Digiacomo Dias Florianapolis - Santa Catarina - Brasil Sponsors: Venomous Sandboards Mormaii Sunglasses Flash Power Nicoboco Drop Shoes Nave Mae Fort Light
This was Digis first trip to the United States. He had been trying for 2 year to get a visa to come compete at the annual Sand
Master Jam with NSL champion, Josh Tenge and DRI world champion, Alex King. He knew that part of his goal lay
waiting for him in Florence, Oregon at Sand Master Park. He continued to pursued his dream with the same motivation, with
the same ongoing desire.
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 Digiacomo Dias |
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After winning just about every competition in South America, ( yes, they have many ) Digi went to Monte Kaolano, Germany for the 2000 world sandboard championships, ( yes, Germany has them too ) to test himself against the pros. Satisfied with his 17th place finish in a field of 100 competitors. Digi spent the 10 day event practicing and improving his skills with 3 time Sand Master Jam Champion, Peruvian Marco Malaga. Digi had tied with Marco for 1st place at his first Peruvian competiton also in 2000. Digi was already throwing his front flips. Digi arrived in Reno, the home of Dune Riders International, just an hours and half drive from Sand Mountain where the first leg of the competition would take place. There Digi met up with DRI officials and another 3 time Sand Master Jam champion, one of the pilots he came to meet, Josh Tenge. Tenge was throwing his tricks, board on feet, on the trampoline and hit if off with Digi from the start. "Hey, we speak the same language." laughed Tenge. I don't think he meant Portugese. The next day we headed out to Sand Mountain towing the Sandboard Magazine sand rail and met up with the rest of the Venomous team with the exception of junior champion, Jeremy Tutorow. However the weather was very uncooperative and the competition never began. A couple days later Digi was in Florence, Oregon lending a hand to Josh Tenge and the park staff building and painting all the new apperatus that he would soon be competiting on.Again the weather was a problem but still people were visiting with the pilots and there was a lot of media there so one could see interviews going on through out the day. Finally the rain subsided and the sand dried out allow the "Jam" to take form. Big Air was first and Digi shared his Superman front flip with the spectators and the cameras. Tenge's trade mark back flip was right on target as well but Digi bested him enough to claim the SMJ 2003 "Big Air" title. It was a thrill to see! The second day gave Digi his first taste of rail slide competition and the whole crew work the new slides with serious intent. |
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By the time the event wrapped up Digi had fulfilled his dream. He came to Sand Master Park, sand boarded with the best and claimed the Sand Master Jam 2003 "Big Air" title. He stayed at the park for 3 weeks boarding daily with Tenge and Sthe locals before we put him on the jet back home to Brasil. Digi's studying journalism now in his first year in college and is already planning his next trip back to the US. From the time his brother Dalton gave him his first sandboard, to the day thousands of spectators went crazy after Digi landed his double front flip at the world championships, to his summer quest at Sand Master Park, Digi has lived sandboarding to the full. I'm sure we will see more of him on our televisions and magazines. Perhaps one day he will be the one writing these articles about young sandboarders traveling the globe in search of their dreams. A subject he knows quite well. Thanks Digi. We had a great time and can't wait to ride with you again. |
 Digi On Top!Sand Master Park |
Lon Beale 6/2003 |