Monster Army athletes
Ethan Copeland and Jake Yanko were
invited to compete in the “Next X” at X Games Minneapolis this summer. The
contest allowed the next generation of top skaters to compete in the same park,
under the same lights in the same stadium as the pros. This once in a life time
opportunity gives young athletes the chance to get noticed. Last year, Army
teammate
Liam Pace won the 2018 Next X park contest and was invited to the 2019 Road to X Games in Boise, Idaho to compete with the pros.
“It’s really cool to be skating such a good park, that’s the
same as the pros are skating, it should be really fun,” Ethan had to say about
it.
We’re excited to announce new athlete – Ethan Copeland joined
the Monster Army just in time for the Next X. Coming all the way from Canberra,
Australia, 14-year-old Ethan is stoked to be a part of the team.
Joining Ethan in the contest, was Florida’s Jake Yanko. Jake
just dropped his
Enlisted video with Monster Army and has been crushing it on
the skate scene, already taking six podium finishes in 2019 at the Zumiez Best
Foot Forward and Grind for Life stops.
“First X Games was amazing! It felt surreal being there and
skating in an event that I’ve been watching on TV for god knows how long. And I
got to make so many new friends and memories. It made me want to work harder to
be invited again next year,” Jake said about the experience.
Jake won Bronze and was able to take home his first X Games
medal, and said, “I’m so hyped to podium! Definitely didn’t skate my best but
what can you do. I’m not stressing on it.”
Congratulations to Jake and Ethan! Look out for both of them
tearing it up the rest of the year!
