VENTURE SKATEBOARDING CONTEST

On 30th of August, we did another skateboard contest. This time, it was slightly different.  We divided it into 4 different contest categories; the classic Game of S K A T E, best of miniramp session, best of flat-bar and best of ski-jump.

Thank God for the weather, it was the sunniest Hong Kong could get and probably the hottest Hong Kong could get.  I’m guessing 33 to 35 degrees celcius! I don’t think any skateboarders could handle that…Well, Hong Kong local skateboarders handled it really well.

First, we started with Best Miniramp.  There were around 10 competitors joining this contest, miniramp skateboarding is consider NEW in Hong Kong but it’s certainly growing and it grows really fast.  The top 3 were; Hong Kong’s favorite Chun Chai, Piet (he definitely should ride for Toy Machine) and our OG Forever31 crew; Mr Andy Lee.  It was really close between these 3 riders but Piet grab the HKD2,000 cash with other prizes from Element skateboards with this stylish frontside stalefish, tre flip fakie and I’m really impressed with the way he did his blunt to pivot to fakie, he definitely makes Dan Drehobl proud.  Piet deserves the gold loud and proud.

Second, the classic Game of S K A T E.  Let’s fast forward it; the final was Johnny HK VERSUS Chun Chai.  Let’s talk a couple of games before that.  Lee Hawk joined to represent Hong Kong OG Forever31 crew; He went up against A Wai first.  We all know that A Wai is a great skateboarder and it’s extremely difficult to beat him in a game of S K A T E but again, Lee Hawk’s got skills, he’s able to make A Wai nervous.  Another good game was Johnny HK against Johnny CHINA, what?? That’s the game! I think Johnny CHINA felt bad everytime he won previously so he was skating super super casually, like he was on vacation, he wasn’t serious at all.  Anyhow, it was a good game.

The final was Johnny HK VS Chun Chai; of course it’s always a neck to neck game between these 2 but you can’t have 2 tigers in 1 mountain.  Johnny HK finally took HKD2,000 and some prizes with very obvious points.

Third, the best of flat-bar.  Many of them joined, NONE of them landed any tricks but only Johnny HK and Chun Chai.  Again, these 2 were competiting to see who could pocket another HKD2,000 home.  Johnny was pretty crazy with his big-spin frontside boardslide and big-spin frontside tailslide, are you serious that he’s from Hong Kong? Anyway, Chun Chai told himself, ‘come on, at least I got to win something’ WIN something he got for this best of flat-bar with his nollie backside big-spin boardslide, nollie inward heelflip boardslide, he even almost landed a heelflip front boardslide 360 out, INSANE.  It was really really close between these 2 but yo, Chun Chai deserves it, another HKD2,000 cash and mad products from 8FIVE2SHOP.

Fourth, it’s the last of the contest and the time is perfect, it’s around 6:30pm, the weather has been cooling down.  It’s the ski-jump time; well, not many Hong Kong skateboarders do this ski-jump thing, we have to admit that it looks kind of lame going big air.  The style wasn’t there, I guess that’s what most of the skaters think or maybe they wussed out. Definitely not in Kong Wai’s case, representing Fan Ling with pride.  He started with a huge stink-bug, meloncholy (I bet he didn’t even know the names of these tricks) and trying kickflip indy grab all day, he came really close to making it.  Hong Chai got pop too, he got style too.  He landed a benihana, I’m very embarrased with this trick and wasn’t about to write it but nothing to  be reported on this event otherwise.  With Kong Wai hard-working, he won the last HKD2,000 our sponsor had to offer.

This time, we also added the BEST UPCOMER category in order to make these skateboarders skate harder (report below)

Overall, it’s one of the best contests we’ve had by far.  Thanks to all the OG HK skateboarders judges; Warren Stuart, JBS, Lee Hawk, Ryan Hui, Andy Lee, Pak Khei, Walking, Mark Cheung, Nigel Ong, 415 Kit and KK.  Without them, it wouldn’t have happened.

Last but not least, most definitely THANK YOU to Youth Outreach for making this happen, we truly appreciate your support in local skateboarding.  Let’s work together more in the future.

Of course, thank you to all the sponsors; 8FIVE2SHOP, Element, Hong Kong Jockey Club, LUA Foundation and to all of you that showed.  WE LOVE YOU BIG TIME.

See you all again next year.

RESULTS:

1) Best of MINIRAMP - PIET

2) Game of S K A T E - Johnny HK

3) Best of FLAT-BAR - Chun Chai

4) Best of SKI-JUMP - Kong Wai

UP-COMER:

1) MINIRAMP UPCOMER - Dean Carmen

2) Game of S K A T E UPCOMER - Chris Bradley

3) FLAT-BAR UPCOMER - Dani

4) SKI-JUMP UPCOMER - Ben Coniam

WOW, it seems like the future of Hong Kong skateboarding will belong to all the foreigners living out here! LOCALS, keep it up.

ONE LOVE,

JBS