17-YEAR-OLD BRAZILIAN TAKES OUT FOURTH CONSECUTIVE SKATEBOARDING TITLE AT VANS BOWL-A-RAMA BONDI

As the wild cheers settle, celebrations mark a day of amazing bowl shredding at the ninth annual Vans BOWL- A-RAMA™ Bondi 2013. Crowds of thousands gathered in the sun to watch the world’s best skateboarders compete for an unprecedented prize purse of $100,000 AUD ($105,000 USD).

17-year-old Pedros Barros (BRAZIL) blew judges away, winning the Vans BOWL-A-RAMA™ Bondi Pro Title, while the stellar Nicky Guerrero (DEN) walked away with the revered Masters Title.

There was no denying the heightened excitement at today’s epic battle as crowds of over 5,000 made their way through the action packed arena, while tens of thousands around the world tuned in via the official event webcast, live Fuel TV broadcast and Vans Live 2.0 App.

Fans watched Pedro Barros (BRAZIL) take out the title for the Vans BOWL-A-RAMA Bondi, skating against the biggest line-up Bondi has ever hosted. Proving his legendary status, Nicky Guerrero (DEN) rocked collecting his piece of the insane $100,000 AUD prize pool in second place and heading off with a rocket trophy.

With the competition in its ninth consecutive year, Vans BOWL-A-RAMA™ Bondi hosted a packed week of events including art shows and parties that is affectionately known as ‘Festival of the Skateboard’.

“The line up this year was incredible! We have worked very hard to ensure that Australia has a place on the international stage with Vans BOWL-A-RAMA™ Bondi, we want to ensure that it works hard for Australian skaters. We now have a clear pathway for Australian riders to literally come from nowhere and earn their way onto the international tour by qualifying through Hurley ABC and going on to compete at Vans BOWL-A- RAMA™ Bondi.” Frontside Events director – Chad Ford.

"This event is now in it's ninth year and Vans are proud to have been involved from its inception. Each year the event grows and we continue to raise the level of competition by increasing the prize purse which was over $100,000 this year!"

"We are ecstatic to see Pedro Barros and Nicky Guerrero win this year. Both are skateboarding powerhouses with amazing careers and we are proud to have them represent Vans and Off The Wall culture". comments Deena Colman, Vans Australia Marketing Manager

If the growing crowds aren’t testimony enough, the continual return of supercharged world-class skateboarders has seen the officially sanctioned World Cup Skateboarding BOWL-A-RAMA™ competitions gain reputation as the premier core skate series in the World.

Final Results

PROS Finals

1. 1. Pedro Barros 
2. 2. Bucky Lasek 
3. 3. Rune Glifberg
4. 4. Josh Stafford
5. 5. Sam Beckett
6. 6. Alex Sorgente 
7. 7. Brad McClain
8. 8. Omar Hassan
9. 
   

MASTERS Finals

1. 1. Nicky Guerrero 
2. 2. Steve Caballero
3. 3. Eddie ‘El Gato’ Elguera 
4. 4. Pat Ngoho
5. 5. Christian Hosoi
6. 6. Mike McGill
7. 7. Sergie Ventura
8. 8. Adam Luxford

SAVE THE DATE

VANS BOWL-A-RAMA™ BONDI, AU

Action sports fans witness the Vans BOWL-A-RAMA™ 2013 series kick off in Wellington from February 13; closely followed by Vans BOWL-A-RAMA™ Bondi beginning February 19, the world’s best skateboarders will be coming together to battle it out for both titles.

Vans BOWL-A-RAMA™ Bondi hits the shores of Bondi Beach from February 19 – 24, 2013; with Sydney the second stop of the 2013 circuit. In its ninth year, Vans BOWL-A-RAMA Bondi boasts a four day line up of skateboarding infused cultural activities with competition taking place Saturday February 23.

Bondi crowds will witness the most impressive line up of skate talent, with both the Pros and Masters division competing for an overall prize purse of $100,000 AUD. The biggest prize purse in the competition’s history.

Vans BOWL-A-RAMA™ was born on Bondi Beach, Sydney (Australia) in 2005 and is the biggest professional concrete skateboard series in the world. With the addition of NYC in 2012, BOWL-A-RAMA now calls some of the world’s most iconic destinations home.

Both Vans BOWL-A-RAMA™ Wellington and Vans BOWL-A-RAMA™ Bondi are set amidst a week of festivities dedicated to celebrating art, music and true skateboard culture.

The Vans BOWL-A-RAMA 2013 series follows the debut of Vans BOWL-A-RAMA in NYC’s Hudson River Skatepark in 2012.

Vans BOWL-A-RAMA Bondi Beach, AU
February 19 – 24, 2013

Pros

Here's Episode 5 of Roll In: Love n Guts, the annual skater created art show at the Vans Bowl-a-Rama Bondi is back again and this year's theme 'Empty Culture' showcases some amazing work by Steve Caballero, Pat Ngoho, Dean Tirkot, Chad Ford and Sasha Steinhorst.

We're kicking off the Vans Bowl-A-Rama Bondi 2012 week of events with Beach Burrito's Tic Taco exhibition! Get in on the action from 6.30pm tonight...

IT'S HERE:  VANS BOWL-A-RAMA™ Bondi 21st – 26th February  2012. Some of the best venue's across Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach play host to the biggest week of skateboarding infused cultural festivities in Australia from Tuesday February 21st, to Sunday February 26th. Culminating with the biggest professional concrete event in the Southern Hemisphere, Bondi Beach Skatepark will play host to the 8th annual Vans BOWL-A-RAMA Bondi on Saturday February 25th. Kicking off celebrations, check this year's artwork featuring all the characters that have made BOWL-A-RAMA what it is today!

Take a look at all the Finals highlights (via Vans skate Vimeo channel)

Want to catch all the action at BOWL-A-RAMA Bondi 2011? 

We chatted to Oz skating icon Jeff 'Skunk' Williams about his fave skate spots, coming back after injuries, and growing up in the 'burbs.

What got you into skating? Did growing up in the suburbs have an influence on it?

I tagged along with a couple of mates to watch them skate at a ramp in Fairfield. It looked like so much fun, so I got a board, and haven't looked back. There wasn't a lot to do where I grew up, so skating took up a lot of my spare time. I guess that helped me progress, without too many outside influences.

What are your favourite places to skate locally and abroad?

Locally, I like to skate Bondi Bowl, Waterloo skatepark and a few street spots out west. Internationally, I love skating around San Francisco city, Barcelona as a whole and Stalin Square in Prague (which is unfortunately now knocked down).

What do you do to chill out in your spare time?

Hang out with mates and going snorkeling with my girlfriend.

You’re doing BOWL-A-RAMA this year – what are you looking forward to at the comp?

Hooking up with all my friends from all over Australia and overseas. I’ve had a few injuries in the last couple of months, and haven't been able to skate much, so I'm hoping to just skate well and have fun.

Oh, what injuries have you had?

I dislocated my finger, then a week later, gashed my foot open on a barnacle, which took nearly a month to heal, now I'm getting over a badly bruised heel and compression in the ankle joint. It’s been one thing after another…

What are you watching/listening to at the moment?

I love watching documentaries and animal programs. Music-wise, I listen to such a wide variety of music that I couldn't single anything out. There's a kind of music for every mood you can be in.

Favourite trick to do?

I love doing street tricks on Vert.

What have you got planned for the next few months?

Maybe a holiday somewhere tropical, and hopefully LOTS of skating to make up for lost time.

You can catch him at BOWL-A-RAMA Bondi on Feb 19.