VANS ATTACK! Vans Mindanao Leg Competition and things you might want to bring during Big Events

June 1, 2013 - a proud day for Mindanao skaters to show that they can compete in a National skateboarding event. Skaters from General Santos City, Kidapawan, Panabo, Tagum and Davao gathered together at Abreeza Mall's parking lot for one of the biggest events in the skateboarding scene: Vans off the Wall Skate Championship held at the Abreeza Fresh park.

Huge prizes where at stake in winning the competition. First place will win 10,000PHP worth of Vans of the Wall merchandise plus cash, Second prize will have 5,000PHP worth of goods and 3,000 cash and the winner for best trick gets cash and freebies from Vans. Any skater who bags the first and second place will be flown to Manila for the National Vans of the Wall Championship this coming July at the World Trade Center, pretty cool huh.

It was a hot day with the hottest tricks from the best skaters around Mindanao. One of the most awaited runs were from Werner Cossid from GenSan (DC sponsored), Alex Ompoy and JR Yuan (flow) of WeLegendary Davao, Tristan Pardillo of Tagum City and Shine Skateboards (Australia). Even with the heavy competition, skaters still want to give a shot to claim the championship. More than 30 people registered for the best trick and best run (Maybe because it was free and there was a free shirt from Vans).

To keep the excitement flowing, the organizers also brought Ansey Flores (WeLegendary and one of the best Manila Skaters) and Demetrio Cuevas (Cebu's representative for the Vans Competition). Each of them showed what they are up against and what the winners will be facing this coming Vans Championship in Manila and Wow! They really are one of the best. Melon grabs, kickflip grabs and all other sorts of gnarly tricks on the quarter pipe.

Winners:

1st Prize for Best Run - Tristan Pardillo
2nd Prize for Best Run - Dennis De Guzman

1st prize for Best Trick - Werner Cossid
2nd prize for Best Trick - Tristan Pardillo

If there was an award for "Audience Impact" it would probably go to "Agavic", one of the "old skul" pipz that rocked the quarter pipe ramps. Because I am such an awful blogger, I wasn't able to record which trick landed them the prize (heck, I don't even know what they won) but Tristan "Tala" did dominate the whole event.

Photos courtesy of Vans Philippines.

Overall, the event was a success and well-organized. I have to give a hand to the emcee of the event for keeping up with the Davao crowd. It was a long hot day and all the hours from 1:00PM to almost 8:00PM he kept on commentating and cheering up the crowd. Vans had prizes, stickers and shirts for everyone that joined the event and people weren't bored, even one bit.

When it comes to events like these, I need to have several things on my checklist to make it more convenient. You might want to take down notes on things to carry on your backpack when attending big skateboarding events like these:

1. Sunblock
2. Water, lots of it. 
3. Shirts (3 would be good)
4. A towel.
5. Gatorade (optional)
6. A camera (if you're a blogger).
7. A hat.
8. Shades.
9. Party money (hey, there's always going to be an after party right?)
10. Your board.
11. First aid kit?

Skateboarding Day, here we come! 

Streetleague Skateboarding: What it means for its Audiences

When we talk about Skateboarding, we always think about pros and their sick tricks. No doubt about it, sick tricks are indeed featured in this annual skateboarding event: Streetleague Skateboarding. Rob Dyrdrek and DC came up with the great idea to bring together the best of the best skaters all over the United States for supremacy.

There are three events of the season, this time the event is held in Kansas and recently in Ontario, California. Each skater has to outscore each other with their tricks and hope to impress the judges with it. They have to have the balls, creativity and technical skills to overcome sections around the course.

Watching streetleague online

For us in the Philippines and the rest of Asia, we have to wake up early in order to do so. Some of us really stay awake during the night time just to witness and support their favorite pros battle it out. Good thing is that we do not have to painstakingly look for online streaming because it is generously provided by Streatleague.com.

Like all events, skaters within the city bet on their favorites just to spice up their viewing experience and make it more exciting. They bet on any kinds of things from small skateboard parts to petty cash, even food!

Many skaters watch it together with food and drinks provided by the hosts. They cheer to their favorite skaters as if they could hear them shout in front of the computer. It seems that the audiences themselves are more nervous than the pros that are playing!

The good thing about it is that, like the annual go skate day, it brings together people that share a common hobby: Skateboarding.