Joyce and Henry Wong are regulars at Hastings skate park, where the couple collects bottles and cans. The local skateboarders know Joyce well, and gave her the “Mother Hastings” t-shirt she’s wearing. They painted her name in the bowl this year on a flag reminiscent of the Old Style Pilsner logo.

Fifth-place finisher, Adam Hopkins, 25, lives in an apartment complex across the street. He started out playing hockey, but switched to skateboarding when he was 10 years old, after getting a board for Christmas. “There’s no coach yelling at you; it’s on your own terms,” says Hopkins about why he loves it. “You learn how to push yourself. It’s very self-gratifying.”

Jeff Lee, who recently fractured his knee doing a footplant, watches with his wife Jenni and daughter Irene. On getting his daughter into the sport, he says, “She already has a skateboard.” Jenni adds, “He’s trying as hard as he can.”

Sibling spectators Theo Caseley, 11, and Django Caseley, nine, aren’t professional skaters yet, but Theo’s open to the idea. If that doesn’t work out, he says, “I’d be a carpenter or plumber because you can make pretty good money.”

Riley Boland, 28, from Calgary, Alberta, usually skates at night because he works an average of 50 hours a week. His company, Ferro Concepts, makes combat gear for the armed forces, including the Navy SEALs. He says it started with him just modifying old backpacks.

Son of pro surfer Evan Caples and named after pro surfer Tom Curren, Californian Curren Caples, 19, takes on waves, too, but concrete is his professional medium. He’s looking to finally land his diploma this year. “I ride for Target and they’re big on education, so they’re making me graduate, “ he explains, and then adds, “And I want to, too.”

Riley Stevens, 24, and Robbie Russo, 22, skate together in San Pedro, CA. Describing what he feels when he skates, Stevens says, “It rests somewhere between peace and adrenaline.” Asked about his hopes and dreams for the future, Russo says, “I just wanna be able to afford a house and pay bills.”

Sarah Westwood, 31, started skating a year ago. “I became friends with more skateboarders, and I was inspired. I thought, ‘I can do that,’” she says. “I usually go at eight or nine in the morning before it gets bro-ed out.” She broke her leg the first time she tried dropping in (a term used to describe how most skateboarders enter bowls and ramps), but that hasn’t scared her off: “I don’t want to stop because it makes me happy.”

According to his owner, Bulldog Karl grew up at Hastings skate park. He also attended the competition last year.

A skater waits to drop in.

After the qualifying round is done, John Gardner, 23, from New Jersey, does a backside grab—just for the heck of it.