Writer: Doug Quimby

The year is coming to an end and Thrasher Magazine has announced that the Skater of the Year for 2018 is Tyshawn Jones! This year has been a great year for skateboarding and I’ve really noticed how much the sport has progressed. Ledge and rail tricks have been getting more technical, and people keep throwing themselves down bigger and bigger gaps. The tricks pro skaters are doing today are blowing away everything else done in the past to the point where your jaw drops every time you see these guys on a skateboard. So I’d like to shed some light on some of the other skaters who have been shredding all year long.

Evan Smith

Evan Smith is a genuine skate rat. This guy just loves skateboarding and you can tell. He has his own unique style and can skate spots like no one else can. Check out his interview on the Nine Club to hear him talk about life on tour and the making of his part in the Element Skateboards video War and Peace that you can watch below:

Yuto Horigome

This kid has been on a tangent this year. I first saw him in the Street League contests last year, he didn’t win but he definitely had the potential. Well this year he’s won the first two stops, and if he keeps skating like he has he’ll be able to win the last two. He’s got super difficult tricks, is very consistent, and has an effortless style. I’m really hoping he comes out with a skate part this upcoming year. Until then enjoy some of his footage from earlier in the year:

Jamie Foy

Jamie Foy has been going hard since last year. He became pro and then won Skater of the Year in 2017. Then this year he solidified the fact he’s one of the best on a skateboard. This dudes handrail game is next level. I think he can literally grind any handrail I’m not even kidding:

Zion Wright

Zion Wright is gnarly. Another all around amazing skater. He’s been shredding so hard that he’s come out with two video parts this year. Zion is going to have a great skateboarding career and I’m excited to see what else he has in store.

Luan Oliveira

Luan Oliveira on a skateboard is unreal. He has one of the best styles in skateboarding. It’s like a video game the way he can go from technical ledge tricks, to an air’d out vert trick, then to hucking a crazy trick down a stair set or gap. Recently he beat out Chris Joslin at The Berrics “Battle at the Berrics” game of S.K.A.T.E. competition. It’s been said that he’s your favorite skaters favorite skater and if you watch him skate you’ll see why.

It’s awesome how much skateboarding has blown up the past few years. It has progressed so much that tricks only done in video games are being done in real life. Tricks that were enders are now done during run sections in contest. And the overall acceptance of the sport has increased enough to where skateboarding will actually be in the Olympics! I don’t know how skating can get any better but I’m excited to see where it goes from here.