The results of today's Converse Coastal Carnage – three ams: Raven Tershay, Curren Caples, and Kevin Kowalski on top, winning $10g, 5g, and 5g, respectively, ahead of seasoned pros like Rune Glifberg and masters like Christian Hosoi – remind me of one of the great conundrums in modern skateboarding: The word "amateur" is utterly ridiculous.

Take the Dew Tour, where Chaz Ortiz won the whole shebang last year and came in 4th on Saturday, but is still not really considered a pro by his own sponsors, or BNQT favorite Chris Mendes, who was mugging for the NBC Sports cameras this weekend wearing a Mountain Dew AmForce t-shirt. How many years in a row do you have to skate at the biggest 3-ring pro circus circuit in the country before you no longer get to call yourself an amateur?

Across the pond at the Amsterdamn Am contest, Ricardo Paterno picked up 5,000 Euros for his performance this weekend. What does the word "am" even mean, at this point?

At any rate... props to the youngins, and especially to Raven Tershay: Beating Rune Glifberg in a bowl contest gets you some props in my book. Don't spend it all in one place!