BOARD CHAIRMAN; SAUGUS' RIEDERER IS RIDING HIS WAY TO LOCAL SKATEBOARDING SPONSORSHIPS.

Byline: Scott Magoloff Staff Writer

While the greatest showcase of extreme sports, The X Games, continues in San Francisco, about 30 skateboarders of varying ages practice their best moves in the Sports Complex Skatepark.

One skater, Mike Riederer, who at 26 is past his prime in this sport, is helping younger athletes to succeed by offering them sponsorships. He started his own company, called Hydro, and his first shipment of boards is expected next week. He will also have shirts bearing the company's logo.

Riederer's motivation?

``Last June the idea came; it was inspired by a (lousy) sponsor,'' said Riederer, who referred to his only experience with a sponsor.

Riederer, a Saugus resident, husband and father of two, had a 3-month sponsorship with a company that ended in June.

``I don't want to give false promises like were given to me,'' he said. ``The whole time I was sponsored I thought, `This guy can't run a business.' ''

Riederer's plan is to eventually develop a team of local skaters, whose job it would be to promote his company while benefiting from his free products. His first recruit is Russ Taylor.

Taylor, 17, will be a senior at Bowman Continuation High School and is already sponsored by Val Surf, which has locations in Valencia and North Hollywood. He competes once a month in events sponsored by the California Amateur Skateboarding League. Val Surf pays his entry fees.

With his performance at his last CASL competition, Taylor qualified for the Vans Warped Tour. The demonstration tour features some pros and stops in San Bernardino this weekend. It will be a nice accomplishment for Taylor, who has only been in five CASL competitions in his young amateur career.

``He would be my first board sponsor,'' Taylor said of his arrangement with Riederer. ``I saw the shape (of Riederer's boards) and I like it; it has a good concave.

``It means a lot. I'm all for it; it's supporting your friend. But sponsorship is not just free boards. I have to promote the company and I have to skate hard.''

Riederer, who works with satellite transmitters for a broadcasting company, is buying the skateboards from a manufacturer in Alabama. He will have his company's logo silk-screened onto them.

But it isn't really about the product. It's what the arrangement does for the skaters.

``I'm doing it from the skater's approach, not for the money,'' Riederer said. ``I want to help kids move on to bigger and better sponsors and go out and support them in competitions. Some of these kids are really talented and could go on to big stuff. I want to be a part of that.''

Skaters who don't have the skill to warrant a sponsorship will still reap some of the rewards of Riederer's relationship with the Skatepark. His boards will be priced competitively.

For each board he sells, Riederer hopes to provide another one free of charge to his sponsored skaters or those he would like to sponsor.

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PHOTO Saugus skateboarder Mike Riederer's fledgling company offers sponsorships to young skateboarders.

Hans Gutknecht/Daily News