BOWLZILLA Wellington, the National Park Skating Championships, were absolutely the best of Wellington this week. The
host city really turned it on with welcoming everyone back from a year of COVID exile. The hospitality, the fans, the
weather and the skating were exactly what everyone has been screaming for.
Skateboarding.NZ have been working hard to build a new model of national support and their good work shone through this
weekend in that although BOWLZILLA Wellington is the only local pathway for local skaters to try and qualify for the
Olympic Games, it was barely mentioned because the comradery of the community was absolutely the most important part of
the whole celebration. The glory of the rings can wait, friends, family and skating came first.
It has been said so many times but that is because of the truth of it, when the weather is perfect in Wellington it is
the best little city in the world. Combine that with the local fans, the incredible support of the city and sponsors and
the skaters it seems all pushing themselves further than before and this year will really be remembered as a highwater
mark.
Wellington City Council and the sponsors really went above and beyond to ensure that the post COVID welcome back was
going to be nothing short of spectacular. Dickies with their hard wearing work wear made sure the Open competitors got
paid properly for the hard work, Yeah Gnar once again helped cement the fact that Women’s skating is rightfully equally
acknowledged and supported, Civil Parks worked overtime to get the site open and comfortable for all the fans, the skate
nerds favourite toy Tech Deck gave fantastic support to the 16 & Unders, the Masters are always valued and supported by everyone, The Cambridge Hotel housed all the crew and
competitors and provided the perfect gathering place and all the sponsors combined; Santa Cruz, Independent, Skullcandy,
Manual Magazine, Spitfire / Irrom Distribution, Powerhaus Automotive, Sky Sport Next, Vans, Red Bull, Wellington
Skateboarding Association and Skateboarding.NZ were bloody awesome.
The New Zealand National Champions for 2021 are; Women –Krysta Ashwell NZ Champion, Tech Deck 16 & Under – Sam Westerkamp, the Masters champion for 2021 is Orson Reynolds and the Dickies Opens champion for 2021 was the
Tech Deck 16 & Under champion for 2020 – Niwa Shewry.
A huge THANKS goes out to all the friends, family, fans, media, sponsors, supporters, community and skaters for what was
truly one of the best years ever for BOWLZILLA Wellington.BOWLZILLA Wellington 2021 placings:Tech Deck 16 & UnderSam WesterkampMax HancockMonty GrahamMarshall LittlefairFelix GriffinAce FindlayLochie BarrieJake HarrisCarter WilliamsMastersOrson ReynoldsLeigh McKenzieVon GriffinNathan AdamsHayden McDermottSimon HuntNicholas BennettAaron BellCraig HarrisScott WilkinsonAdam WarrinerWomenKrysta AshwellBillie MorrisonYeva SauytskaGala BaumfieldEla PoynterElla Vincent-HydeJessica ReadyEvelyn ArmstrongPoppy-Jo GarrattJessica LordGeorgia HudsonChrystal DallerEva CorkeryAaliyah IwikauPoppy CottrellDickies OpenNiwa ShewryBowman HansenDereck De SouzaStefan RobinJosh WilsonTom MitchellChris WoodRemus HenareRico HenareNoah WinninghamLevi RhindKen Te OhaereNick BushAlexi DowleyNicholas Joyen-ConseilChris CurranKere James MilroyWill Butler
BOWLZILLA stands on the shoulders of giants and we strive in all we do to acknowledge the influential skaters and scene
that came before us; Patti McGee, Tony Alva, Lora Thornhill, Jay Adams, Adrian Jones, Grant “Biff” Murdoch, Dog Town,
Steve Alba, Suicidal Tendencies, Black Flag, Pearl Jam, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Hellmen, Glen E. Friedman,
Thrasher, Independent, The Bones Brigade, The Beastie Boys, Lance Mountain, Chris Miller, Cara Beth Burnside and Tony
Hawk. The new guard of Poppy Olsen, Keegan Palmer, Taniah Meyers, Grant Taylor, Lizzie Armanto, Danny Leon, Nicole
Hause, Rune Glifberg, Omar Hassan, Bucky Lasek, Jack Fardell and Pedro Barros, would not be here without this heritage.
BOWLZILLA™ acknowledges and celebrates this with plans to build on the past and write a bright and energetic future