URGENT - DATE CHANGE - BOWLZILLA Wellington 2021 NOW 27th MARCH

Because of the latest COVID lockdowns in New Zealand we have had to postpone BOWLZILLA Wellington until the 27th March, in a few weeks. WE WILL NOT BE RUNNING THIS WEEKEND THE 6TH. We would really appreciate if you could let everyone know and we look forward to seeing you all in a few weeks.

BOWLZILLA Gold Coast – Lifting Boarders

BOWLZILLA Gold Coast was the last international professional skateboard competition of 2020 before the world closed down. It will be the largest competition of the New Year lifting boarder’s spirits around the country. Once again the ASF National Park Skating Championships will be back to bring the cheer.

With such a crazy year behind us, there are high expectations for 2021 and what it will bring. BOWLZILLA Gold Coast will be do its part in bringing back the positive with the festival hosting; art, music, learn to ride clinics, food, parties and of course the competition.

For the sixth year BOWLZILLA Gold Coast is the ASF National Park Skating Championships, which makes it the peak ASF park skating competition in Australia, with the highest prize money in Australia. The competition has equal prize purse across Yeah Girl Women’s and Dickies Open, the largest Masters prize purse in Australasia and an oversupply of prizes for 16 & Unders.

The BOWLZILLA Gold Coast festival is about the gathering of Australia’s skateboarding community for a week on the Gold Coast, which is the best skate community in Australia, to celebrate all that makes them great, art, music, food, friends, community and skating.

The main show, the competition is the Australian Skateboarding Federation’s biggest Park Competition of the year for them and the Nation. ASF competitions are run by members of the skateboarding community across Australia as a collaborative effort, and the ASF are stoked to have BOWLZILLA as the peak national park event for 2021 with all its fantastic partners and amazing festival events.

Global powerhouse Yeah Girl started on the Gold Coast and has grown to an international platform showcasing the many varied and awesome abilities of womxn’s skateboarding. They have supported BOWLZILLA since inception and work together every year to ensure the highest paid Equality-in-Skateboarding event in Australia and that it continues to support the ever-growing womxn’s skateboard community on its path to the largest international competitive stage.

"Yeah Girl began as a way to give voice and spirit to the ever growing and evolving womxn's skate community. Working with BOWLZILLA Gold Coast was a no-brainer — they have always tried to find ways to further develop their understanding and support of the womxn's skate scene. At the first BOWLZILLA Gold Coast in 2016, Shari Duffy became the first woman to judge an international skateboard competition and has since taken on the role of Head Judge. The competition itself, having the largest Equality-In-Skateboarding prize purse in Australia, and the many other things done during the festival and behind the scenes every year in planning, help promote the best of our community on the largest stage available in Australia.” Sarah Huston – Yeah Girl

The only reason BOWLZILLA Gold Coast is even possible is because of the foresight of the Gold Coast City Council. They have provided the support and the platform for what is the Nation’s best skateboard community. What they continue to do each year with building more skateparks and providing more learn to ride clinics and the supporting of events which help rally and showcase the community is beyond compare in Australia. BOWLZILLA Gold Coast being the largest event of its kind in Australia is testament to the great work GCCC has done so far.

“Our city is expanding its major events calendar, actively seeking out new format events to attract national interest in the coast,’’ said Mayor Tom Tate.

“You only have to say the word BOWLZILLA to make you want to hear more. Blending cool music with epic skate bowl skills, great food and world-class competition is the perfect recipe for a great event.

“I wish organisers and competitors every success with the program and look forward to the thousands of social media selfies being shared across the globe.’’

Major Events Gold Coast CEO Jan McCormick:

"I’m thrilled to see BOWLZILLA hit the Gold Coast once again in 2021. The action-packed event is an iconic feature in our city’s sporting events calendar. I look forward to welcoming the competitors, their families and the spectators to another memorable National Championships.”

BOWLZILLA Gold Coast is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar. TEQ’s support helps promote BOWLZILLA Gold Coast and attract friends and family from far and wide, not just for the week of the festival but throughout the entire year. Being part of the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar helps show off the best of us to the world and encourages them to come and be part of it all.

The BOWLZILLA Gold Coast festival is coming back for a sixth year! The week of fun on and off the board returns with a womxn’s learn to ride clinic with Yeah Girl and Gold Coast Skateboard Coaching, Beach Burrito Company is the night-time venue for the week for art, food and parties, there are several local hosted barbecues at some of the best skateparks in Australia and it is all wrapped around the biggest comp of the year in Australia at Elanora skatepark.

“This year BOWLZILLA Gold Coast is dedicated to the far too many we have lost in our community over the last year, especially Australian legend Grant “Biff” Murdoch. We realise how lucky we are to still be perpetuating our Peter Pan Complex with this festival and will do everything we can to lift the spirits of our community with a fantastic week on the Gold Coast. Our job is to spread joy and inspire and we will make sure there are equally high doses of both. We thank all of our supporters for assisting us in continuing the stoke that is BOWLZILLA Gold Coast. We are an Open Boarders event, so everyone with a positive attitude is welcome to come join us at our free week of skating celebration.” Chad Ford; BOWLZILLA – Director.

BOWLZILLA stands on the shoulders of giants and we strive in all we do to acknowledge the influential skaters and scene that came before us; Patti McGee, Tony Alva, Lora Thornhill, Jay Adams, Adrian Jones, Grant “Biff” Murdoch, Dog Town, Steve Alba, Suicidal Tendencies, Black Flag, Pearl Jam, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Hellmen, Glen E. Friedman, Thrasher, Independent, The Bones Brigade, The Beastie Boys, Lance Mountain, Chris Miller, Cara Beth Burnside and Tony Hawk. The new guard of Poppy Olsen, Keegan Palmer, Taniah Meyers, Grant Taylor, Lizzie Armanto, Danny Leon, Nicole Hause, Rune Glifberg, Omar Hassan, Bucky Lasek, Jack Fardell and Pedro Barros, would not be here without this heritage. BOWLZILLA™ acknowledges and celebrates this with plans to build on the past and write a bright and energetic future.

Dates:

13th March 2021

Event info: TBC – information coming soon

9th March: Yeah Girl x Gold Coast Skateboard Coaching – Girl’s Learn To Ride Clinic – Tugun Skatepark, Boyd St, Tugun 4224

10th March: Gold Coast Grill – local hosted BBQ skate session – more to come

11th March: Tic Taco art exhibition / video premier – Beach Burrito Company; The Strand Shop 25/26, 72-80 Marine Parade, Coolangatta 4225 Ph: (07) 5536 4192

12th March: Gold Coast Grill – local hosted BBQ skate session – more to come

13th March: BOWLZILLA™ Gold Coast, Australia’s; National Park Skating Championships – 1 Pines Lane, Elanora QLD 4221

13th March: Dive In – official after party – Beach Burrito Company; The Strand Shop 25/26, 72-80 Marine Parade, Coolangatta 4225 Ph: (07) 5536 4192

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BOWLZILLA Wellington 2020 highlights

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BOWLZILLA Cleaning Up On the Gold Coast

BOWLZILLA Gold Coast was the stereotype of a perfect Gold Coast day. Everyone who made the effort was rewarded with amazing skating across the generations and a week of fantastic music and art.

The week started off with inclement weather like last year and the threatened shut down of all major events around Australia due to COVID-19. The sun came out on Friday and with that a large turn out of our interstate friends. The real spirit of skating is making the best of it regardless and everyone who did was rewarded with the best skating seen in the five years of BOWLZILLA Gold Coast.

The seed that Yeah Girl planted the first year of BOWLZILLA Gold Coast by ensuring proper support for the Women’s division has really grown into something amazing. The level of Women’s skating in Australia is incredible. What they have bought to BOWLZILLA Gold Coast is really showing the world what Equality-in-Skateboarding means. From Shari Lawson being Head Judge of the whole competition, to the depth of talent in the competition, to Yeah Girl’s hosted after party at Beach Burrito Company with women DJs and bands, means the whole week is a step above and damn good fun.

Gold Coast City Council and Division 13 of Council have been continuously investing in and supporting skating for years which is why the Gold Coast is the epicentre of great skating in Australia. Every year it seems like more and more of BOWLZILLA’s competitors and friends and family are relocating to the Gold Coast because of it.

Tourism & Events Queensland have been helping amplify the fantastic contributions skateboarding makes to the Gold Coast and Queensland and raising wider interest in all parts of BOWLZILLA Gold Coast. BOWLZILLA being on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar is having a great effect on the festival and the local community.

The festival was full of the usual Gold Coast stoke with parties, DJ, bands and art at Beach Burrito Company Coolangatta, gatherings and barbecues at some the Gold Coast’s most amazing skateparks and the competition itself. There really is not better place to celebrate the end of summer.

“There was a changing of the guard this year with the competition. If comps are your thing and you don’t turn up you will be left behind very quickly now. As a fan of skating it feels so great to be a part of BOWLZILLA Gold Coast and as a lifelong skater it is truly inspirational to see the level of skating in the Masters, the very quickly developing talent of the Women and 16 & Unders. The support that the government agencies, sponsors, entrants and fans give means we have many years ahead for this festival.”  Chad Ford; BOWLZILLA – Director.

Sponsors and prize givers for BOWLZILLA Gold Coast 2020 were: Council Division 13, Gold Coast City Council, Tourism & Events Queensland, Red Bull, Pirate Life Brewing, Vans, Fiik Electric Skateboards, Yeah Girl Skateboarding, Gold Coast Skateboard Coaching, Beach Burrito Company, Fruity Griptape, DSCO Bearings, Ace Trucks, Santa Cruz Skateboards, GoPro, Protec, FUEL TV, Grassfires Magazine, Girl’s Skate Gold Coast, Truck Stop Skate Shop and ASF.

The placings for BOWLZILLA Gold Coast 2020 are;

YEAH GIRL SKATEBOARDING – WOMEN – equal cash prize purse with Open, prizes donated by Girls Skate Gold Coast.

1          Indiana Barnard – ASF Australian Park Skating Champion 2020

2          Charlotte Heath

3          Grace Cochrane

4          Haylie Powell

5          Anneka Lewis

6          Aimee Massie

7          Lily Britton

8          Mistie Mildenhall

9          Tora Waldren

10        Summer Kopelman

11        Kayla Mathews

16 & UNDER – prizes donated by GoPro, Santa Cruz, Fiik Skateboards, Vans

1          Ash Wilcomes – ASF Australian Park Skating Champion 2020

2          Freddie Arnold

3          Jake Thatcher

4          Nakula Boag

5          Jack Lewis

6          TJ Van Lewis

7          Logan Graff

8          Lukas Byers

9          Harvey Campbell

10        Jaylon Jones

11        Calan Dixon

12        Josh Godward

13        Oscar Southerden

14        CJ Carter

15        Jacob Hansen

16        Kai Gould

17        Louie Daiguchi

18        Zac Morin-Grave

19        Sumanyu Black

20        Joshua Corbett

Pirate Life Brewing MASTERS – $5000 prize money from Pirate Life Brewing, prizes from Grassfires Magazine, Fiik electric skateboards, Santa Cruz

1          Ian Davidson – ASF Australian Park Skating Champion 2020

2          Nick Hepenstall

3          Chris Enwright

4          Brian Jacobson

5          Justin Leslight

6          Marcio Brandini

7          Simon Dixon

8          Nick Southerden

9          Iain Watt

10        Jason Mildenhall

11        Tony Macdonald-Uren

12        Dave Adair

OPEN

1          Kieran Woolley – ASF Australian Park Skating Champion 2020

2          Marley Rae

3          Shaun Boucher

4          Jakob Robinson

5          George Richards

6          Zane Hetherington

7          Mitchell Bullard

8          Sam Windhorst

9          Barry Taniwha

10        Jaxson Smith

11        Marcus Brandini

12        Shem Bragg

13        Levi Yeaman

14        Brent Muscat

15        Pretzel

16        Jamie Bunt

17        Grant Johnstone

18        Sam Renwich

BOWLZILLA RINGING THE CAPITAL

Wellington City Council, Redhead or Dead Events, Skateboarding.NZ, Wellington Skateboarding Association and Miryoku Agency had the Capital ringing this year with the New Zealand 2020 National Park / Bowl Skating Championships with BOWLZILLA Wellington.

Skateboarding.NZ made sure the New Zealand National Skateboarding Park / Bowl competition series was the most awesome so far. We’re all here to show how much fun skating is. Today proved our case.

BOWLZILLA Wellington got the weather this year. When Wellington turns it on there is no better place in the world. It really is the best little city in the world.

Yeah Gnar made it possible for BOWLZILLA Wellington to be the largest Equality in Skateboarding event in New Zealand for the third year in a row and Civil Concrete stepped up and actually made sure BOWLZILLA Wellington got across the line this year and as a result every single sponsor, participant and fan got to be part of the best year ever BOWLZILLA Wellington.

The New Zealand National Champions for 2020 are; Women – Paula Costales 1st and Krysta Ashwell NZ Champion, 16 & Under – Niwa Shewry who is also New Zealand Champion, the Masters champion for 2020 is Ramon Thackwell who also holds the New Zealand Championship and Jakob Robinson won the Opens for a second year and Shaun Boucher was crowned the New Zealand Champion for the fifth year in a row which is what is colloquially called a legacy.

The interest in skateboarding is growing and that could clearly be seen by the increase in participation and support. This year Wellington City Council, New Zealand Community Trust, Civil Concrete, Yeah Gnar, Skateboarding.NZ, Vans, Dickies, Trinity Distribution, Santa Cruz, Fruity Grip, Spitfire, Irrom Distribution, GoPro, Wellington Skateboarding Association, Protec, Hardcore, Trinity Distribution, Red Bull, Tech Deck, Vans and Sky Sport.

BOWLZILLA Wellington 2020 placings:

Tech Deck 16 & Under

1          Niwa Shewry – NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION

2          Zedyn Fellows

3          Remus Henare

4          Max Hancock

5          Liam Hayes

6          Rico Henare

7          Monty Graham

8          Tobias Moreno Mondi

MASTERS

1          Ramon Thackwell – NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION

2          Stephen Crump

3          Sean Ritchie

4          Dave Crabb

5          Von Griffin

6          Nathan Adams

7          David  Read

8          Olly Burke

9          Orson Reynolds

10        Scott Wilkinson

11        Adam Warriner

12        Mason Lockyer

WOMEN

1          Paula Costales

2          Krysta Ashwell – NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION

3          Billie Morrison

4          Rhya Henare

5          Gala Baumfield

6          Poppy-Joe Garratt

7          Abbey Rebell

8          Ella Vincent-Hyde

9          Sharee Dowdall

10        Abby Jessop

OPEN

1          Jakob Robinson

2          Louis Newman

3          Shaun Boucher – NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION

4          Bowman Hansen

5          Tom Mitchell

6          Dereck De Souza

7          Josh Wilson

8          Chris Curren

9          Johan Alexi Dowley

10        Kadin Elliott

11        John Dickinson

12        Jordan Nunns

13        Ken Te Ohaere

14        James Tuckey

15        Damon Cahill

16        Sean Cupples

17        George Nayldor

18        Jack Ansted

19        Mitchell Jordan

20        Levi Rhind

21        Stuart Roper

“From where we’ve come in the last five years to now is fascinating in the history of skateboarding. The greatest part of it though is how important the core values of skateboarding are protected and supported in the current desire for cultural alignment by outside interests. As skaters we will always embrace those wanting to work with and support our community. We are nothing without that support and we will continue to show respect for that support and ensure it enables our community. Whatever lay ahead, BOWLZILLA Wellington 2020 showed what is possible.” Chad Ford, Director – BOWLZILLA Wellington

For the fifth year in a row BOWLZILLA Wellington supported and entertained the New Zealand community with greatest skating and the most enthusiastic fans. 2021 is going to be bloody awesome.

The Sponsors that made it possible are: Wellington City Council, Skateboarding.NZ, Irrom, Santa Cruz, Protec, Hardcore, Trinity Distribution, Fruity Grip, DSCO Bearings, Wellington Skateboarding Association, Dickies, GoPro, Protec, Tech Deck, Redhead Or Dead, Manual Magazine, Dickies, Civil Concrete, Yeah Gnar NZ, Redhead Or Dead, Miryoku Agency and the many others. Thank you for everyrone that helped get from there to here.

Click above for webcast

BOWLZILLA Gold Coast carving out the future

BOWLZILLA Gold Coast is the biggest skateboard festival this year for Australia. Everyone is gathering on the Gold Coast for a week of celebrating our friend’s talents with art, music and skating. BOWLZILLA Gold Coast is the ASF National Park Skating Championships.

Five years in and BOWLZILLA Gold Coast is just getting started. This year’s festival is celebrating all the great talents of the skateboarding community with art, music, learn to ride clinics, food, parties and of course the competition.

BOWLZILLA Gold Coast is the ASF National Park Skating Championships which makes it the peak ASF park skating competition in Australia, with the highest prize money in Australia.

The Australian Skateboarding Federation competitions are run by members of the skateboarding community across Australia as a collaborative effort, and the ASF are stoked to have BOWLZILLA as the peak national park event for 2020 with all its fantastic partners and amazing festival events.

Yeah Girl started on the Gold Coast and has grown to an international platform showcasing the many varied and awesome abilities of women’s skateboarding. BOWLZILLA is fortunate to be able to work with Yeah Girl every year to ensure the highest paid Equality-in-Skateboarding event in Australia and that it continues to support the ever-growing women’s skateboard community on its path to the largest international competitive stage.

"Yeah Girl was started as a way of showcasing the talents of our friends both on and off their skateboards. Being able to work with BOWLZILLA Gold Coast year in and year out to continue to offer a platform that not only celebrates but gives voice to womxn in skateboarding is an honour. The fact that Yeah Girl started on the Gold Coast and we get to come back here every year and be part of the largest Equality in Skateboarding event in Australia makes all the hard work to get here that much more special. This fifth year of BOWLZILLA Gold Coast is going to be the best one yet.” Sarah Huston – Yeah Girl

BOWLZILLA Gold Coast would not be possible without the vision and support of Gold Coast City Council. Their continued investment over the years has been visionary in not just building the skatepark but looking for ways to ensure it continues to grow with the community and be able to be utilised as the best platform in Australia for events of this type. Having BOWLZILLA Gold Coast continue to be the largest event of its kind in Australia is a case study in how supporting skateboarding in the rights ways pays dividends for the whole community.

A City of Gold Coast spokesperson said:

“We’re proud of the investment, development and support we have given the skateboard community over the years. Many people say they are surprised by how big skateboarding is becoming with its entry into the Olympic Games and also how much the Gold Coast benefits from it. We are not surprised. In all the years of working with skateboarders it is apparent how hard working and civic minded they are. For relatively small investments in skateboarding compared to other activities the on-flow benefits to the community are so much bigger. Knowing that local riders like Keegan Palmer and community focused organisations like Yeah Girl have gone on to such international acclaim proves to everyone how worthwhile our investment in BOWLZILLA Gold Coast has been. We look forward to many more years of increased benefit for all.”

The growth of BOWLZILLA Gold Coast each year to be the biggest skateboard festival in Australia is only possible from having the support of others. The Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland help to amplify all the awesomeness by featuring it on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar, worth $880m to the state’s economy in 2020.

For the fifth year of the BOWLZILLA Gold Coast festival it will have all the usual full week of fun on and off the board. It all gets rolling with a girl’s learn to ride clinic with Yeah Girl and Gold Coast Skateboard Coaching, Beach Burrito Company is the night time venue for the week for art, food and parties, there are several local hosted barbecues at some of the best skateparks in Australia and it is all wrapped around the biggest comp of the year in Australia at Elanora skatepark.

“Five years into BOWLZILLA Gold Coast, wow! Being able to build a platform that is of the community it comes from and that showcases the best of our friend’s creativity on and off their boards has been the reward and continues to be the drive. The point of the competition at BOWLZILLA is not the placings but the camaraderie, inspiration, good times and opportunity it provides. If people come to BOWLZILLA with too serious an attitude they stick out like sore thumbs. Our goal is to promote and elevate the great and fun parts of the skateboarding lifestyle. Come have fun with us and celebrate how awesome our friends are!” Chad Ford; BOWLZILLA – Director.

Dates:

14th March 2019

Event info:

10th March: Yeah Girl x Gold Coast Skateboard Coaching – Girl’s Learn To Ride Clinic – Tugun Skatepark, Boyd St, Tugun 4224

11th March: Gold Coast Grill – local hosted BBQ skate session – more to come

12th March: Tic Taco art exhibition – Beach Burrito Company; The Strand Shop 25/26, 72-80 Marine Parade, Coolangatta

13th March: Gold Coast Grill – local hosted BBQ skate session – more to come

14th March: BOWLZILLA™ Gold Coast, Australia’s; National Park Skating Championships – 1 Pines Lane, Elanora QLD 4221

14th March: Dive In – official after party – Beach Burrito Company; The Strand Shop 25/26, 72-80 Marine Parade, Coolangatta 4225 Ph:

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Filmed content:

 BOWLZILLA Gold Coast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBEV_W0yB78  

BOWLZILLA Wellington – CAPITAL NEEDS

BOWLZILLA Wellington, Waitangi Park 9/03/2019

Wellington is set to be the Capital of Skating for New Zealand again the first week of March. 2020 is going to be the biggest year ever for skateboarding on the global stage and BOWLZILLA Wellington is the first big step for New Zealand skaters.

The road to the Olympic Games for skateboarding begins this year. Qualifying points started accruing in November for skaters competing in National Titles and other international professional competitions around the world. BOWLZILLA Wellington is the only points awarding Park competition in New Zealand for local riders to try and earn their way toward the biggest stage in the world.

BOWLZILLA Wellington is returning for its fifth year with the highlight being the all-encompassing New Zealand National Park / Bowl Skating Titles. Skateboarding.nz the National Governing body of skateboarding in NZ, sanctions this event as the National Championships for Park / Bowl skating which sees skaters from all around the country and expats flying in. The festival includes an art show, parties and music and an old school ramp jam and barbecue. It is the greatest week of skateboarding in New Zealand and everyone is invited to join in the celebrations.

“Wellington has had a commitment to skateboarding going back decades, which makes it the natural home of this national event,” says Mayor Andy Foster.

“Our community has benefitted from showcasing the healthy and creative lifestyle of skating at Waitangi Park since it was developed in 2006. Skateboarders were also using the same site for more than a decade before that.

“As skateboarding enters into the Olympics for the first time this year it is important we all find ways of encouraging our community in their goals of reaching the world’s biggest stage.”

Participation in the competition, spectators and fans at all the festival events and overall interest in BOWLZILLA Wellington has increased double digits every year since its inception, which sees Wellington really come alive with all the best of skating. The Park Skating National Champions for 16 & Under, Women, Masters 40+ and Pro/Am Open are special for the skating community and are now an important annual part of what makes Wellington great.

“2019 saw several international firsts and wins for New Zealand in Skateboarding Street and Park. Members of our fledgling National Team self-funded participation in several Olympic Qualifying events from L.A. to Rio De Janeiro in Brazil to represent their country. BOWLZILLA 2020 continues in its fifth consecutive year as the National Qualifying event for Skateboarding Park. We invite expressions of interest from new partners wishing to support this key step for Tokyo 2020 Olympic athlete selection." Ramon Thackwell, Director – SKATEBOARDING NEW ZEALAND – Skateboarding.nz

Wellington City Council, Skateboarding New Zealand, Redhead or Dead Events and Miryoku Agency have joined forces to create this fantastic opportunity for New Zealand skaters.

“BOWLZILLA Wellington has always been a community based and focused festival. The support we have received over the years has allowed us to build a platform for our friends to develop and showcase their incredible talents to their community and the world. It is difficult to see government agencies turn away from skating the very year they would get the biggest recognition and return especially with such a capable National Governing body like Skateboarding.nz doing amazing work regardless. Our friends and community are amazing though and together we will make this year’s BOWLZILLA Wellington the best one yet. Come skate and celebrate with us.” BOWLZILLA Director – Chad Ford.

BOWLZILLA was born out of likeminded friends in the skateboard community looking for new platforms to promote the extraordinary talents of their friends, talents that run in oversupply within skateboarding but are not often seen in the outside world. BOWLZILLA Wellington is the biggest platform for showcasing all of this amazing talent in skateboarding in New Zealand. There is an open invite for everyone to come and be part of the celebration.

There will be more information coming shortly about all the great events and sponsorships happening as part of BOWLZILLA Wellington 2020.

Event Name: BOWLZILLA™ Wellington

Dates: Competition; 7th March 2020, Festival events 5-8th March 2020

Event info:

5th March: Fusion Surf/Skate Welcome Party – The Cambridge Hotel

6th March: ARTZILLA – Manky Chops

7th March: BOWLZILLA Wellington competition – Waitangi Park, Wellington

7th March: Dive In – official after party

8th March: Karori Vert Jam, Ian Galloway Park, Karori, Wellington

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SNOWZILLA

SNOWLZILLA Jindabyne 22/09/2019 – Jindabyne Skatepark

BIGSHOT Drinks, Beach Burrito Company and BOWLZILLA are rolling into Jindabyne skatepark for a ballin’ good time to celebrate the end of the Australian 2019 snow season at the first ever skate comp at Jindabyne skatepark.

BOWLZILLA is getting the ball rolling with the skating, BIGSHOT Drinks are bringing the fun for this Over 18s skate jam and Beach Burrito Company are keeping it all going with the awards ceremony and after party. It’s going to be a Ballin’ afternoon of Fun & Shredding at Jindabyne Skatepark.

SNOWLZILLA is the first year for this end of snow season skate jam at Jindabyne skatepark. Incredibly this will be the first ever comp at the skatepark but it is just the start of many years to come for what is going to become the traditional end of snow season skate celebration.

"Our roots at BIGSHOT Drinks are in the action sports scenes. We’re all snowboarders, MX riders, surfers and skaters. Being able to put on a celebration where we have so many of our crew are based for the season and cover so many of our interests is bloody awesome. We’re going to have a lot of fun this first year and we can’t wait to blow everyone away with what we have install for the many years ahead.” Tim Vlandis – BIGSHOT Drinks – CMO   

 “We opened Beach Burrito Company Jindabyne because we love snowboarding and wanted to have an embassy of fun where we spend so much of our time outside of work. SNOWLZILLA is the perfect coming together of all of our passions. Hit the slopes in the morning with our friends, go for a skate in the afternoon and then celebrate it all with tacos and BIGSHOTs in the evening – EPIC!” Blake Read – Beach Burrito Company – El Jefe

The SNOWLZILLA skate jam is an Over 18s only comp with Open and Women’s divisions. The skating is being judged by use of the whole park – bowl and street course combined. The winners will be awarded for their highest scoring 35 second run through the whole park. It’s free to enter and there are a lot of prizes for the first year.

“Our friends own drink companies and Mexican restaurants and want us to help put together a skate session at a great skatepark in an awesome location and celebrate it all with an afterparty of tacos and drinks. Thanks for thinking of us. Or course we’ll be there! BOWLZILLA has always been about the gathering of our friends and the fun that comes from that. SNOWZILLA is blindingly obvious. Not sure why it has taken so long for something like this to happen? We’re here now though and that means many years of good times ahead with all our friends. Pack your bags and come celebrate with us.” Chad Ford – BOWLZILLA - President

Event Name:

SNOWZILLA™

Date:

22nd September 2019

Event info:

Competition – Over 18s; Open and Women’s divisions

Judging – flow comp, use of whole park – bowl and street course, best run counts

Entry – free

Location – Jindabyne Skatepark: 4 Bay St, Jindabyne, NSW, Australia 2627

Times – 2pm start, Women and then Open division

Awards Ceremony / After Party – SNOWBALLIN’ – official after party – Beach Burrito Company; 3/5 Kosciuszko Rd, Jindabyne NSW 2627, Australia PH: +61 2 6457 2681

BOWLZILLA Storming in for the Win on the Gold Coast

BOWLZILLA Gold Coast beat back the storms on the weekend so skateboarding could stand triumphant. The ASF National Park Skating Championships were successfully run in all divisions at the largest skateboard competition in Australia for 2019.

The entry numbers were up again this year and more interstate and international friends and competitors flew in to the Gold Coast for the fourth year of BOWLZILLA Gold Coast and its first year as the ASF National Park Skating Championships. Every single one of them wanted nothing less than a full running of the competition to not only have their shot but support and cheer on their mates. Skateboarding is more about community than the individual win and that was well and truly on display all week.

Yeah Girl worked with BOWLZILLA again to ensure the highest paid Equality-in-Skateboarding event in Australia for the second year running. The growing interest in skating in the Olympics is all well and good but wider community benefits away from the rings is where the real benefits are being seen from this new platform for skateboarding.

Councillor McDonald and Gold Coast City Council saw their investment pay dividends for the local community this year in exceptional ways with more out of state and international visitors and competitors. The local benefits of BOWLZILLA Gold Coast are now being banked on each year as an annual occurrence by the local community and the skaters are being welcomed in to experience more of the awesome Gold Coast lifestyle with many repeating the same thing – we ay not go home from this event next year.

Tourism & Events Queensland support in helping amplify the fantastic contributions skateboarding makes to the Gold Coast and Queensland are raising wider awareness, interest and audience which is having a snowball effect on all parts of BOWLZILLA Gold Coast. Inclusion of BOWLZILLA on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar had more people turning up to all of the events this year.

This year’s BOWLZILLA Gold Coast festival had larger attendance across all events and more sponsors helping make everyone happy. The week started with a Women’s learn to ride clinic, then a welcoming party with video part premieres by Shaun Boucher and Zane Hetherington at Beach Burrito Company, the comp ran Saturday event though there was torrential rain which meant only the Open and Women’s divisions could run, Dive In the official after party at Beach Burrito company was full but not the wild affair it was supposed to be as everyone was back to the park on Sunday morning for the 16 & Unders and the Pabst Masters divisions.

“The community spirit in skateboarding is one of the most rewarding parts of all of this. There was no better display of it than this weekend. We had bigger spectator numbers from the beginning of the day and as soon as the rain turned up, they settled in. They stayed and willed the clouds to part. When we decided to call it, they insisted we hold on and half an hour later we managed to get the Open and Women’s divisions done and then many of them came back early the next day to support the 16 & Unders and the Masters. What the Gold Coast and the skate community provide each year for us will always make us proud at BOWLZILLA and always bring us back to the Gold Coast. Thank you everyone and see you next year!” Chad Ford; BOWLZILLA – Director.

Sponsors and prize givers for BOWLZILLA Gold Coast 2019 were: Councillor Daphne McDonald, Gold Coast City Council, Tourism & Events Queensland, Red Bull, Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, One Shot Drinks, Fiik Skateboards, Yeah Girl Skateboarding, Gold Coast Skateboard Coaching, Beach Burrito Company, Goliath Distribution, Boost Mobile, John Mills, Truck Stop Skate Shop and ASF.

The placings for BOWLZILLA Gold Coast 2019 are;

YEAH GIRL SKATEBOARDING – WOMEN – equal cash prize purse with Open, prizes donated by Girls Skate Gold Coast, Recover Wellbeing

1 Taniah Meyers – ASF Australian Park Skating Champion 2019

2 Gracie Cochrane

3 Charlotte Heath

4 Indiana Barnard

5 Mistie Mildenhall

6 Zahra Johns

7 Aimee Massie

8 Chloe Covell

9 Tora Waldren

10 Ashlee Valle

11 Kayla Matthews

16 & UNDER – prizes donated by GoPro, Goliath, Boost Mobile, Fiik Skateboards, Vans

1 Gui Khury

2 Ash Wilcomes – ASF Australian Park Skating Champion 2019

3 Noah Bardas

4 Mitchell Bullard

5 Niwa Shewry

6 Jackson Donnini

7 Zane Hetherington

8 Joshua Godward

9 Jaylen Jones

10 Freddie Arnold

11 TJ Lewis

12 Jake Thatcher

13 Tom Enwright

14 Harvey Campbell

15 Lukas Byers

16 Nakula Boag

17 Calan Dixon

18 Oscar Robson

19 Lewis Oatley

20 Kalani Salussolia

21 Kai Gould

22 Jack Lewis

23 Charlie Holland

PABST MASTERS – prize money from Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, special book prize by John Mills

1 Ian Davidson – ASF Australian Park Skating Champion 2019

2 Nick Heppenstall

3 John Gray

4 Chris Enwright

5 Justin Leslight

6 Simon Dixon

7 Brian Jacobsen

8 Iain Watt

9 Tony Chavez

OPEN

1 Shaun Boucher

2 Keegan Palmer – ASF Australian Park Skating Champion 2019

3 Jakob Robinson

4 Kieran Woolley

5 Louis Durand

6 George Richards

7 Marley Rae

8 Sam Windhorst

9 Dylan Donnini

10 Max Bardas

11 Louis Newman

12 Barry Taniwha

13 Alessandro Ferreri

14 Jesse Noonan

15 Ethen Mannix

16 John Peewee Dickenson

17 Arina Rahman

18 Bowman Hansen

19 Tynan Williams

20 Kobe Graff

21 Jett De Haan

22 Bryce MacKean

23 Nate Brider

BOWLZILLA CAPITAL RAISING

Wellington City Council, Redhead or Dead Events, Skateboarding New Zealand and Miryoku Agency raised the Capital with the New Zealand 2019 National Park / Bowl Skating Championships with BOWLZILLA Wellington.

SBNZ made sure the New Zealand National Skateboarding Park / Bowl competition series was the best run, attended and most unexpected fun so far. The level of all parts of the festival were raised higher this year with great success.

Weather is always a factor in Wellington but nothing gets in the way of a determined skater. With the rain finally coming down after three months of unprecedented sun in Wellington and only allowing Open heats to be run at the bowl a quick decision had to be made. Manky Chops Gallery generously offered their awesome new mini ramp that was built for Manky Deck-Aid to be utilised to its fullest, and MINIZILLA was born. The Women, Masters and 16 & Unders all finished out the event riding indoors with a format change that proved incredibly fun and popular.

Manky Chops and BOWLZILLA have a fantastic partnership going back many years which is focused around ARTZILLA every year as part of the BOWLZILLA Wellington festival. This year the Manky Chops team went above and beyond with their ten-year anniversary show; Deck-Aid, which saw 100 skateboard decks painted and sculpted by as many artists especially for the exhibition, with a huge part of the proceeds going to several worthy charities. As part of this they also custom built a mini ramp which ended up saving the day and elevating the fun and comradery to unexpected levels. Congratulations Dave, Pearl and the family for all you’ve achieved and give back.

Thanks to Yeah Gnar this is the second year of BOWLZILLA Wellington being the largest Equality in Skateboarding event in New Zealand. This support has really seen the talent in the Women’s division develop exponentially. Regardless of the Olympics and whatever else lay ahead, the emerging Women’s skateboard scene is having the most positive impact on skateboarding in a long time. The fact that it is part of the whole of BOWLZILLA Wellington makes the festival that much more fun and important for the community.

The New Zealand National Champions for 2019 are; Women – Rhya Henare, 16 & Under – Rimus Henare, Pabst Masters – Steve Crump, Open – Shaun Boucher.

The interest in skateboarding is growing and that could clearly be seen by the doubling of competitors in the 16 & Unders, and larger fields for the other divisions. Pabst Blue Ribbon beer generously stepped up this year to support the Pabst Masters division and all the other sponsors and encouragers ensured a larger level of support for all the skaters and should all be thanked for the generosity: Wellington City Council, Skateboarding NZ, Manual Magazine, Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, Fusion Surf / Skate, Skullcandy, Irrom Distribution, GoPro, Vans, Manky Chops, Red Bull, Redhead Or Dead Events and Miryoku Agency. Because of all of them there was NZ$12,000 in prize money and more than $2000 worth of prizes. Every competitor was over the moon to be able to benefit from the biggest prize pool in New Zealand.

BOWLZILLA Wellington 2019 placings:

OPEN

1 Jakob Robinson

2 Shaun Boucher – New Zealand Champion

2 Jett De Haan

4 Bowman Hansen

5 Josh Wilson

6 Chris Wood

7 Barry Taniwha

8 Chris Curran

9 Mike Bancfroft

10 Brodie Jarret

11 Jordan Nunns

12 Felix McZiveneg

13 Tyler Holdsworth

14 Brent Muskat

15 Shannon Boyd

16 Orson Reynolds

17 Luke Hayward

18 James Tuckey

19 Ned Simpson

20 Patrick Moessen

21 Ken Maaka Pakaariki

22 Scott Wilkinson

23 Kyle Monaghan

24 Callum McInnes

WOMEN

1 Taniah Myers

2 Paula Costales

3 Rhya Henare – New Zealand Champion

4 Ela Poynter

5 Krysta Ashwell

6 Poppy-Joe Garratt

7 Allanah Wilson

8 Georgia Hudson

9 Amanda Perrin

PABST MASTERS

1 Stephen Crump – New Zealand Champion

2 Ramon Thackwell

3 Dave Crabb

4 Kevin Moran

5 Eddie Elguera

6 Von Griffin

7 Tony Chavez

8 Aaron Animal Bell

9 Nic Couscouris

10 Robin Oneleg

11 Mason Lockyer

16 & Under

1 Zane Hetherington

2 Rimus Henare – New Zealand Champion

3 Mitch Jordan

4 Joshua Godward

5 Rico Henare

6 Niwa Shewry

7 Leroy French

8 Max Hancock

9 Ephram Stocks

10 Zedyn Fellows

11 Isaiah Godfrey

12 Monty Graham

13 Felix Griffin

14 Carter Williams

15 Orlando Dreaneen

16 Jake Harris

17 Dax De Haan

“BOWLZILLA upheld its reputation of pulling a great crowd of spectators and skaters committed to having fun, in spite of the tumultuous Wellington weather this weekend! Kudos to the community for their versatility and perseverance – the future of New Zealand Skateboarding looks Bright!” Ramon Thackwell – Director, SBNZ.

There was a much larger attendance of internationals this year which really raised the excitement and energy of the locals. Jakob Robinson, Jett De Haan, Brodie Jarret, Brent Muscat, Taniah Myers, Paula Costales, Kevin Moran, Tony Chavez, Nic Couscouris, Zane Hetherington, Dax De Haan and Skateboarding Hall of Fame inductee Eddie Elguera who is considered one of the greatest skateboarders of all time and Tony Hawk’s major influence.

"The fourth year of BOWLZILLA Wellington saw us able to offer greater support to the skaters and generate more interest and opportunity. The newly energised SBNZ board is a real game changer for what we are now able to do for our community and that was reflected in the new support from sponsors and larger attendance. Wellington is one the greatest little cities in the world and being able to work with Wellington City Council in the ways we do to create a festival like BOWLZILLA Wellington which has such great community impact is what encourages us to keep the forward motion. We’re very grateful and humbled for everyone’s support and look forward to many more years of great times for all.” Chad Ford – Director, BOWLZILLA Wellington.

Stay tuned for announcements about BOWLZILLA Wellington 2020.

CAPITAL OF FUN

FESTIVAL INFORMATION

BOWLZILLA Wellington Festival is on next week, making Wellington the Capital of Fun! Wellington City Council, Redhead or Dead Events, SBNZ and Miryoku Agency are getting the town shaking.

The annual National skateboard festival BOWLZILLA Wellington is returning for its fourth year with the highlight being the all-encompassing New Zealand National Park / Bowl Skating Titles. SBNZ the National Governing body of skateboarding in NZ, sanctions this event as the National Championships for Park / Bowl skating which sees skaters from all around the country, expats and international friends flying in to have a craic.

The week kicks off with the Fusion Surf/Skate Welcome Party at The Cambridge Hotel on the 7th from 9pm. There are some drink specials to get everyone happy and DJ Baben kicking of the celebrations with fine tunes. It’s free, so everyone over 18 is welcome to come and start the week off right.

Friday afternoon from 5-7PM SBNZ are going to be having their first annual meeting to introduce everyone to the new board and start the conversation about the pathway ahead for skateboarding in New Zealand. If you have an interest in skating in New Zealand or you want to find a way of participating or helping, please come along. Skateboarding is about community and is a participation activity, it is not a spectator sport. There will be a lot of things to discuss and there will be opportunity to put forward ideas that you feel are helpful for New Zealand skating. The future is looking brighter.

Friday evening the 8th, Manky Chops will be holding their annual ARTZILLA as part of the BOWLZILLA Wellington celebrations. The show kicks off from 6pm at Manky Chops Gallery: 15-19 Pirie St corner of Home Street, Te Aro. Manky Chops Deckaid is not just celebrating a decade of Manky Chops this year but it is also about doing right and giving back. The show is the largest skateboard deck art show ever held in New Zealand with all the original artist decks going up for sale with the proceeds going to charity. Bring your friends, bring your money and squeeze into the gallery with everyone else as it is guaranteed to be massive.

Excitement is building for the big show – BOWLZILLA Wellington; 9th March at Waitangi Park, Wellington. The competition is on for the next National Champions with divisions for 16 & Under, Women, Pabst Masters 40+ and Pro/Am Open. This is the first year New Zealand skaters can start accruing points from this event for Olympic games qualification. The mix of skaters getting together with their mates for a goodtime and the keen kids up for a craic at the Olympics is going to raise the energy levels this year and make it an awesome show for those gathered round the bowl and to make it more interesting there is a bigger field of international rippers coming too. Yeah Gnar have come on board to ensure it is the largest Equality in Skateboarding event in New Zealand for 2019 with equal cash prize purse in both the Open and Women’s divisions.

Everyone is going to be looking to celebrate big on Saturday night and “Dive In” at San Fran on Cuba Street is going to be kicking out the jams for the official BOWLZILLA Wellington after party. Breaking Beats and Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer are joining forces with BOWLZILLA and San Fran to make it one hell of a good time. Ten Pin, Harry Max, Talisman, Martian, Acro, Bamzel, Sub State and MC Tree will be keeping it going from 8 till late. Tickets are available from onpoint.co.nz so grab them before they’re gone. All our friends over 18 are welcome with ID.

Sunday is always about family and friends and there is going to be a friendly gathering at Karori vert ramp for everyone to wind down, have a nice Sunday and say their goodbyes until next year. If you like skating then you are friends and family so please come along for a nice Sunday in the park.

Dates: Competition; 9th March 2019, Festival events 7-10th March 2019

Event info: 7th March 9pm: Fusion Surf/Skate Welcome Party – The Cambridge Hotel, 28 Cambridge Terrace, Te Aro, Wellington 6011 8th March 5pm: SBNZ Annual Meeting: venue TBD 8th March 7pm: ARTZILLA – Manky Chops, 15-19 Pirie St corner of Home Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011 9th March 10am: BOWLZILLA™ Wellington competition – Waitangi Park, Cable Parade, Te Aro, Wellington 6011 9th March 8pm: Dive In – official after party – San Fran Bath House, 171 Cuba St, Te Aro, 6011 10th March 2pm: Karori Vert Jam, Ian Galloway Park, Karori, Wellington

WELCOME MESSAGE - BOWLZILLA GOLD COAST

Message from the Minister for Tourism Industry Development

The Hon Kate Jones MP

Welcome to BOWLZILLA Gold Coast – one of Australia’s premier international skateboarding festivals.

Now in its fourth year, this event celebrates skateboarding with a fun program of competitions, exhibitions, art and music, catering to the thousands of fans and competitors from across Australia.

The Palaszczuk Government via Tourism and Events Queensland is proud to support this event which features on the It’s Live! in Queensland calendar.

Events like this are important in driving Queensland’s regional economy, promoting our tourism destinations and visitor experiences and supporting local jobs.

Best of luck to all those competing, and if you’re visiting the Gold Coast I encourage you to explore more of the region, including our thrilling theme parks, world-famous golden beaches, scenic national parks and amazing local produce.

The Hon Kate Jones MP

Minister for Tourism Industry Development

BOWLZILLA winning Gold on the Coast

BOWLZILLA Gold Coast 16/03/2019 – Elanora Skatepark

BOWLZILLA Gold Coast is roaring to the top as the biggest skateboard competition this year for Australia. Setting standards as the benchmark for fun, friendship and full on skating. BOWLZILLA Gold Coast is now the ASF Park Skating National Championships.

Yeah Girl is again working with BOWLZILLA to ensure the highest paid Equality-in-Skateboarding event in Australia continues to support the fast-growing women’s skateboard community on its path to the largest international competitive stage. The interest in skating is growing now the Olympics is part of the events landscape and BOWLZILLA Gold Coast as the biggest Park Skating competition in Australia is here to support the locals that want to have a craic but encourage and ensure fun and community stay the main focus.

"From the skaters to the artists and photographers, there’s no shortage of talented women in skateboarding and the BOWLZILLA Gold Coast festival never fails to recognise that. We’re excited to partner with BOWLZILLA again in 2019 to continue to promote and celebrate the grassroots culture of women’s skateboarding. It’s a great opportunity to support our Australian ladies of shred like Poppy Olsen, Taniah Meyers, Shanae Collins, Ava Godfrey, Charlotte Heath, Aimee Massie and so many more.” Sarah Huston – Yeah Girl

Councillor McDonald and Gold Coast City Council have been visionary in their support of BOWLZILLA Gold Coast and the skateboarding community at large for many years now. With BOWLZILLA now being elevated to the largest skateboard event of the year in Australia in 2019, their investment is paying dividends.

“I have worked closely with the skateboard community for many years and have ensured continuing investment in the Pines Skate Bowl at Elanora because I believed it would provide great benefit to our community and inspire the local youth. Having BOWLZILLA Gold Coast grow into the biggest skateboard event on the National calendar is testament to our city and our fantastic community assets. The BOWLZILLA festival brings together Australia and the world’s best skaters and showcases their music and art for the whole of the Gold Coast community and visitors to enjoy.” City of Gold Coast – Councillor Daphne McDonald.

Tourism & Events Queensland have come on board to help amplify these fantastic contributions to skateboarding and Queensland. BOWLZILLA features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar. Queensland, just the place to experience Australia’s best live events.

Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said “BOWLZILLA attracts some of the best skating talent and events like this drive tourism outcomes across Queensland,”

“BOWLZILLA would attract skateboard professionals from all over Australia and the world”. Ms Jones said.

“We are delighted to be supporting this event through Tourism and Events Queensland’s Destination Fund.”

This year’s BOWLZILLA Gold Coast festival has a full week of fun on and off the board. It will be kicking off with a girl’s learn to ride clinic with Yeah Girl and Gold Coast Skateboard Coaching, there will be nightly gatherings at Beach Burrito Company for art, food and parties, there are several local hosted barbecues at some of the best skateparks in Australia and it is all wrapped around the biggest comp of the year in Australia at Elanora skatepark.

“As skaters we all have our own approach to skating and wants from it. The uniting thing is the incredible fun we get out of it and the amazing community it makes us part of. The goal for BOWLZILLA Gold Coast has always been to gather our friends, show off what makes them great, celebrate with our community and invite others in to be part of it all. BOWLZILLA Gold Coast can now be used to help those that want to reach the highest athletic platform in the world but who we are and what we’re about is the gathering, the community and the fun. The opportunity afforded us by our sponsors, Councillor McDonald, Gold Coast City Council and Tourism & Events Queensland means more good times and more new friends. Come skate and celebrate with us.” Chad Ford; BOWLZILLA – Director.

There are further announcements coming soon about new sponsors and friends coming to skate with us, so stay tuned.

BOWLZILLA Wellington – Capitol Asset

BOWLZILLA Wellington, Waitangi Park 9/03/2019

This is the year New Zealand skaters are launched onto the world stage via BOWLZILLA Wellington 2019. Big returns are coming for the skaters of New Zealand with the maturation of their skateboarding Capitol Assets.

The road to the Olympic Games for skateboarding begins this year. Qualifying points start accruing the beginning of January for skaters competing in National Titles and other international professional competitions around the world. BOWLZILLA Wellington is the first points awarding Park competition in the world for the year and the beginning of the path.

The annual National skateboard festival BOWLZILLA Wellington is returning for its fourth year with the highlight being the all-encompassing New Zealand National Park / Bowl Skating Titles. SBNZ the National Governing body of skateboarding in NZ, sanctions this event as the National Championships for Park / Bowl skating which sees skaters from all around the country and expats flying in to have a craic. The festival includes an art show, some parties and music and an old school ramp jam and barbecue. It is the greatest week of skateboarding in New Zealand and everyone is invited to join in the celebrations.

“It is only fitting that Wellington is home to the National Titles of Park Skateboarding – BOWLZILLA Wellington. We are very proud of our creative and healthy community here in Wellington and the promotion of our fantastic lifestyle to the world through this event is brilliant. As skateboarding enters into the Olympics and Wellington becomes a pathway for our local athletes, we look forward to growing this festival and the benefits it has on our community for years to come”. Justin Lester; Mayor of Wellington, New Zealand.

There is increasing interest and participation in the competition each year and with the Olympic points opportunity thrown in it is going to make the choice of the next National Champions for 16 & Under, Women, Masters 40+ and Pro/Am Open all the more difficult. With 2018 being the first Equality in Skateboarding event ever held in New Zealand, thanks to Yeah Gnar NZ, this year there is going to be a larger and more inspired international field in the bowl.

“Over the years, New Zealand has produced some of the world's most talented skateboard professionals: Gregor Rankin, Dave Crabb, Lee Ralph and Andrew 'Morri' Morrison. The path was gruelling, and their professional careers always began overseas. This year Skateboarding NZ (SBNZ) received international sanctioning as New Zealand's National Sports Organisation for skateboarding. Several New Zealand competitions are now on the World Skate calendar for Oceania, including BOWLZILLA Wellington as the National Titles. Skateboarding NZ now offers a local platform with international standing so kiwi skaters can begin their professional journey here at home. Starting off the year with BOWLZILLA Wellington is fantastic - for a small country we’re making big steps this year." Ramon Thackwell, Director – SKATEBOARDING NEW ZEALAND – SBNZ

Wellington City Council, International Skateboarder’s Union, Redhead or Dead Events, Skateboarding New Zealand and Miryoku Agency have joined forces to create this fantastic opportunity for New Zealand skaters.

“Whatever lay ahead for skaters with the new Olympic stage we will be here supporting our friends in the skateboard community. We have built a gathering to unite those who love what we do and celebrate the skaters who inspire us to have as much fun as possible on four wheels. Even if you know nothing of skating, we guarantee that time spent at any of the BOWLZILLA Wellington celebrations will turn you into a fan. Come and enjoy the good times with us in Wellington.”  BOWLZILLA Director – Chad Ford.

BOWLZILLA was born out of likeminded friends in the skateboard community looking for new platforms to promote the extraordinary talents of their friends, talents that run in oversupply within skateboarding but are not often seen in the outside world. BOWLZILLA Wellington is the biggest platform for showcasing all of this amazing talent in skateboarding in New Zealand. There is an open invite for everyone to come and be part of the celebration.

The will be more information coming shortly about all the great events happening as part of BOWLZILLA Wellington 2019.

BOWLZILLA Gold Coast 2018 highlights

BOWLZILLA Wellington 2018 highlights

BOWLZILLA GOLD COAST BRINGS THE HEAT

BOWLZILLA Gold Coast injected some well needed heat into the Australian skateboarding world today with the largest Equality In Skateboarding prize purse in its history.

BOWLZILLA Gold Coast had great partners this year with Yeah Girl and Surf Dive ‘n Ski, that helped push skateboarding forward with a big statement in fairness for all in skateboarding. What is already an exciting event managed to ignite with this goodwill which saw the largest participation so far with the most enthusiastic competitive field Australia has seen in a long time. This enthusiasm is made possible because BOWLZILLA Gold Coast is a skater owned and run event, it is of its community for its community. Everyone is stoked to be part of something that supports their friends and it is really obvious in the energy and fun levels on display all week.

BOWLZILLA Gold Coast is the largest park / bowl competition in Australia and the scoring is based around use of the whole park in each run with the best run counting. The only way to move ahead to the finals was by using the whole park in your runs. The skaters that stuck to this stood out above all the others with the flow and style this approach gives their skating.  

Women’s skateboarding is going through a renaissance globally which was clearly evident today at BOWLZILLA Gold Coast. No longer content to wait for the skateboard industry and the world at large to recognise them, they are out there blazing their own path. Shari Lawson who was the first women to ever judge a professional skateboard competition last year at BOWLZILLA Gold Coast was back again this year on the panel to oversee the largest ever Equality In Skateboarding cash prize purse in Australian history. BOWLZILLA Gold Coast is proud to be working with the women’s scene to amplify their voice and ensure they control their platform. The first of many big steps forward.

The week’s festivities kicked off with Yeah Girl and Beach Burrito Company hosting the opening party on Thursday night at Coolangatta, then on Friday night the locals shared their hospitality with the many visitors from Malaysia, UK, New Zealand, Brazil, Finland, USA and beyond with a session at Salk Oval skatepark. The competition ran Saturday at Elanora skatepark and on Saturday night it all wrapped up with Dive In hosted by Yeah Girl and Surf Dive ‘n Ski at Beach Burrito Company in Coolangatta. Another great week to finish off the summer season on the Gold Coast. Bring on 2019 BOWLZILLA Gold Coast.  

The placings for the 76 BOWLZILLA Gold Coast 2018 competitors are;

WOMEN – prize money donated by Yeah Girl and Surf Dive ‘n Ski

1          Poppy Star Olsen

2          Taniah Meyers

3          Shanae Collins

4          Ava Godfrey

5          Charlotte Heath

6          Indiana Barnard

7          Aimee Massie

8          Krysta Ashwell

9          Evie Rider

10        Izy Mutu

11        Victoria Waldren

12        Mistie Mildenhall

16 & UNDER – prizes donated by Goliath and Fiik Skateboards

1          Kieran Wooley

2          Jett De Haan

3          Marley Rae

4          Louis Newman

5          Mitchell Ballard

6          Dylan Donnini

7          Riley McComb

8          Ash Wilcomes

9          Zane Hetherington

10        Reese Hall

11        Nakula Boag

12        Cooper Larman

13        Charlie Holland

14        Alex Moreu

15        Tom Enwright

16        Calan Dixon

17        Jackson Donnini

18        Sumanyu Black

19        Kayden Jack Bate

20        Oscar Southerden

21        Jack Thatcher

22        Jaylen Jones

23        Phoenix Cam

24        Kai Gould        

MASTERS

1          Nick Heppenstall

2          Tony Chavez

3          Ramon Thackwell

4          Brian Jacobson

5          Dave Crabb

6          Simon Dixon

7          Chris Enwright

8          Kevin Moran

9          Marcio Brandini

10        Robert Brasher

11        Shaun Caulfield

12        Iain Watt

13        John Bogaerts

14        Justin Leslight

15        Simon Travis Bate

16        Toby Mellonie

OPEN

1          Keegan Palmer

2          Jakob Robinson

3          Jesse Noonan

4          Sam Windhorst

5          George Richards

6          Sam Renwick

7          Noah Fuzi

8          John Boyd

9          Ian Davidson

10        Dylan Phillips

11        Ethen Mannix

12        Shaun Boucher

13        Miksu Rautio

14        Bowman Hansen

15        Kobe Graf

16        Luke Phillips

17        Nixon Osborne

18        Jamie Leigh Bunt

19        Robert Ayton

20        Barry Taniwha

21        Peewee John Dickenson

22        Arina Rahman

23        Oscar Price

24        Jackson Bogaerts

BOWLZILLA Gold Coast has long term plans to grow every year to increase the fun potential for Australian skating by using a competition as the excuse to gather the widest range of generations of skaters for good times and great skating. BOWLZILLA Gold Coast invites all the skaters to come and be part and have a say in how they want their fun.

City of Gold Coast Councillor Daphne McDonald proudly supported the BOWLZILLA Gold Coast events for a third year running. She was instrumental in the funding of the skatepark, getting the lights in, building out the site to better enable events to happen and being a fantastic advocate for skateboarding in general. Everyone at the event is grateful for her ongoing support. This year all the competitors wanted to give her a special thank you and all signed a unique piece of memorabilia for her in appreciation.

“This year has been a long time coming and we at BOWLZILLA are so proud to be part of it. Women make up over 50% of Australia and the World’s population and always get considerably less. To do something that helps in some small way move everyone forward to an equal footing in the lifestyle we love so much fills us with stoke. Everyone in skateboarding won today with what was achieved. Thanks to Councillor Daphne McDonald’s very generous ongoing support and belief in the skateboarding community we have been able to build a platform that made today possible. Gold Coast City Council, Tourism and Events Queensland, Goliath, Fiik, Gold Coast Skateboard Coaching, Beach Burrito Company, Australian Skateboarding Federation, International Skateboarder’s Union all assisted and Yeah Girl and Surf Dive ‘n Ski gave it the extra nudge to really make the moment so awesome. Thank you everyone and looking forward to skating with you all again next year at BOWLZILLA Gold Coast 2019.” Chad Ford – Director of BOWLZILLA and Miryoku Agency LLC.

BOWLZILLA Gold Coast would not be possible without the incredible support of its sponsors and supporters, a huge thank you to; Gold Coast City Council, Beach Burrito Company, Protec, Goliath Distribution, Fiik Skateboards, Gold Coast Skateboard Coaching, Yeah Girl, ISU, Darkside, Dickies, ASF, Redhead Or Dead Events and Miryoku Agency.