Sandro's mom looks at him adoringly

Sandro Dias got his first taste of adrenaline in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He was eleven years old when he and his friend rigged a seat inside a tire and took turns pushing each other down a hill. Later that year, his dad bought him a skateboard and Sandro put away the tire for good.

From the age of eighteen, Sandro worked in his father's mineral extracting road supply company. It was a solid job with good benefits, but it was difficult for him to find time to skate. In 2001, he made the decision to leave and come to America.

"When I was working, I had to wake up at 7:00 in the morning and work until 6:00 at night because I was the boss there. Now I wake up at 8 and go to the gym. In the afternoon, sometimes I go surfing and then I skate. It is great."

The smiley skater now lives in Santa Ana California with his girlfriend, rollerblading pro and fellow Brazilian, Fabiola da Silva. Thanks to a virtually non-stop travel schedule, Sandro's English has improved dramatically, but still he misses his hometown.

"I have good sport in Brazil, but there are no contests. In the States, there are more skaters, better ramps. I have more support here for sure."

Until recently, Sandro was known only as a best trick skater. But in 2003, he exploded on the competition circuit. Since January, he has picked up four gold medals, including the Latin X in Rio de Janeiro and X Air in Hamilton, New Zealand. While the big titles still go to heavy hitters like Burnquist and Lasek, it is Sandro's death-defying ramp antics that people remember.