If your little Xbox button-masher can name every skateboarding trick in the canon, he or she is not alone. Many brag about the incredible virtual feats of skill and precision they can pull off, and they even have the skate shoes and Zumiez wardrobe to prove it. But guess what? There are actual people outside of Tony Hawk's Proving Ground who defy gravity on four wheels, all while seemingly having absolutely no fear of taking an asphalt slap to the face. We're talking skateboarders, and they're hitting the Ontario Beach Park Sports and Music Festival in Charlotte with a vengeance this weekend.

The sport of skateboarding will be front and center Saturday, July 18, at the Gazebo Getdown, a contest co-sponsored by Red Bull Skateboarding and Rochester's own Krudco skateshop. The park's gazebo area will be transformed into a mini skate park for the event, and skateboarders will show off their best tricks for a shot at several cash prizes. The contest is open to anyone who thinks they have the chops to compete.

"The contest is considered a best trick-style jam," says Alan Presutti, general manager of Krudco. "Each obstacle will be chosen one at time and the competitors will be given 10 to 15 minutes to outdo all the others."

While I won't ever claim to know what the hell a "Roc City Park Hubba" is, it will be there as one of the obstacles upon which competitors will try to out-do each other, along with the Krudco Gazebo Gap and the RedBullSkateboarding.com Straight Ledge. Each carries with it a $250 prize purse that judges will award based on trick style, speed, and difficulty. One overall winner will also earn the grand prize of a scholarship to Woodward skate camp, worth over $1,000.

Serving as special guest judges will be 5BoroNYC professional skateboard team members Dan Pensyl, Danny Falla, and Rochester native Justin Barnes. Additionally, pro skateboarder John Reeves from Bodega Skateboards will share MC duties with Presutti.

The event is a fund-raiser for the Roc City Skatepark project. In the planning stages for about a year, organizers are hoping that the park will be a poured concrete custom landscape that incorporates both natural and street plaza elements, snake runs, bowls, and even skateable artwork. The goal is to offer a 24-hour facility where people can legally practice their sports of skateboarding and BMX bike riding.

"We want it to be safe and parent-friendly, a place people feel safe coming to have fun," Presutti says. "You go to parks out west and moms are reading books while their kids are skating."

Or in this Mom's case, perhaps putting on my helmet and dropping in? You never know, stranger things have happened...but I'll let the pros handle it this weekend. I will, however, leave you with this quick word of advice: if your kid starts talking about "sweet slide action, lip tricks and grinds," don't reach for the bar of soap to wash out their mouth. Instead, put away their game controller, buy them a skateboard, and donate to the Roc City Park so they can show you what they can do.

Registration for the Gazebo Getdown opens at noon, open practice begins at 1 p.m., and the contest starts at 2 p.m. A registration fee of $10 goes to the Roc City Skatepark Fund. See roccitypark.org or krudco.com for more information.