Who Are the Best Skateboarders in the World? Place Your Vote

The debate will always rage on no matter how the No. 1 skateboarder in the world is determined. Is it the best vert skateboarder, the best street or the best freestyle skateboarder? The best skateboarder in the world is someone that can handle all disciplines and someone who promotes the sport besides being extremely talented.

The following five skateboarders are the best in the world in all areas from promoting the sport to skating the wheels off their boards. They have traveled the world giving exhibitions, participating in as many events as possible and of course winning as often as possible. Although winning is not the determining factor with the list, it doesn't hurt.

5. Mike Vallely

More famous to the outside world for his fighting incidents, including a brawl at an Anaheim Ducks game, Mike Vallely is also one of the greatest skateboarders to ever step on a board. Vallely is known more for his street skills but he is jumping back into competition this summer after being cleared by doctors to return to skating.

Vallely announced the decision on his Mike Vallely website, "As a skater who still strives to push himself, I see the competitive arena as a place where I would like to return again for myself individually and also where I feel I can once again add something to the story and where I feel I can still contribute."

4. Rob Dyrdek

Rob Dydek is designing and competing in the ESPN Street League Skateboarding Tour. Dyrdek is involved in everything from building skate Safe Spot Skateparks in Southern California with his Rob Dyrek Foundation to performing shows and competing in the new ESPN league.

Dydrek starred in a show titled, "Rob and Big: Big Black." In the show Dyrdek took on everything from eating records to skateboard immortality. Dyrdek set 21 "Guinness Book of World Records" including: Longest board slide, 100 feet and highest skateboard jump into water, 10 feet eight inches.

3. Shaun White

Shaun White has brought notoriety to the skateboarding world but he has also come to be known more for his snowboarding. White is on record in an interview with ESPN discussing why skateboarding is the most difficult of the two,
"I think it's so much harder to go big and do the tricks (in skateboarding). They are so much faster and so much less under control.

White has done best in the vert competitions. in 2010 White won two Dew Tour gold medals in vert but he came up short in the ESPN "X Games" in 2010. White finished second in the vert competition for 2010. White has focused more on his snowboarding but when he does compete he brings his "A" game to every event. White personifies the all or nothing attitude that full time skaters respect.

2. Paul Rodriguez Jr.

The son of comedian Paul Rodriguez, Paul Jr. has made a name for himself as one of greatest skateboarders in the world. His favorite style of skateboarding is street and his favorite obstacles are rails, stairs and anything he can grind and test himself.

Rodriguez Jr. may not be in the top five for this year's ESPN Street League Skateboarding but he is at the top among his peers based on his street skills alone. Rodriguez has not jumped out to a great start in ESPN's league but he has not lost his drive and creativity.

1. Ryan Sheckler

Ryan Sheckler is another skateboarder that has taken athleticism and the daredevil aspect of the sport to new levels. Sheckler is the most creative trick maker and biggest risk taker in the sport. Sheckler makes a habit of wowing his fans and pushing his tricks to the next level.

Sheckler not only competes in competitions, he also organizes his own charity events for Autism. His latest event took place May 14 at Etnies Skatepark in Lake Forest. Sheckler convinced the best skaters in the world to show up including: Chris Cole, Danny Way and Steve Caballero.

Todd Jacobs is a Southern California resident who grew up with skateboarding from an early age and attends Maloof Money Cup and several other skateboarding events through the year.

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Skateboarder biographies GrindTV