Come at Me, Sarasota: 180 Skate

Following the first video in our newest series, "Come at Me, Sarasota," our reporter and office punching bag (don't tell him we call him that), Alex Mahadevan, has nursed his wounds and bruises enough to give it another go.

After getting pummeled last week by the Bradentucky Bombers roller derby team, he decided he might have better luck on four wheels instead of eight. Half the wheels, half the pain, right? The logic seemed sound enough, so we headed over to Payne Skate Park, where the kids from local skateboard ministry team, 180 Skate, challenged him to a little shred showdown.

Alex has some experience skateboarding as a teen growing up in Sarasota, but as he puts it, "I haven't landed a kickflip since college, but my competition shouldn't be anything to worry about. They're just kids, right?"

Tim Storck, the program's founder, was eager to put him to the test.

"I think he's going to have a hard time going against the guys out there," he said. "Most of them are pretty advanced, and even if they're not, they'll still show him a few things."

We'll let you decide.

See the skaters in action and help support the skateboarding community at 1 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 15, at Payne Skate Park, as 180 Skate and Payne Park participate in a celebration of life for Coach Dan Giguere, a teacher and skateboarding coach who was instrumental in establishing Payne Skate Park and fostering the local skating scene, who died in a car accident last year.