Glowing sunshine flooded the Bow Valley just in time for the final competition at a grassroots bowl jam last weekend.
Bowlapalooza, a skateboard contest and live rock music mash-up, hit Canmore Skatepark, Saturday (Aug. 23) to showcase a different bite for valley residents.
Jordan Kendal, Bowlapalooza organizer, gambled with the pale, chilly weather, but was pleased with the skater and spectator turnout for the third annual event.
“The venue was a little tighter than it was in past years, but like I said, it was going to be different,” Kendal said. “We had different guys excelling and certain guys who did well in past years, they’re not even competing today, they’re opting to watch and enjoy the show.”
It was the first time Bowlapalooza was held outside of Cochrane, and about 20 skaters from across Western Canada plunged into Canmore’s smooth concrete skate bowl as judges evaluated from a bird’s eye view in a boom.
“(The bowl) is a lot more aggressive (in Canmore),” Kendal said. “There’s definitely some riders here who have competed in past years who are watching today because it is fairly intimidating. It’s steep and it’s deep and there are repercussions in a concrete bowl like this. Some guys opted to just watch rather than get banged up.”
One fearless skater who grasped the opportunity to try out Canmore’s bowl during his first Bowlapalooza was Garrett McNevin of Saskatoon.
McNevin’s seemingly effortless gliding through the bowl would be instrumental in the eyes of the judges throughout the competition as his talents earned him a spot among the top 10 finalists, and eventually, the championship crown.
“Your guys’ bowl is amazing,” the 28-year-old said. “It’s super easy to find speed and really nice. It was a well put together contest … it felt like we were just skating.”
McNevin took home $250 and prizes for first place, and other cash prizes were awarded to the top tricksters of the day.
Edmonton-based skater Marcus Zuidhol made the trip south to the Rockies and claimed $100 for best move when he pulled off a big-air transfer.
The remaining piece of the event that glued it all together were live musical performances throughout the day. Calgary-based rock band Chron Goblin, headlined the event, and was one of four bands that each had a set to entertain skaters and spectators alike.
Kendal has his eye on the Rocky Mountains for Bowlapalooza next year, as a return to Canmore looks promising.
