After an epic 2018 (which resulted in November of a not-so-epic broken clavical), I’m really excited to be getting back into the game. With plenty of gnarl to choose from this year I wanted to highlight the biggest East Coast events that ya’ll need to get.
Events can be a great test of your skills as a skateboarder, pitting you up against other skateboarders in a friendly competition, or get free beer and pickup chicks.
The Grind for Life Series, Florida
Founded in 2003, by life-long skateboarder and cancer survivor Mike Rogers, Grind For Life is on of our top destinations in February and March when the weather here in NorCar sucks waaay bad.
With multiple events, including a number in the Longboarding category, this series is a great way to compete against other skaters. There are many divisions in this event, starting at nine years old. Comprised of 3 pro-series skating events, it caters for both street and jam skaters and is raising money for a good cause, supporting the Grind for Life charity that helps cancer patients with travel costs when receiving their treatments.
The Boardr Am at New York City
This is a great chance to go to test your skills against some of the best skateboarders in New York. Operating over the same weekend as Harold Hunter Day (Saturday, May 21st and Sunday, May 22nd), this event is run over three days.
On Friday you can register, check-in and practice on the course. Saturday is the competition, with qualifiers and semi-finals in jam, running from 11am to 3pm. At 4pm the finals are held, giving each skater two runs and five trick attempts with the best four scores counting.
Finally, at 5pm the awards are held. Sunday is a more relaxed rain day. Winning this competition will give you the chance to compete at the Series Finals with a win earning you $500 in travel costs.
Old Man Bowl Jam, Florida
As the name suggests, the Old Man Bowl Jam is an event for older boarder friends who maybe haven’t quite given up the idea of skating for fun. In truth, the cutoff isn’t that old (you must be over 30 to enter.)
There are three divisions 30-39, 40-49 and over 50s. There will be one jam and a first wall rebate. The competition starts at 7:30pm.
Additionally, there is usually free beer with the registration.
25th Annual Tampa Pro, Florida
This event is designed to test professional skaters, so if you want to pick up some skills from the pros, this a great event to attend. It runs over three days from March 1st to March 3rd at the Skatepark of Tampa.
On the first night at 6 o’clock pm is the Industry Bowl Jam. On the second day, starting at midday is the street qualifiers with the top thirty competitors moving into the semi-finals with two competitors moving directly into the finals.
On the third day, the action starts at midday with the semi-finals. Then at 3 o’clock is the finals with twelve competitors battling it out over three-minute-long runs with their best run counting.
