Chaz Proves He Is Composed Beyond His Years

What was the biggest mistake you made when you were sixteen? If you've yet to reach that age, then what is the biggest mistake you've made so far in life. For most people the list of big mistakes in their sixteenth year goes something like: bad grades in school, a fender bender in your parents car, or maybe getting caught experimenting with some substances. For a few of you on the high end of the gnar scale it could be the creation of a life, or a jail stint of some sort. But for the most part mistakes at this age aren't the biggest of deals.

When I was sixteen the biggest mistake I made was answering a dare to run across the street barefoot after a street paver had just gone by. Some second degree burns on the bottoms of my feet, and what ever my mom's health insurance co-pay was later and a grand total of the error in judgment could of been determined. Probably around fifty bucks for everything medical and a few weeks off my feet.

For pro skateboarder, Chaz Ortiz, the biggest mistake he made so far this year, his sixteenth, may have cost him $70,000, the monetary difference between finishing first and second in Street League Skateboarding. Ortiz, who is one of the best young competitive street skateboarders in the game was on his way to a victory two weekend's ago. Known for being very consistent he was landing everything in the Final. Difficult trick after difficult trick he just he seemed to be locked into cruise control with his destination first place. This would of been his first Street League victory, in only the second contest in the league's history.

All final long he had been making extrmely difficult technical combinations look effortless, and when his day was one trick from being over, all he had to do was land a trick worth 2.0 or higher, a rather low score in Street League. After the contest he would say it was the most nervous he's ever been in his life, which may be the reason for what happened next. Ortiz attempted a crooked grind on the out rail, otherwise known as the nutcracker special - it was a high rail. It was a much harder maneuver than he had to attempt. The rest is history, his truck got stuck, and he kicked his board and $70,000 (the difference between first and second place) away.

At the press conference after the contest Street League founder and skateboarding legend, Rob Dyrdek, asked the youngster why he chose the trick he did. It was a very tongue and cheek question, and most in attendance couldn't help but snicker. Rob does have a very comical way of putting things, enough so that he's earned himself a spot as a legit television personality on MTV. Ortiz couldn't really put into words what he was feeling.

One thing Rob and the rest of us have to remember is hindsight is 20/20; I know cliche, but I've always wanted to type that. Anyway, Ortiz was sixteen years-old and skateboarding in an arena full skateboarders, soccer moms, celebrities and a good chunk of the skateboard industry. All eyes were on him to do one trick on an obstacle he could of probably done at least fifty. There was no coach to weigh out trick selection options for him. It was just one sixteen year-old, by himself, making a decision that may have won him $150,000. He chose a harder move than he needed, which isn't a total mistake, he could of chose a move not difficult enough, and he even could of even stuck the crook and pocket 150K.

That was two weekends ago. I've heard the true test of a competitor is how well they bounce back from a disappointing loss. Well, this past weekend was Ortiz's opportunity. He would be skating in another contest, this time on the Dew Tour at the Toyota Challenge in Salt Lake City, Utah. A contest series he was in the running to win. He and Greg Lutzka had been the standouts all year, and the favorites to win the overall the championship.

All Ortiz had to do was finish ahead of Lutkza and he'd have good shot at the Dew Tour Skateboard Park Championship going into the final stop in Las Vegas. On the Dew Tour this year finishing ahead of Lutzka practically means you have to win the contest . Well guess what? The kid bounced back from his very public mental mistake, and won the contest by The Great Salt Lake, edging out ratings leader, Lutzka, who finished second.

I think it can go down as a very important win in his career. He proved he can stay composed, even after things go wrong, and finish on top. Now, he has back-to-back Vegas contest coming up. Sin City is the final stop of both Street League Skateboarding and the Dew Tour. If things go right for Ortiz, he could walk away as overall champ of both leagues. The fact that he is only sixteen could work to his advantage in Vegas since he's not of age to get distracted, unlike most of his competition.

Photos: Elsa via Getty Images

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