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CAPTIONS
Bucky Lasek visits Johns Hopkins
Childrens Center
Dew Tour athlete Bucky Lasek talks with Sebastian Bernard, 4, as he autographs a poster. Lasek and three BMX riders are visiting the Johns Hopkins Childrens Center. They are in town for the Dew Tours Panasonic Open. (Sun photo by Kim Hairston /June 18, 2008)
Dew Tour athlete Bucky Lasek talks with Sebastian Bernard, 4, as he autographs a poster. Lasek and three BMX riders are visiting the Johns Hopkins Childrens Center. They are in town for the Dew Tours Panasonic Open. (Sun photo by Kim Hairston /June 18, 2008)
In advance of this week's Dew Tour stop in Ocean City, The Baltimore Sun caught up with 2011 vert champion and Dundalk native Bucky Lasek.
What does it mean to you to perform so close to your hometown?
Well, I'm hoping that the fans can persuade the judges into giving me a win again. And I get to eat all of my local food that I loved growing up.
What was it like winning at Ocean City in 2011?
It was a surreal moment to win in my home state and do it in front of my family and friends who have been behind me all my life. It was a pretty big accomplishment.
Will you have friends and family in attendance that don't usually get to see you compete?
Yeah. They see me on TV, but they don't get to go to all the different events that I do throughout the year, so for them to see it live, it's very different. It's not just swinging a bat or catching a football … it's just different seeing people fly through the air and make all these different tricks. It gives me a sense of comfort and I want to make them proud.
Did you vacation at Ocean City growing up ever? Any fond memories?
Yeah, all the time. Mostly I remember Fisher's Popcorn and Jolly Roger [Amusement Park] and then getting annihilated by waves.
You have a skateboarding paradise of sorts in your backyard. Did you ever dream you'd have something like that growing up in Dundalk?
I call it the world's largest skateboard bowl. I never even thought I'd have anything. Just having a skateboard back then was — I rode the same skateboard back then for months at a time. So I never thought I'd be where I am today.
mslovin@baltsun.com
twitter.com/MattSlovin
What does it mean to you to perform so close to your hometown?
What was it like winning at Ocean City in 2011?
It was a surreal moment to win in my home state and do it in front of my family and friends who have been behind me all my life. It was a pretty big accomplishment.
Will you have friends and family in attendance that don't usually get to see you compete?
Yeah. They see me on TV, but they don't get to go to all the different events that I do throughout the year, so for them to see it live, it's very different. It's not just swinging a bat or catching a football … it's just different seeing people fly through the air and make all these different tricks. It gives me a sense of comfort and I want to make them proud.
Did you vacation at Ocean City growing up ever? Any fond memories?
Yeah, all the time. Mostly I remember Fisher's Popcorn and Jolly Roger [Amusement Park] and then getting annihilated by waves.
You have a skateboarding paradise of sorts in your backyard. Did you ever dream you'd have something like that growing up in Dundalk?
I call it the world's largest skateboard bowl. I never even thought I'd have anything. Just having a skateboard back then was — I rode the same skateboard back then for months at a time. So I never thought I'd be where I am today.
mslovin@baltsun.com
twitter.com/MattSlovin
