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.

SAVE THE DATE: BOWLZILLA Wellington 2024

PEACE IS WORTH SKATING FOR

BOWLZILLA Wellington, Waitangi Park 17/02/2023

BOWLZILLA Wellington is celebrating its 9th year as New Zealand’s biggest skateboarding festival the week of the 17th of February and capping it all with the New Zealand National Bowl Skating Championships.

For the ninth consecutive year, BOWLZILLA Wellington will be putting on the biggest week of skating in New Zealand. With more events, bigger gatherings, larger celebrations and the best week of skating Aotearoa is likely to see. The weeklong festival highlights all the best of skating through ARTZILLA, music, barbecues, catch ups, our incredible friends and family and of course the competition.

“The BOWLZILLA community has always been enthusiastic in their celebration of the most important parts of skating; fun, unity, music, arts, creativity, and all-round heavy ripping. There have been many changes to skate gatherings the last few years and we believe the best parts of skating that have always bound us in fun are worth that extra effort to ensure we maintain the stoke. For our ninth year we are dialling up the good times and making sure everyone knows how grateful we are for all their years of support in the best little city in the world.” BOWLZILLA Director – Chad Ford

BOWLZILLA is renowned for its full week of festival happenings and this year there will be new additions celebrating the wider skate community and their awesome talents. The biggest week of skating in New Zealand is growing even larger. Everyone is welcome to come along and cheer and be part of the whole festival for free. There are exciting announcements coming in the New Year about sponsors and the festival.

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.

BOWLZILLA was born out of likeminded friends in the skateboard community looking for new platforms to promote the extraordinary talents of their friend’s 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.

15th February: Women’s Learn To Ride Clinic

15th February: Welcome Party

16th February: WSA Street Jam

16th February: ARTZILLA

17th February: BOWLZILLA™ Wellington competition – Waitangi Park, Wellington

17th February: Dive In – official after party

18th February: Karori Vert Jam, Ian Galloway Park, Karori, Wellington

Radio Active Announce Media Sponsorship of BOWLZILLA 2022

We are proud to announce we are officially partnering with Radio Active for BOWLZILLA Wellington in 2022.

Radio Active know BOWLZILLA is one of the most important events in the Te Whanganui-a-Tara calendar. Aotearoa's biggest gathering of skaters alongside art, music and community, it makes perfect sense we team up with the capital's best alternative station.  Following two postponements due to COVID-19 this year is going to huge and we are looking forward to Radio Active being part of it.

Listen in to Radio Active to hear about all the BOWLZILLA news and events information running up to the event then join us on October 29th down at Waitangi Park for the main competition.

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