Garrett Hill Wins Toyota Athlete of the Year Nomination

After an amazing performance at the 2013 Dew Tour Beach Championships Garrett Hill earned himself a finalist position for the Toyota Athlete of the Year (TAOTY) award and $2,500 from Toyota. Hill put on a show for the fans in Ocean City, Maryland and across web-land, landing a clean 360 flip 5-0 that was more than worthy of the best trick award in the skate street session. Hill got the better of runner-ups Dan Lacey, who won the BMX Battle at the Beach, and Drew Bezanson, who placed second in the BMX Park Final, respectively.

Curious as to how the Toyota Athlete of the Year is decided? Let us refresh your memory with a breakdown.

Every sport has athletes who perform staple tricks at each contest, but there are also athletes who go to each event to push their riding – and their sport – as far as possible. The Toyota Athlete of the Year program will focus on the athletes who are elevating their sport by pushing their riding with progressive runs and tricks, and providing amazing and inspiring moments for their fellow athletes and fans.

After each event final in 2013, Dew Tour Judges will nominate the most progressive rider in each discipline. The athlete nominee runs/tricks are then edited into a piece for online voting. The athletes who receives the most online votes after each event is awarded a $2,500 prize on behalf of Toyota, and is then eligible to win Toyota Athlete of the Year. After the third and final event in Breckenridge, the three athletes, and video of their progressive riding from the Dew Tour, will be subject to a panel of industry judges who will determine which is the official Toyota Athlete of the Year.

The Winning athlete will be awarded $25,000 on behalf of Toyota.

Garrett Hill is the first of three finalists for 2013

Next stop is San Francisco, California for the Toyota City Championships October 10-13, so expect killer dirt, street and streetstyle BMX and skate athletes to be up for the next nomination soon!