Cesar Mora is an Australian professional vert skater and a pioneer in vert skating. Cesar is the only vert skater to compete in all ten of the first X Games. In 1998, he won vert gold, and he has two vert silver medals ('95, '99) as well as a bronze ('00).[1] A number one ranked skater and world champion several times, he skated for Roces Skates from 1994 to 1998 before switching to K2 Skates from 1999 to 2004. Born in Madrid, Spain and having lived most of his life in Sydney, Australia, Cesar represented Australia in soccer at a youth level, traveling to the US and England before returning to his city of birth Madrid and training with the Spanish football club Rayo Vallecano for several months, which at the time were in the 4th division of the Spanish league. He returned to Sydney and started skating at Bondi Beach, where he practiced his skills on the ramp and began an international skating career. Always "creative, explosive and exciting to watch",[citation needed] he promoted a drug-free lifestyle. Cesar also practiced art, illustration, creative drawing, and graphic design. In 2003, Cesar headlined a video game called Rolling, being included with some of the most well-known skaters in the world at the time. Sometimes referred to as the "King of Vert",[citation needed] in 1998 he was the first skater in history to land a 1080°, and later that year he achieved a reverse 1260°. Throughout his career, Cesar managed to avoid major injuries until the end of 2000, when performing at the Melbourne Planet X Games, he fell and broke his left arm and wrist. That year, he took a short hiatus focusing on healing his injuries. Once his confidence returned, Cesar's usual tricks of spins, flips, and airs were performed again. For many years, he was known for his backflips, always being described as a "crowd pleaser". Cesar, ever the showman, never left a ramp without giving his all, whether it be the X Games or a small show in Peru, where the ramp may have been less than appropriate.[citation needed] He wanted to leave the kids and fans with something special and signed autographs. Cesar's position as a role model made him wear a helmet, because when he started his first tour in the US, he never liked wearing a helmet but was told "no helmet no skate".[citation needed] As a skater with a respectable list of achievements, he had a successful time on tour and was grateful to anyone who supported him.
