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
