Blame Canada for PLG. He grew up in Montreal, got his first skateboard at eight years old, and according to legend, had a skatepark and ramp in his backyard. Since turning pro in 1996, Pierre-Luc Gagnon has evolved into one of the most influential and dominating vert skaters from the 20th Century into the 21st. He’s won everything from Canadian Championships to the X Games and if skateboarding ever follows snowboarding into the Olympics, he’ll probably win medals there too. PLG is most often described as a technical skater and his 540 nollie heel flip is considered one of the highest technologies of ramp skating. That being said, PLG also has style. He makes this look good and now he’s added not only another title to his resume, Maloof Money Cup Vert Champion, but took home the biggest prize in the history of the sport with a sweet $75,000 check and a new Ford. He’s the present – and future – of the sport.