BOWLZILLA Wellington is CANCELLED for 2024

It is with deep regret that we announce the cancellation of BOWLZILLA Wellington for 2024. The current global financial challenges have impacted the ability of BOWLZILLA Wellington to secure the necessary sponsorship funds required to conduct the event successfully. Despite the dedicated efforts of the BOWLZILLA Wellington team, the legacy National Bowl Skating Championships cannot proceed without adequate financial support.

BOWLZILLA Wellington has been a cornerstone of the community for the past eight years, and it is disheartening to make this decision. The BOWLZILLA team takes great pride in supporting local and skater owned businesses and acknowledge the impact this cancellation will have on Wellington's skate economy.

While New Zealand’s National Bowl Skating Championships is on hold for this year, we strongly urge the skate community to rally behind other skater owned and run events such as Mangawhai Bowl Jam and other SBNZ (Skateboarding New Zealand) supported competitions. In these challenging times for many it is crucial for the community to show their support by getting behind skater-owned and run businesses and events, who are all no-doubt doing it tough too.

The BOWLZILLA team extends heartfelt gratitude to every individual, business and organization that has played a role in making BOWLZILLA Wellington the premier skate festival in New Zealand since its inception in 2016. Thanks to Wellington City Council for your ongoing funding and support of BOWLZILLA. Your support has been invaluable, and we look forward to the possibility of resuming the event in the future.

BOWLZILLA Wellington 2023 Highlights

BOWLZILLA Wellington brought the heat this summer for the National Bowl Skating Championships. As

winter sets in in the southern hemisphere this clip will get everyone all fired up again. After the last few

years of weather and lockdowns it was the celebration everyone wanted and needed – watch, enjoy and

GO SKATE.

The best skate comps are just excuses to get the tribe together for a week of good times and ripping sessions. Wellington is the perfect city for an event like BOWLZILLA where the community is the focus. The week is full of free learn to ride clinics, street jams, parties, art shows, barbecues, free jams and the excuse of the National Bowl Skating Championships.

Many were not able to attend BOWLZILLA Wellington at the last minute because of a cyclone hitting the North Island. Everyone in attendance went above and beyond to make it another legendary year though, but more importantly, celebrate for those in our community who could not.

Having the support year in year out from Wellington City Council has ensured not only that BOWLZILLA

Wellington is the largest skate gathering in the country every year but that Wellington is also home to the most thriving skate scene because of the We Skate Poneke initiative. The BOWLZILLA Wellington week is growing and becoming more representative of the whole colourful community and the best is yet to come.

The support that goes into festivals like these are so important and everyone in attendance: fans, staff, friends, family and the competitors all step it up a little bit more to show their appreciation. Watch the ripping skating in the Hot Wheels 16 & Unders, Masters, Women and Opens and you'll see the future really looks bright for New Zealand skating.

Sponsors and partners like The Cambridge Hotel that housed all the crew and competitors and all the other sponsors combined; Radioactive.FM, Monster, Hot Wheels, Kangol, Santa Cruz, Independent, Dickies, Manual Magazine, Powerhaus Automotive, Manky Chops, Wellington Skateboarding Association and Skateboarding.NZ were bloody awesome.

The BOWLZILLA Wellington Champions for 2023 are; Hot Wheels Skate 16 & Unders: Monty Graham, Masters: Ramon Thackwell, Women: Yeva Butler and Open: Shaun Boucher, and a special congratulations to Yeva Butler for taking out the Hot Wheels Skate fingerboard competition as well, she’s going to need extra baggage allowance to get home.

A huge THANKS goes out to all the friends, family, fans, media, sponsors, supporters, community, crew, and skaters for what was truly one of the best years ever for BOWLZILLA Wellington.

BOWLZILLA Wellington – Once Again Back Is The Incredible

Wellington is set to again be the Capital of Skateboarding with the return of BOWLZILLA Wellington on Saturday 29th October. New Zealand’s National Bowl Skating Championships will be roaring back bigger than ever to crown the Nation’s best skaters.

BOWLZILLA Wellington is going to be the biggest gathering of skaters in New Zealand this year. With New Zealand opening back up again, this year’s festival is going to be a celebration like no other. The week offers; parties, music, art shows, industry catch ups, governance meetings, barbecues, ramp jams, the competition and most importantly community.

BOWLZILLA was established as a foundational event that the New Zealand skating community can depend upon and utilise as a platform for all things skate every year without fail. The competition is what makes it all possible but the whole week of all the things is the point. That is why this year there are a couple of new gatherings being added to the permanent schedule.

In addition to the Welcome Party, ARTZILLA, BOWLZILLA Wellington National Bowl Skating Championships, Dive In after party and the Karori Vert Jam and barbecue, a free women’s Learn To Ride clinic will be added at Waitangi Park during the week and some surprises with the inclusion of the more diverse creative outlets of New Zealand’s skate community for the art show. There are a few other awesome gatherings being announced as we get closer to the festival.

This is the second year in a row that BOWLZILLA Wellington has had to postpone due to COVID lockdowns and it will be the second year in a row New Zealand skaters will come out the other side with a bigger and better gathering to celebrate the awesomeness and resilience of their community. More skaters, more events, more fun and it’s all free.

There are returning sponsors ensuring the Tech Deck 16 & Unders, Santa Cruz Open, Masters and Yeah Gnar Women’s divisions will be just as spectacular as always and to make it more interesting Protec are doing a special prize for the hardest skating most spectacular slam of the day. The parties are getting a bit of extra wow this year that will be announced shortly and Wellington Skateboarding Association, Skateboarding New Zealand and Wellington City Council via its Community Events and Sports Event funding are lifting the week to even bigger heights. To top it all off there is international broadcast via the live webstream with an international media partnership being announced shortly.

“Wellington City Council is excited to welcome back the annual BOWLZILLA Wellington event. Following the debut and success of so many incredible skaters at the Olympics, we look forward to seeing these athletes in action at the National Championships in the Capital. An incredible opportunity for our community to witness the skill of these skaters. To all of those competing at BOWLZILLA Wellington 2022 – we look forward to seeing you in action.” Mayor Andy Foster

Wellington City Council, Wellington Skateboarding Association, Redhead or Dead Events and Miryoku Agency have joined forces once again to bring this fantastic festival to the New Zealand skaters.

“Skaters are some of the most resilient people in the world. We are brilliant at adapting and taking whatever is in front of us and turning it into the best moments possible. BOWLZILLA 2022 is going to be a case study in this and we can’t wait to reunite with our friends and family in Wellington for the week of the 29th October to celebrate. The continuing support of Wellington City Council and our sponsors, which make it all possible, will be rewarded with the biggest skate party Wellington has seen to date. The whole week is free and everyone is welcome to come celebrate with us.” BOWLZILLA Director – Chad Ford.

With the new run date and borders now open, overseas friends are able to return. BOWLZILLA will be working with everyone to make this possible with accommodation being provided by the legendary Cambridge Hotel, which will also be the daily gathering spot away from the bowl for the week.

BOWLZILLA was born out of likeminded friends in the skateboard community looking for new platforms to promote the extraordinary talents of their friends and their talents that run in oversupply 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 2022.

26/10/2022: Women’s Learn to Ride clinic – Waitangi Park Skatepark - FREE

27/10/2022: Welcome Party – The Cambridge Hotel

28/10/2022: ARTZILLA

29/10/2022: BOWLZILLA™ Wellington competition – Waitangi Park, Wellington

29/10/2022: Dive In – official after party

30/10/2022: Karori Vert Jam, Ian Galloway Park, Karori, Wellington

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

@bowlzilla

#bowlzilla

#bowlzillagoldcoast

#nationalparkskatingchampionships

@destinationgoldcoast

#playgoldcoast

#WeAreGoldCoast

@yeahgirlskateboarding

#yeahgirlskateboarding

BOWLZILLA Wellington 2020 highlights

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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.

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 Wellington 2018 highlights

BOWLZILLA SHAKING THE CAPITAL

New Zealand skating is put on the world stage at BOWLZILLA Wellington 2018. Wellington City Council, International Skateboarder’s Union, Redhead or Dead Events, Skateboarding New Zealand and Miryoku Agency are all combining forces to get Wellington shaking.

BOWLZILLA Wellington is the all-encompassing New Zealand National Bowl / Park Skating Titles. SBNZ the National Governing body of skateboarding in NZ, sanctions this event as the National competition series final. With such great honour, all stops are pulled out to ensure it is the biggest celebration of skateboarding and its culture all year in New Zealand.

There is excitement building for this third year of BOWLZILLA Wellington; 10th March at Waitangi Park, Wellington. The competition is on for the next National Champions with divisions for 16 & Under, Women, Masters 40+ and Pro/Am Open. With; art shows, parties, music, gatherings, barbecues, good times and the competition itself, BOWLZILLA Wellington is going to be the greatest weekend of New Zealand skating in 2018.

With BOWLZILLA Wellington taking on such an important role in the national landscape and the partnership with national governing body SBNZ and skateboarding now an official Olympic sport, there is greater interest and support coming from national government agencies and the public at large. When you add in that the Oceania representative rider Bowman Hansen at this year’s Park World Champs comes from Taupo, New Zealand, there are big things ahead for New Zealand skateboarding and BOWLZILLA Wellington on the 10th of March 2018 is the biggest stage for it.

"What a year for New Zealand skateboarding! Bowman Hansen has done us all proud and proven what we have been saying all along – we have the best talent pool of skaters in New Zealand. We have had a big year of behind the scenes planning, to lay the ground work for a stable platform for New Zealand skateboarding for a long time into the future. Having BOWLZILLA Wellington as our National Final is the feather in the cap" Jesse Peters, Director – SKATEBOARDING NEW ZEALAND - SBNZ

To create fantastic opportunities like these for skateboarders in New Zealand you need great support, that is provided by; Wellington City Council, SBNZ, International Skateboarder’s Union, Fusion Surf/Skate, Manual Magazine, Manky Chops, and the organisational skills of Redhead or Dead Events and Miryoku Agency. They have all pooled together to build events that help nurture scenes, create opportunity for local skaters and create amazing moments to celebrate all that make New Zealand skateboarding great with art, music and the competitions.

“Art, music, parties, friends and the best skating of the year all mixed together in the funnest town in New Zealand. BOWLZILLA Wellington is going to be the biggest celebration of our friends and their talent for 2018 in New Zealand. We invite everyone to come and be part of it.”  BOWLZILLA Director – Chad Ford.

BOWLZILLA was born out of likeminded friends in the skateboard community looking for new platforms to promote their friends extraordinary talents, talents that run in oversupply within skateboarding but not are 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 2018.

Dates: Competition; 10th March 2018, Festival events 8-11th March 2018

Event info:

8th March: Fusion Surf/Skate Welcome Party

9th March: ARTZILLA – Manky Chops

10th March: BOWLZILLA™ Wellington competition – Waitangi Park, Wellington

                     Dive In – official after party

11th March: Karori Vert Jam, Ian Galloway Park, Karori, Wellington