Groundbreaking

On the same day that Rob Dydrek announced his new Street League venture that includes exclusive competition agreements with Paul Rodriguez, Chris Cole and Ryan Sheckler among others, Joe Maloof was in Flushing along with Geoff Rowley and 5boro's Steve Rodriguez for the groundbreaking on the street course for the Maloof Money Cup's expansion into New York City.

Adam SaloSteve Rodriguez, Joe Maloof and Geoff Rowley at the groundbreaking.

With the Maloof Money Cup NYC, The Maloof brothers will offer the same world-class contest they've brought to Costa Mesa, Calif. for the last two years, only this time they're leaving the skatepark for the skaters of New York City.

Courtesy of Maloof Money CupThe design has a ton of features inspired by skate spots in NYC.

Adam SaloThis is how close the Maloof NYC site is to the original Flushing skate spot beneath the Unisphere.

At the groundbreaking I got a chance to speak with Maloof, Rowley and Rodriguez about their shared vision for a contest and park that can really benefit skaters in the region. The course is set to be built over the next six weeks by California Skateparks and should be ready for the contest's arrival on June 5th. Inspired by several of the iconic skate spots of New York's past and present, the course is being built a stone's throw from the Flushing Meadows Unisphere fountain, a well worn NYC street skating hot spot that is currently fenced off and due for re-outfitting. Since the Unisphere ledges will no longer be skateable, their likeness is being recreated as part of the design of the Maloof course even including a replica of the grate gap sessioned in its original form by New York greats including Gino Iannucci and Rodney Torres.

With Street League allowing its riders only two major contest appearances outside of their tour this year, it remains to be determined if we'll see Chris Cole or Paul Rodriguez in Flushing come June. But two things are certain: there will be a world class contest here in New York and there will be a world class park left to the skaters of NYC for years and years to come.