February 17th, 2010 by Nic

National Competition conceived for Tech Deck and promoted through skate stores and skate parks:

Ever thought you’re local park was missing something? Or thought about what you would change if you could? Maybe you’ve even thought about sessioning that same park with some of the UK’s top skaters?

Well here’s the chance to pull it off with relative ease and pretty much no real work on your part. Tech Deck are giving you the chance to win a new obstacle for your local skatepark along with a private session for you and your mates with members of the Vans UK team.

The Tech Design and Build competition simply requires you to submit a design for a new obstacle or possible change to your existing park, these can be sketches, models or even mashed potato sculptures if you see fit. They will be judged on creative merit, practicality and skateability – so there’s no point in drawing a 30 metre high Mega Jump or something!

The top ten designs will then go onto the next stage: You will need be sent some Tech Deck goodies to start with. You will then need to build a model of your obstacle and film a little video section of you and your mates sessioning it. Points will be awarded on the basis of the quality of your obstacle, power of moves performed and any general tomfoolery involved.

Judges will include: Marc Churchill – Professional Skateboarder and Skatepark Designer, Ben Powell – Sidewalk Magazine Editor and Nic Powley – Vans UK Skate Team Manager.

Please send your initial images via e-mail too: nic@backroomoperations.com

Include with your entry:

Your name and age
The name and location of your chosen park
Contact phone number
Image of your design

Closing date for this stage is 30/01/2010

Finalists will be notified shortly after.

February 17th, 2010 by Nic

Deadend is a mellow gathering for the UK skateboard community featuring a tradeshow and mini ramp jam.

February 16th, 2010 by Nic

Dates for this years series will be as below. Further info and flyer to follow.

1 Mounte Hawke, Cornwall – Sunday 28th March – “Trawlers Jam”

2 Bay 66, London – Sunday 18th April – “Battle at the Bay”

3 Creation, Birmingham – Sunday 16th May – “Blockless Combat”

4 Adrenaline Alley, Corby – Sunday 6th June- “Ambush at the Alley”

5 Ramp City, Blackpool Saturday 11th Sept – “Seaside Sessions”

February 16th, 2010 by Nic

As vert skating started regaining popularity in the early noughties the elder statesmen of the discipline started holding comps on their local ramps to encourage the new generation. This over time naturally evolved into the Independent Vert Series and has events in Newquay, Corby, Blackpool, Birmingham and London.

Last years flyer and footage from the Blackpool leg:

February 16th, 2010 by Nic

The Vans Shop Riot is a very simple concept which is replicated all over Europe – teams battle for an all expenses paid trip to the European Final (in 2009 it was in Belgium). The UK leg was really well attended with other 30 crews making the journey to Central Skatepark in Manchester and most of the major skate shops representing: 50:50 from Bristol, Slam from London and Prime all the way from Plymouth.

Sidewalk mag edit part 1:

Sidewalk mag edit part 2:

February 16th, 2010 by Nic

This years event will be help at The Works in Leeds and Ramp City in Blackpool. There will be a little soiree on Saturday night at A Nation Of Shopkeepers in Leeds centre.

February 16th, 2010 by Nic

A few people have laid claim to the idea of WOTR, from what I can tell it was originally an idea from Silent Will (Sidewalk Photographer) and actioned by The Works Skatepark in Leeds and Bones skatepark in Bolton. My involvement in the first year was to just design the flyer, I think I helped out a bit on the day too.

The format (based on the War of the Roses obviously) was to run two comps at two parks over one weekend (one in Lancashire, one in Yorkshire) and play on the friendly rivalry between the skaters from the two counties. Another feature of the event was it’s relaxed structure, sessioning separate obstacles in a ‘best trick’ comp simulated how skaters would skate in the street. The format was an instant success and attracted skaters from London up to Aberdeen (blowing the original Yorks vs Lancs concept out of the water!)

Since then the Lancashire leg has changed venues due to park closure from Bones in Bolton to Interact in Burnley and now to Ramp City in Blackpool.

Here’s some highlights from last years:

Leeds Day 1 Main edit:

Blackpool Day 2 Main edit:

Leeds outtakes/leftovers:

Blackpool outtakes/leftovers:

February 16th, 2010 by Nic

The date for this years Youngs Guns comp will be Sunday 18th July. It will be held at Adrenaline Alley in Corby again. More details to follow shortly.