Bucky Lasek takes the 4th annual Vans Bowl a Rama
Tuesday, February 26th, 2008
Bucky Lasek takes the 4th annual Vans Bowl a Rama
It reminded me of the old Del Mar days back in the 80’s…
February in the US/ northern hemisphere is usually pretty grey, rainy, or snowy.Generally a slow time in the skate world. I have spent the alot last few monthsin the snowboarding world. I grew up in So. Cal at the beaches, so one of myfavorite stops on the World cup tour is to go Down under to Australia and hangout in the beautiful beach town of Sydney called Bondi beach. Traveling skaters have been going to Bondi for many years. They have had many ramps over theyears right in the beach. A few years ago they build an amazing pool right there on the beach. It is a surreal, dream like situation that creates a great vibe for a comp. It reminds me alot of the early Marseilles comps. It has always been a great comp, getting bigger and better every year. This year we saw great skating, bigger prize $, a girls div., more bleachers, smoother organization, great weather, good people, good friends, good times, Jed’s sponsored healthy meals, Love and Guts Art show and fun parties at the Beach Road hotel bars, clubs, live music and late nights on the rooftop!
Contest highlights included Izy Mutu from NZ taking the #1 spot in the girls div., with backside lipslides in the shallow bowl and Back D’s in the deep. The localAmy’s had some stylish runs as well.
In the masters Lance #1 in NZ had to fly back after, so Steve Caballero flew in to Dominate! He put on a great show with all of his famous moves in a classicstyle! Local ruler Mick Mulhall was flying high with big 360 varials, and varials to disaster. Lester was killing it as always with bionic airs,frontside inverts, and powerful moves. Kevin Staab was enjoying his 1st trip to OZ ever claiming it as his favorite new spot! Blasting airs and even a caballarial. It reminded me of the old Del Mar days in the early 80’s. Pat Ngoho was ripping hard in his casual Venice surf style. Sasha Stienhorst was onfire all weekend pushing it hard to get into the finals until he slid out and smashed his head on the bottom of the pool. Luckily it was one of the few times I’ve ever seen him with his helmet on! He came back strong and looked to be having a good session with the legends of Skateboarding!
In the Pro division it was the classic battle between last year’s and 2008 NZ champ Rune Glifberg, Pool master Omar Hassan, and the amazing Bucky Lasek. Ifthe comp was held on Friday evening I think Rune would have won. He was ripping the sunset session! On Saturday Rune and Omar both ripped really hard, so youcan only imagine what Bucky did to take the win! He really turned it on! Speedy runs filled with a big variety of back to back stylish tricks including McTwists, Rodeos, back lipslides through the tight deep corner, nollie flips and the Guy Ritchie (Nollie flip madonna)!
Rune was having fun with good lines while blasting ollie tail grabs, heelflip frontside airs, 540s, switch flips, flip tricks, madonnas, etc, etc,etc…..
Omar pulled the longest Mammoth grind to fakie in the history of the pool! Also getting the 540 done 1st try early in the session. He definitely had the most tricks through the deep corner, every time he came through the corner with a different trick including tail slides, ts to fakie, 5-0, 5-0s to fakie, 50-50s, 5-50s to fakie, fakie sliders, feebles to fakie, roll-in lipslides, etc, etc, etc…
The #1 ranked Australian Renton Millar was skating solid and consistent all week long. Blasting head high backside and frontside ollies on the facewall.
Benji Galloway had lots of tricks including backside 360 over the hip into some switch lines.
Sergie Ventura stole the show with dazzling display of pool riding with style and flair! On his 2nd try he pulled the biggest Mctwist all weekend. Coming fresh off the top 5 from NZ his doubles runs with the other finalists, showed a fine display of finesse! Adding some light hearted fun to the heated and intense sessions. Blasting some of the highest airs, fast lines and even a backside smith to fakie for some extra style points!
5 Aussies in the top 10 finals was a first in World cup bowl comp history! The locals Jeff Williams, Jimmy Beck, Corbin Harris and Adam Luxford put on a great show with blasting airs and ripping lines with speed and style!
Congratulations to Skunk Williams on 1st place for the best trick with a shove-it noseslide to fakie through the tight deepend corner. Last year Daniel Cardone won best trick with a fronside flip corner transfer. The prize was a ride in the RedBull stuntplane. He had to leave and gave the trip to Skunk. This year he is gonna stayin Oz, so Skunk is giving him his trip from this years win!
So start saving and see you next year in Bondi! You’ll definitely want to be in this paradise with the fun crew!
Hope to seeyou there, D.D.
Final results…
Pro’s
1 Bucky Lasek $10,000
2 Rune Glifberg $5,000
3 Omar Hassan $3,000
4 Renton Millar $2,000
5 Benji Galloway $1,000
6 Nathan Beck $900
7 Jeff Williams $800
8 Sergi Ventura $700
9 Corbin Harris $600
10 Adam Luxford $500
11 Brian Patch $100
12 Daniel Cardone $100
13 Rion Linderman $100
14 Ti Coeling $100
15 Otavio Neto $100
16 RJ Barbara
17 Chad Shetler
18 Nolan Johnson
19 Josh Borden
20 Chris Senn
21 Jackson Pilz
22 Alex Perelson
23 Allan Young
24 Mark Haziza
25 Sky Siljeg
26 Trevor Ward
27 Kyle Berard
28 Zinger
29 Nathan Perry
30 Fabio Ticara
31 Craig Baum
32 Colin Provost
33 Donald M
34 Johnny Seton
35 Lakin Heperi
36 Tom Rees
37 Noah Phillips
38 Adam Hydeck
39 Mel Steward
Maters’s
1 Steve Caballero $2,000
2 Mick Mulhall $1,100
3 Kevin Stabb $700
4 Lester Kasai $400
5 Pat Ngoho $300
6 Sasha Steinhorst $100
7 Cameron Dowse $100
8 Johnny Mc Garth $100
9 Luke Foster $100
10 Danny Van $100
11 Adrian Jones
12 Tony Hallam
13 John Bogaert
14 Dave Duncan
15 Barry Strachan
16 Mark Mustang
17 Nick Mrsh
18 Matt Davis
Ladies
1 Izzy Mutu
2 Aimee Harris
3 Aimee Brecks
4 Virginia Maddock
5 Ella Goodman
Source: World Cup Skateboarding
