For Ryan Sheckler, fear is a good thing

Like him, love him or hate him  — and his fans reside in all three categories — Ryan Sheckler is the most popular skateboarder of his generation.

So tonight at the Toyota Challenge in Salt Lake City, in the fourth of five stops on the AST Dew Tour, fans will be rooting for or against Sheckler, or merely idolizing the star of MTV's "Life of Ryan."

(The event will be televised on the West Coast from midnight to 1 a.m. on the USA Network.)

The San Clemente skater has won the Dew Cup in the park discipline the last three years, but now trails Paul Rodriguez of Chatsworth in the standings. So there's a genuine SoCal rivalry between friends who, win or lose, will heap praise upon the Lord afterward.

That's right. God will receive credit if either of these two are victorious.

Rodriguez has always been quick to credit "the Big Man," who is not to be confused with his comedian father. For Sheckler, such openness about his faith is somewhat new.

In fact, he now sports a tattoo "FEAR" on one arm and "GOD" on another, and asked about this by reporters in Utah, he said, "What's not to fear?"

Actually, Sheckler said, "He's a crazy power. Him and Jesus up there watching everything I do. I do fear God. He has my life in his hands."

So there you have it. Outposts, which acknowledges skateboarding as a genuine outdoors pastime and sport, is merely here to share anecdotes and news, and wishes luck to both athletes, and to others in close pursuit.

—Pete Thomas

Photo: Ryan Sheckler of San Clemente is trying for his fourth Dew Cup in four seasons on the Dew Action Sports Tour but trails Paul Rodriguez of Chatsworth going into the fourth of five events.

Credit: Bo Bridges / AST