Buran fourth in the state

The nerves started to build within and the early stages of bronchitis were also pestering Luke Buran, but the 9-year-old from Costa Mesa kept one goal in his mind.

He wanted to finish among the top five in the state. Buran never lost sight of the goal and finished fourth in the 8-and-under division at the California Amateur Skate League’s State Championships at Woodward Skate Park in Tehachapi on Saturday.

Buran was the only skater in his division to pull off the boneless maneuver. The move requires a skater to launch into an aerial off a vertical ramp, pushing the back foot off the top of the ramp, while holding the board in his hand, then while in mid-air, bringing the board back under his feet and successfully landing at the base of the ramp.

With the fourth-place finish, Buran, who regularly practices at Volcom Skate Park in Costa Mesa, is convinced he will be competing for a long time.

“I’ll be doing it until I retire, like Tony Hawk,” said Buran, who attends Maranatha Christian Academy in Santa Ana.

If anything, he wants to make a name for himself, as his father, Joey, did. Joey is a former pro surfer and 1984 pipeline masters champion.

— Steve Virgen