..By PAUL MOSER Special to AllAroundPhilly.com

You see, there is a perfectly good explanation for the deja vu one might experience while watching the pair at X Games VIII inside the First Union next week — Englehart and Homan were those kids.

Aggressive in-line skater Englehart, a Lansdale native, and BMX rider Homan, a Drexel Hill resident, have trucked through the Delaware Valley most of their lives. Both will continue this week when the X Games makes its second stop in Philadelphia as the extreme pair have risen to the top of their respective sports within the unlikely confines of the Tri-State area.

Englehart, a 19-year-old North Penn High School grad, is one of the most well known action sports athletes ever from the Philadelphia suburbs. A fifth-place medalist last year inside the First Union Center during the aggressive in-line vert competition, Englehart will take on the best in the world on the final day of the X Games.

Homan, a Pennsville, N.J., native competing in the Park discipline of BMX, was voted the ESPN Action Sports and Music Awards BMX Rider of the Year by his peers. Since performing in the popular Little Devil Video, "Criminal Mischief," Homan is considered among the top riders in the world despite his limited contest experience. Homan moved into a house in Drexel Hill two years ago with friends from Delaware County.

Though it may be tempting to label the duo anomalies, each stress there are others like them. 

"Though California is the center of the universe for everything in our sport, there’s actually a lot of guys around here who turned pro," Englehart affirmed. "A lot of guys in Southeastern Pennsylvania turned pro."

Some spring to mind but none with the chops on a vert ramp equal to that of the teen dubbed by some the top aggressive inline skater in the United States.

It all started in the heart of Montgomery County for Englehart. A kid who was raised playing baseball and other mainstream sports, Englehart soon grew tired of team sports. He needed something else. Something more suited to his own personality.

Enter a Toys-R-Us set of Rollerblades.

One day his older brother, Andre, came home with a pair of Rollerblades. As with any younger brother, Marc had to have his own. The duo found nearby Cheap Skates in Lansdale and have not taken off their blades since.

"Baseball started to be a nuisance and I was always on the worst team of the year," Englehart said. "It got boring. It was a lot more fun to go out by yourself. Much more fun to be in an individual sport."

Though international riders Taig Khris (the defending X Games vert champ), Japanese riders Eito and Takeshi Yasutoko, and Australian skater Shane Yost will be clear favorites this week, the fact Englehart’s name is mentioned in the same sentence says a lot about his talent in the internationally-dominated sport.

"It’s very tough competition," Englehart said. "There’s three or four guys on the top that are at such a higher level than me that it will be hard. But it is possible if I work harder."

Along with a strong work ethic, Englehart plans to be fueled by the unbelievable home crowd advantage he is planning on. With this possibly being the X Games last hurrah in Philadelphia, Englehart is not planning on going out quietly.

"I’m definitely looking forward to it," Englehart said. "It’s my last year in Philly and it’s my last time to do good at home."

While talking from his Drexel Hill house, Homan is just happy to be involved this week after injuries kept him a spectator during the X Games’ first go in Philadelphia. The skater who can be seen at FDR Park, Love Park and trails around Delco just wants the opportunity to perform.

"Honestly," Homan began. "I’m just looking to have fun. The goal was to qualify for the X Games and now I’m in. I kind of wanted to ride in the games in my hometown. It’s cool just to be invited."

If the star of the Delco resident keeps rising, invitations to big events won’t be a problem for very long.

Although it is not surprising Homan’s name comes up with the likes of Dave Mirra, Ryan Nyquist, Bruce Crisman, Alistair Whitton and Jay Miron when conversation switches to those to watch in the Aug. 18 Park Final, it all still comes as a shock to the 22-year-old. To put things mildly, Homan was bewildered when he got a call from ESPN for their annual Action Sports and Music Awards. 

"I was definitely shocked just being nominated," Homan said. "I’m not a big contest guy and that’s something they focused on in the past. I definitely didn’t expect to win."

Expectations have been raised, however, for the laid back athlete who may not be able to walk around the Philly suburbs without getting mobbed much longer.

"I don’t get stopped too much," Homan said with a laugh. "One time at the King of Prussia Mall I got stopped by this dad who said his kid had all my videos. It happens once in a while. It’s kind of weird and uncomfortable but pretty cool I guess."

If each do as expected, obscurity may be impossible for both Homan and Englehart after the next week in Philadelphia.

***

Notes: Moto-X superstar Travis Pastrana and BMX icon Jamie Bestwick will not compete this week in Philadelphia. *** Pastrana chewed up his knee and Bestwick broke an arm last weekend at the Gravity Games in Rhode Island. Flyers Donald Brashear, Chris Therien, Todd Fedoruk, Chris McCallister and Bruno St. Jacques will hand out medals this week. *** The first event for the Games – as it was last year – will be the Skateboard Street competition, which will begin at 9 a.m., Saturday, on the West Side of City Hall. Finals begin at 2 p.m., but it is advised to get their early considering the crowd last year.
Return To Profiles