Here are some athletes to look for in the events on tap beginning tomorrow:
INLINE STREET (MEN)
• MIKE BUDNIK
(Irvine, Calif.)
Budnik returns to the Gravity Games based on his No. 4 ranking in the 2000 ASA World Rankings. In 2000, Budnik won an Aggressive Inline Skating Association (ASA) event and a B3 event, and had five top-five finishes overall, four in Street competitions. His best Street results were fourth, at both an ASA event in Arizona and a B3 event, also in Arizona. In 1999, Mike finished second twice and had eight top-five finishes overall. In 1998, Budnik won an ASA event and Eisenberg's Ho' Down, and finished second at the Sony Extreme Games. In the X Games, he won silver medals in 1998 and '99, both in Vert Triples. Budnik also finished the 1997 ASA season ranked fourth in Street. Budnik also is an accomplished golfer, having placed second in the 1999 Orange County Open. "I need to do well at skate comps so I can support my golf habit," he says.
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AARON FEINBERG
(Portland, Ore.)
Considered "the man" of In-Line skating, Feinberg comes to the Gravity Games based on his fourth-place performance at the 2000 Aggressive Skating Association (ASA) World Championships. Also in 2000, he won the B3 event in Arizona and finished third at the X Trials. In 1999, Feinberg had five first-place finishes, his most impressive coming at the ASA World Championships. His career also is filled with top-five finishes at the X Trials, B3 events and others. At the X Games, Feinberg has won two bronze medals and a gold.
• JEREMY PENNACCHINI
(Medford, Mass.)
Pennacchini returns to the Gravity Games based on his fourth-place performance in 2000. His successful 2000 season also included two second-place finishes at B3 Events and a second place at an Aggressive Inline Skating Association (ASA) event in California. Pennacchini also has competed in the Vert at the X Games and X Trials. Besides professional skating, Pennacchini is a video producer. In 1999, he was voted the most improved Street skater in 1999 by the ASA. "I don't think there's anybody that skates like me," he says. "I'm just different."
INLINE STREET (WOMEN)
• FABIOLA da SILVA
(Santa Rosa, Calif.)
Because of Fabiola da Silva, women now are skating with the men in the ASA Pro Tour contests. "I think the guys are going to force all of us to be better," she says. "I love skating with them. I usually skate with the guys, anyway. Fabiola returns to Providence as the best female in-line skater in the world. She was, however, beaten at the 2000 Gravity Games in the Vert competition, the only time she has not won a Gravity Games in-line event thus far. She seeks to win back the gold, which she won in 1999. In 2000, she won four Street events, including gold at the X Games. She won four events in 1999, and also took the ASA Overall Tour points championship. Fabiola won her first ASA world championship in 1997, two years after she began competing.
INLINE VERT (MEN)
• MARC ENGLEHART
(Landsdale, Pa.)
Marc qualified for the 2001 Gravity Games by finishing ninth in the 2000 Aggressive Skating Association (ASA) World Rankings. In 2000, Englehart finished seventh at the Gravity Games and third at two ASA events. In 1998, he had three top-10 finishes on the ASA circuit.
• JAREN GROB
(Orem, Utah)
Jaren Grob qualified for both Inline Street and Inline Vert at the 2001 Gravity Games because of his No. 2 Street ranking of the Aggressive Skating Association (ASA) and his fourth-place finish at the 2001 ASA Pro Tour Vert event in Anaheim, Calif. Known as the "Monster," Jaren is one of the gutsiest skaters on the circuit. Competing in both Street and Vert, he has a strong build and aggressive style. His Vert career is filled with top-10 finishes, the best coming at the 1999 ASA World Championships, where he finished third. He has competed at the X Games in Vert, finishing fifth in the Vert Triples.
• MATT LINDENMUTH
(Kutztown, Pa.)
Lindenmuth qualified to compete at the 2001 Gravity Games by finishing 20th in the Aggressive Inline Skating Association (ASA) world rankings. One of his top finishes on the ASA Tour was a fifth at the event in Dallas May 18-20. Just 19 years old, Matt has been competing for years in In-Line Vert. In 1998, he was ranked first in the X Games trials.
INLINE VERT (WOMEN)
• MARTINA SVOBODOVA
(Bratislava, Slovakia)
The only woman to deny Fabiola da Silva a Gravity Games gold medal, the 18-year-old performed a near-flawless routine in the 2000 Gravity Games Inline Vert competition to take the gold medal. Svobodova returns to Providence to defend her title.
BIKE DIRT
• MIKE AITKEN
(Sandy, Utah)
Aitken returns to Providence thanks to his fourth-place finish at the 2000 Gravity Games. In 2000, Mike finished fourth overall in the King of Dirt Series, taking sixth in round one and third in round two. During the season-long DK Dirt Circuit, Aitken placed second in a competition in his home state of Utah, leading to an overall seventh-place finish on the circuit.
• CHRIS DOYLE
(Raleigh, N.C.)
Doyle won a silver medal at the 2000 Gravity Games, earning him a return trip in 2001. In 2000, Doyle finished first overall in the season-long DK Dirt Circuit and second in the CBF, winning various competitions along the way. In 1999, he finished second overall in the DK Dirt Series, won the King of Dirt event in Japan, and finished sixth at the Gravity Games. Doyle was unknown to the freestyle bike industry in 1997 when he entered the DK Christmas Classic in Columbus, Ohio, but gained immediate attention by finishing seventh against some of the biggest riders in the sport.
• CHRIS DUNCAN
(Toms River, N.J.)
Chris qualified by finishing second in the overall standings for the season-long 2000 King of Dirt Series. Also in 2000, he finished fourth overall in the CFB, and won a bronze at a DK Dirt event. In 1999, Duncan had three medal-winning performances, including gold at an ABA King of Dirt event. He won three bronze medals in 1997 -- at the Red Bull Invitational, the Ohio DK Dirt event, and the DK Christmas Classic.
• RYAN JORDAN
(Lynn, Mass.)
Known as "Biz," Jordan returns to Providence after his bronze-medal performance at the 2000 Gravity Games. In 2000, Jordan also finished second at the World Championships in Germany, and took third at the King of Dirt event. In 1999, Jordan rode his way to three top-five finishes. Just a year removed from high school, Jordan turned professional, and now is riding full time.
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