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Hometown Hero Hopes To Skate To Victory

Skatepark of Tampa

Professional skateboarder and Gaither High School graduate Anthony Furlong is one of many skaters in town for this weekend’s prestigious Tampa Pro competition at the Skatepark of Tampa.

By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 20, 2009

TAMPA - For Anthony Furlong, maybe the eighth time is the charm.

Furlong, a professional skateboarder and Gaither High School graduate, is one of the many skaters in town for this weekend's Tampa Pro at the Skatepark of Tampa.

Skateboarders compete in best trick, vert ramp (half-pipe) and street course categories. The purse of the competition is $100,000, with first-place finishers taking home as much as $30,000.

Furlong's highest overall finish was second place in the vert competition in 2004. He will compete in the vert again this weekend.

"I think I've gotten every place but first," he said. "Second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth."

Furlong, who counts the Skatepark of Tampa among his many sponsors, missed the competition last year because of a knee injury. He's skated at SPoT the last 11 years.

Pro skaters Eric Koston (Tampa Pro street course winner in 2002 and 2007), Ryan Sheckler (of MTV's "Life with Ryan"), Tim O'Connor and Clearwater native Jeff Lenoce are also expected to participate. The event begins today and continues through Sunday's finals.

"I skate with these guys every year all over the world," Furlong said. "It's fun for me. I'll see some old friends [from Tampa] and some random people I haven't seen in a while."