus part), stacked atop interviews in every magazine, (including his kicky back lip cover of The Bible), Ishod's presence has been as prolific as it's been rabidly received.

More Ishod Wair:
Sabotage 3 Remix
Wair N Tear
Chronicling Ishod
Inspired by Koston
Thrasher Interview/Cover

Tommy Sandoval

Age: 27

Sponsors: Zero, Fallen, Krux, LRG, 9Five

Home: Chula Vista, CA

Big Moves in 2013: Though he's been steady shreddin' for years, Tommy's Cold War battle proved him to be one of the gnarliest street skaters to ever jump a stack. Punishing maneuvers performed with powerful grace and style, Sandoval is gnar-gnar refined. If frontside flipping a 20 stair wasn't enough he's also probably the only pro skater alive who wouldn't (and didn't), leave a session after getting his eyeballs maced, (as seen in Road Less Traveled).

More Tommy Sandoval:
Road Less Traveled - Turkey
Road Less Traveled - Thailand
Krux commercial
Best of Street League
Thrasher Interview

Brandon Westgate

Age: 24

Sponsors: Emerica, Zoo York, Ricta, Bro Style, Venture, CCS, Dakine

Home: Wareham, MA

Big Moves in 2013: Emerica's Made saw Westgate returning to the streets of SF to put the final nail in the coffin at that old lady's house before cruising the U.S. - ollieing and flipping his way up, over and onto ever more gigantic obstacles including a neck-high natty euro gap and that hellacious three flip flyover.  

More Brandon Westgate:
Snapshot
G6 Commercial
Thrasher Interview/Cover

Nyjah Huston

Age: 18

Sponsors: DC, Element, Monster, Stance, Diamond, Ricta, Mob, Asphalt Yacht Club

Home: Huntington Beach, CA (via Davis, CA)

Big Moves in 2013: If his stellar contest record, killer interviews and flood of NBDs wasn't enough, Nyjah went and dump-trucked one of the heaviest video parts of all time on us - Fade to Black.

More Nyjah Huston:
18-Stair Hammer
Firing Line
DC shoe commercial - Hollywood bs noseblunt
Thrasher Interview/Cover

Dane Burman

Age: 26

Sponsors: Zero, Fallen, Volcom, Modus, Thunder, Spitfire, Footprint, Skateboarding.com. au

Home: Vista, Ca (via Sydney, Australia)

Big Moves in 2013: In an era of large maneuvers, this Australian upstart managed some of the most gigantic. Dane went on a rampage in Cold War leaving no rail ungrinded, no security guard un-bitch slapped and capped it all with, well, you know what he did.  

More DANE burman:
Road Less Traveled - Turkey
Road Less Traveled - Thailand
Dane's Cold War Commercial
Volcom to the Team
Thrasher Interview/Cover