10-year-old skates his way to the top

Henderson resident takes silver medal in California contest

JACOB KEPLER/VIEWAntonio Moya, 10, a Henderson skateboarder who won a silver medal in the California Amateur Olympics, practices tricks at Skate City, Aug. 10. He practiced for seven hours a day during the summer. Advertisement

Antonio Moya is a silver medalist in the California Amateur Olympics. He's also just 10 years old.

The Henderson resident started skateboarding at 7, when his uncle introduced him to the sport.

"He's in the top 5 percent of sponsored children," said Mario Moya, Antonio's father.

About 200 kids from all over California qualified for and competed in the Olympics. Antonio took his medal in the street competition, where the course replicates a road.

He also competed in the mini ramp and bowl events, where he was up against 17- and 18-year-olds.

Coming from Nevada to a skateboarding state and taking home a medal is a pretty big feat, Mario Moya said.

There are no sanctioned skateboarding leagues in Nevada, so the two travel to competitions a few times a month. Sometimes Antonio competes, and other times they are just there watching professionals.

"I want him to see what it's like to compete in competitions on that level," Mario said. "It's limited in Nevada right now. So we go to California."

Antonio said he spends about seven hours a day skateboarding during the summer and two hours a day during the school year. He divides his time between Anthem Skate Park and Skatecity, the valley's only indoor skate park, at 4915 Steptoe St.

Although the fifth-grader hasn't suffered any serious injuries, "We thought he broke his nose once, and another time, his ribs," Mario said.

Mario is an athletic therapist in Las Vegas and said children's bodies can handle the falls.

"Kids' bodies are so pliable," he said. "For you and I, it'd be a few months, but he gets back up and does it again."

Moya said that although it's easy for a child to overcome an injury, it's still important to take care of it. He also said it's good to learn the correct way to fall.

"Falling is part of the game," Mario said. "Even though I don't know how to skateboard, I know the mechanics of his body. There are techniques that protect the body."

Safety also is a priority, Mario said. Antonio always wears a helmet and full pads, which are required in Henderson skate parks and during competitions.

When Antonio took to skateboarding, Mario said he started building ramps and a lot of kids in the neighborhood got involved.

Antonio said he can't get enough. After spending hours at Skatecity, he will ask his dad to take him to an outdoor skate park for more practice.

"A lot of it's repetition," Mario said. "He'll just try something until he gets it. He just won't leave. You have to have a lot of patience as a parent."

Antonio said Bucky Lasek is a skater he looks up to.

"I want to be as good as him some day. He does so many tricks I just want to learn," he said.

The next trick Antonio will try is the kick flip indy.

"You flip the board, grab it and land on your feet," he said, "while you're in the air."