Extreme Skateboarding Events – Skateboarders have always embraced rebellion and non-conformity, taking their sport to the limit. Here are some of the planet’s most daring skateboarding events that challenge participants’ courage and skills.
Skateboarding has long been the domain of the discontented, the nonconformist, the independent, and the rebellious. Unlike their surfing counterparts, skateboarders have maintained their counterculture roots.
Skateboarders often find themselves in conflict with the urban environment, whether public or private. Their playground is the streets, parks, and empty swimming pools, leading to occasional clashes with the authorities and the disapproval of the general population.
7 Extreme Skateboarding Events
Let’s delve into some of the most thrilling contests and gatherings organized by skateboarders.
1. Dolores Hill Bomb
The Dolores Hill Bomb is an annual gathering in San Francisco, California. Skateboarders gather on Dolores Street, across from Dolores Park, to bomb the hill, which involves rapidly descending a steep incline. This unsanctioned event is infamous for its extreme steepness and has unfortunately resulted in injuries and even fatalities. Due to its high-risk nature, only experienced skateboarders should consider participating.
2. Dime Glory Challenge
The Dime Glory Challenge is an event organized by Dime, a skateboarding company based in Montreal, Canada. Unlike typical skateboarding contests, it’s more of a celebration of skateboarding. This event is packed with unconventional and often humorous challenges that deviate from traditional skate contests. Participants engage in obstacle courses and unusual props, emphasizing entertainment as much as skating prowess.
3. Halloween Hellbomb
The Halloween Hellbomb is a chaotic skateboarding event held in Long Beach, California. It’s rapidly gaining notoriety as one of skateboarding’s most debased traditions. This event features professional skateboarders performing incredible stunts and tricks, often in costume. Known for its killer moves and casualties, the Halloween Hellbomb has earned a reputation as Long Beach’s wildest event, attracting skateboarders and fans alike.
4. Hollywood Skate Jam
The Hollywood Skate Jam is an event organized by FA and Adidas. It showcases non-professional skaters navigating a rugged parking lot street course. The event is known for its high energy and intense sessions, often bordering on chaos.
5. HELride & Koff Race
HELride is an annual skateboarding event held in Helsinki, Finland, blending both street and transition skateboarding disciplines. It features a mix of traditional competition and free-form sessions, providing a laid-back vibe. The event often incorporates local and international skateboarders, offering unique urban settings and challenges.
The Koff Race, also known as Koffin Vauhtikisat, is a part of HELride, where skateboarders race downhill through obstacles, often in a park setting. Both HELride and the Koff Race have gained popularity, showcasing Finland’s vibrant skateboarding culture.
6. Torshov Open
The Torshov Open is a significant independent skateboard event in Norway, attracting a diverse audience of all ages. Organized by Kevin Bækkel, Scott Bækkel, and Janna Gillen, it features skaters from the Creature and Monster teams, offering skateboard enthusiasts a chance to enjoy the sport in a festive atmosphere.
7. Broadway Bomb
The Broadway Bomb longboarding race takes place annually along Broadway in Manhattan. Established in 2002, it started with just sixteen participants and grew to over 7,900 riders by 2018. The race follows Broadway, starting at 116th St. and Riverside Drive in Upper Manhattan and ending at the Charging Bull statue in Lower Manhattan.
Despite facing resistance from the NYPD and being declared illegal by the New York Supreme Court in 2012, the race continues to attract participants and global attention.
Extreme skateboarding events are not for the faint of heart. These gatherings push boundaries, challenge skills, and celebrate the rebellious spirit of skateboard culture. While they may not be officially sanctioned, they remain a testament to the indomitable spirit of skateboarders worldwide.
