not my biggest reward but one that stands out:
in 2009, I won a local contest in the sponsored division and it was jam style runs. during the second jam, I didn't miss. I ended my, "run," by tre flipping the biggest gap that we had first try (approx 10 stair size,) then I turned around on a quarter pipe and kickflip crooked a handrail going down a big 4. as I'm rolling up to the kickflip crook I said in my head over and over again, "please don't miss this please don't miss this please don't miss this." after I landed it I remember the MC (who also owned the shop I skated for) say, "welp. guess we know who won."
My soon-to-be girlfriend (who I was gay bff's with for 4 years while in high school) called me right after the contest and told me she was in a horrible car accident.