COURTESY OF MICHAEL BIGNAMI Dyson Ramones, shown above, made the cut in a nationwide amateur skateboard competition on MTV's "TRL" coinciding with the opening of the film "Lords of Dogtown," about skateboarders of the '70s.

He’s just a sk8ter boi

What starts out as a hobby
for a young Mililani man turns
into a way to see the country

Like a typical teen, Dyson Ramones picked up a skateboard six years ago, not knowing it would one day take him to the mainland and onto TV.

Ramones is in Las Vegas today, competing on MTV's "TRL" to win a 50-inch Sony Wega Plasma HiDef Television.

SONY PICTURES

The 20-year-old skater made it to the MTV competition by winning the local preliminaries of a nationwide amateur skateboard competition sponsored by Sony Pictures and Adidas earlier this month. His winning moves were taped and sent to Sony, along with those of 33 other state winners. From there, Ramones was chosen as one of three finalists -- the other two come from Seattle and Phoenix -- to perform on "TRL."

"I don't know (why I was chosen)," Ramones said. "I guess I stood out to the judges somehow."

He said he doesn't have any signature moves, but performed a Backside 360, Frontside Flip and a Kick Shifty, among other maneuvers, on his tape.

"Any day I'll jump on a board and I can have it, and other days I don't," he said. "After skating a long time, you just try things."

Ramones began skateboarding when he saw all his friends getting into the sport. He said he remembers skateboarding when he was younger but wasn't serious about it until he was 14.

He and his friends are beneficiaries of skateboarders of the '70s, whose trailblazing ways are the basis for the film "Lords of Dogtown," opening Friday. (See Preview.) That film is based on the documentary "Dogtown and Z-Boys" that featured early footage of those pioneers.

"(Skateboarding's) totally not like that anymore," Ramones said of the renegade spirit of "Dogtown and Z-Boys." "(The film) was pretty cool to see ... to get a little history on it."

COURTESY OF MICHAEL BIGNAMI Dyson Ramones, shown above, made the cut in a nationwide amateur skateboard competition on MTV's "TRL" coinciding with the opening of the film "Lords of Dogtown," about skateboarders of the '70s.

In the early days, skateboarders were unwelcome in public places, so had to create their own makeshift practice areas, often using drainage ditches and trespassing to use drained residential swimming pools, leading to constant run-ins with law enforcement officials.

Although Ramones admits that he and other skateboarders still have to run from the police sometimes, today's skaters have the luxury of public skate parks, each one with its own type of training obstacle.

"It would be nice to have more (skate parks) so more kids could experience it," Ramones said. "Illegal" skating areas -- down railings or stairs -- are mainly good for video footage, he said.

RAISED IN Mililani, Ramones began dividing his time a few months ago between Hawaii and California -- where there are more competitions -- to further his skateboarding career.

After the Hawaii contest on May 7, Ramones flew to Phoenix for another contest, then returned to Hawaii before leaving yesterday for Las Vegas. He'll head to Minnesota on June 8 for another contest.

COURTESY OF MICHAEL BIGNAMI Dyson Ramones enjoys the perks of traveling due to his skateboarding skills.

"The main thing is that I get to travel and see the world," Ramones said. All his travel is paid for, and because he skates for Blue Hawaii Surf, Hurley, Thunder, Spitfire, Stereo and Emerica, he also receives free clothes, shoes, boards, wheels and trucks (the metal part of the skateboard that holds the wheels). Making money doesn't concern him that much.

Ramones credits youth pastor Clint Chinen for helping him win sponsorships. And Ramones said his family -- he has two younger siblings -- helps him by being so supportive. "Especially my mom," he said.

"I really didn't plan anything," Ramones said. "It just kind of happened. It all fell into place."