Fletcher Renegar learned a valuable lesson last year when he competed in the Gatorade Free Flow Tour skateboarding finals.
You have to eat.
"I didn't eat for like the whole day, so I had no energy," the 16-year-old Ringgold, Ga., resident said. "So I learned a lesson there. This time I'll eat and everything, and I should skate better."
"This time" marks the third time Mr. Renegar has qualified for Free Flow Tour finals in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he'll test his skateboarding skills on ramps, rails and half-pipes against some of the nation's best skaters.
Although he's qualified three times for the finals, he's made it only once, in 2009.
"The first time I was going to go out (to the 2008 finals). I'd gotten hurt, so I didn't get to go out," he said. "So, actually last year was the second time I won the qualifier, and I got to go out. I did pretty good."
After his tour win June 5 in McDonough, Ga., Mr. Renegar expects to perform better with last year's experience under his belt, he said.
But he predicted the tougher competition this year will test his mettle.
"I think it'll be awesome," he said.
The Gatorade Free Flow Tour, now in its sixth year, is an amateur series of contests open to boys and girls under 21 across the country. The tour includes 30 skateboard competitions and 17 BMX bicycle contests.
Winners from each event go on to compete in the Gatorade Free Flow Tour Final. Two overall skate champions and two overall bicycle champions will earn spots among the pros in the Dew Championships, set for Oct. 14-17 in Las Vegas, according to tour spokeswoman Colleen Hillgard.
Mr. Renegar's father, Jeff, said his son stays very busy with competitions and working with sponsors such as ZooYork, Adio, Oakley, Gatorade, Bones, Krux and Progressive Skate Park.
Formerly a student at Boyd-Buchanan in Chattanooga, Fletcher Renegar now attends a type of home school that allows him to travel to events while keeping up with his school work, his father said.
"It's had a big impact on his life as far as his daily activities," he said.
Competitive skating is different from traditional sports in that participants are more a brotherhood of athletes than opponents, Flectcher Renegar said. Skaters applaud each other's good performances, he said.
"You're all just great friends, just real chill," Mr. Renegar said. "There's not like a whole lot of jocks or anything."
Mr. Renegar said he hopes to find a career in the skating industry, whether it's as a competitor or possibly a team manager. But until then, he wants to compete in Las Vegas.
"I'll just have to, when I get back home, skate even harder and try to get better," he said. "You've got to be on your game for that one."