Although I am usually an all around nice guy ever since I can remember, very talkative,  kind of mischievous, and extremely energetic, Steve always brought out the worst in me. The  reason I was here was because I had always liked skateboarding since I was eleven years old. I’m  from a middle class family and live in the suburbs. When I was younger, although I would have  rather skated, I was a very academically inclined student, which sometimes kept me inside a lot. 

As I put on my pads, I found out who my tough competition was going to be. Frank  Williams, Zack Smith, Steve McGavin, and my best friend Brad Carner. Brad and I had been friends and lived next door to each other since grade school. He was the one who got me into  skateboarding. Every day after school, we would skate until dark.

Before the competition started, I thought to myself, I have to prove I am the best. “I can’t lose to Steve McGavin.”

As Zach started the first run of the competition, I found out that the crowd favored  Steve to win three to one and myself to get second, also three to one. 

On his first run, Zach got an 86.54, which was okay. After the end of the first two  runs, Steve was in first, with a 95. I was in second with 94, Brad held third with 90, and  Zach and Frank were tied for fourth with an 87. 

After everyone else had done their third run, it was Steve then me, then Brad, with  Zach in fourth, and Frank trailing in last. I had to get a 93 percent or higher to win. I  then looked at the American Flag that a child in the audience was holding on a stick, and I thought  how it represented freedom and the will to prevail, and I thought to myself, I had to win.  I would beat Steve McGavin for the first time. 

In my run, I did a 540 indy-stiffy, a 720 melon, a 720 nosegrab, and my best trick,  a 900 stiffy. After the run I waited for my score, and when I was just about to pass out,  the score board showed a 96.5 percent and the skate park filled with gasps and cheers. 

After I got my trophy, I thought that the reason I won was because skating and I  were like Tiger Woods and golfing. Then I thought how Steve must feel, even though  that may sound weird, I should still treat him like a decent person.

As I held out my hand to shake his, I said, “I forgive you Steve.”  All Steve had to say was "Bah humbug," and then he walked off.