Diego Pires Afonso, 28, will be putting his skills to the test at the World Freestyle Skateboard Round Up this week in Cloverdale.
Afonso, originally from São Paulo, Brazil and now living in Tsawwassen, will be competing in the pro category for the second year. He finished in seventh place finish in 2017.
“My goal is to get a good place and do my best, as always,” he said.
He also has a second place and third place finish to his credit in the annual event’s amateur category.
The four-day competition with $10,000 in prize money starts Friday and brings in the top amateur and pro freestyle skaters from around the world, its website states. It takes place at the Cloverdale Curling Rink in conjunction with the Cloverdale Rodeo & Country Fair.
Afonso started skateboarding when he was 15 and listed skaters like Rodney Mullen, Per Welinder, Kevin Harris, Jaspion, Per Canguru and Rene Shigueto as influences in his competitor profile.
“Skateboarding has changed my life and although freestyle is my love, I also practice street skating and try to skate every day,” he explained in the profile.
He said he’d like to see more support for freestyle skateboarders.
Afonso volunteers at the DYSL WearHouse Thrift Store in Tsawwassen. He said he loves to help people and enjoys being there.
