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Teen skateboarding into celebrity

By BOB PUTNAM, Times Staff Writer
Published October 19, 2007

ORLANDO - Ryan Sheckler is used to coming home from street skateboarding events with trophies. He has been doing it since he was 7.

And at 17, he's an old hand at dealing with the media.

But nothing in Sheckler's experience prepared him for the tidal wave of attention this year.

His biggest shock came Tuesday when he went to a fast food restaurant with wakeboarding star Parks Bonifay. Sheckler hoped to leave surreptitiously. But as soon as he slipped out the door, he was greeted by a flock of adoring female fans.

"That just left me speechless," said Sheckler, who is in town to compete in the AST Dew Tour today through Sunday at Amway Arena.

The story was a funny snapshot into the crazy collage that is Sheckler's life since he started filming his reality show, The Life of Ryan, which aired on MTV and wrapped up its first season last week.

"The hardest thing is feeling like I'm not there enough for my family," said Sheckler, who has two brothers, Shane, 15, and Kane, 8, and had to assume more family responsibility when his parents divorced. "I want to fix that because I'm really family oriented."

Sheckler has always lived in the public eye. He started skateboarding in his driveway when he was 4. Ten years later, he turned pro and won the X Games street title, becoming its youngest champion.

Last month, he clinched his third straight tour title.

"I've always had to deal with the attention," he said. "But this year has been crazy. I think with the show it's brought a whole new fan base to skating.

"I feel blessed."

Bob Putnam can be reached at putnam@tampabay.com or (727) 445-4169.

[Last modified October 18, 2007, 22:09:47]