As a 21-year-old Charm City Skatepark rat, Dundalk native Mathieu "Gumby" Therres was more likely to be watching last year's AST Dew Tour Panasonic Open than competing in it.

But there he was in the finals of the skate park competition, in the shadow of Camden Yards, competing against pros such as reality-show star Ryan Sheckler, as thousands of fans cheered his name.

It wasn't a daydream. Therres used his connection with Charm City Skatepark -- he had won about a dozen amateur competitions -- to get a spot in the open qualifier round, where he barely earned a spot in the prelims, and then barely made it into the finals, where he finished in an impressive fifth place, essentially becoming a pro skateboarder.

Therres, who will compete again in this year's event, is a perfect example of just how interactive the Dew Tour, coming to Camden Yards June 19-22, is. Based on his 2007 performance (he finished 13th in the overall Dew Tour standings), Therres now is a prequalified pro who has a spot reserved in all five of the tour's stops, in Baltimore; Cleveland; Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City; and Orlando, Fla.

Competing in the open qualifier "was a little nerve-wracking," said Therres, 22. "I'm glad I don't have to go through that again."

But he'll be rooting for fellow Charm City skaters Dan Corrigan and Joey Fitzpatrick, who will be trying to follow the path he set last year. "There are a lot of hungry kids out there," Therres said.

Therres has remained true to his roots, even after going pro. He still gets chased away from downtown office buildings with unique architecture by security guards, and he has stayed with his local sponsors, Heater Skateboards and Mobtown wheel bearings and hardware.

"I'm small-time, they're small-time. If I do well it's because they helped me, and they're going to do well along with me," he said.

And he has become a fan favorite for his accessibility and generosity with his used equipment.

His dream is to earn enough through skateboarding this year so that he does not have to work a traditional job. He is engaged to a Baltimore City public school teacher.

"I declared this the year that I try to make it just with skating," he said.

After joining the tour last year, Therres found that some of the pro skaters -- many of whom are heavily sponsored pros from California -- were not all that excited at first to have a local break their ranks.

"Last year was a learning experience. Until Cleveland or Oregon, they didn't really warm up to me," he said.

It helped to have another local, Dundalk native Bucky Lasek, 35, take him under his wing. Lasek is intensely proud of his Baltimore background, even though he's made it big in the sport and has relocated to Southern California.

"Everyone carries that pride in where they're from. Baltimore's not the easiest place to grow up in," said Lasek, who is regarded as one of the legends of vert skating.

Lasek returns to Baltimore several times a year to visit family and friends, but says that it is special to return as a competitor.

"It's kind of surreal, especially because of the way Baltimore isn't really known for action sports," said Lasek, who was instrumental in bringing the tour to Baltimore.

Charm City on wheels

Lasek, who will throw out the first pitch of the June 19 Baltimore Orioles' game against the Houston Astros, says he has been "totally" impressed with the support Baltimore action sports fans have given to the Dew Tour, and so have the tour's organizers.

Action Sports Tour vice president Chris Prybolo says that even after Baltimore's current contract for hosting the Panasonic Open expires after next year's event, fans can expect it to return.

"We're planning to be in Baltimore next year and for a long time to come," Prybolo said. "Baltimore is clearly behind it."

Featuring a Friday night kickoff concert by Maryland's Good Charlotte, the Panasonic Open, which is also telecast on the NBC and USA networks, hosts competitions in skate park, skate vert, BMX park, BMX vert, BMX dirt, and freestyle motocross. Think people and bikes and skateboards launching themselves into the air, doing impossible gyrations and slides, and then landing and you've got the idea.

In addition to the competition, the Dew Tour features an outdoor festival teeming with action sports-oriented activities: video game booths, toned-down BMX and skateboard courses and a full-size "House of Dew" with a DJ, an airbrush tattoo parlor and a movie theater. The festival also features giveaways and meet-and-greets with Dew Tour athletes.

"You can come down and make a great day of it. Kids can learn how to ride a skateboard or a BMX or a motorcycle," Prybolo said. "You come to an overall festival."

As far as the competition itself, both Therres and Lasek say that the freestyle motocross is an event not to be missed, although Therres can barely bring himself to watch.

"That was too crazy for me, I thought someone was gonna die," he said.

For those who can bear to watch, the show is worth seeing live.

"I think (spectators) are going to walk away with their mouths open," Lasek said. "You can see it on TV all day, but you haven't experienced it until you've seen it in person."

And at the Dew Tour there are many ways to experience it, including Therres' first-person view.

"I hope kids come out and support Baltimore and cheer loud for me again," Therres said.

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