Another amazing and historic year for Bowl Series has come to a close, but it seemed this year was so much more crazy. Maybe because we have reached the 3^rd decade? Who knows, but what we do know is that it is one of the best things happening in Skateboarding.

To watch kids as young as 5 years old travel around to bowls made in the 1980’s and early 90’s is amazing enough, but to see them competing in beginner and being so stoked on riding for 5 minutes in front of a huge crowd and progressing at every contest is tear jerking. This is what we live for as old school skaters, we helped set the bar high for skateboarding over many lost decades of discrimination and through our determination have seen success in the world and now have confidence that skateboarding will live on forever. Thanks kids for being the next generation of awesomeness.

And speaking of kids, let’s talk about our new King of the Bowls – Merrick Orr. Merrick started coming out to Bowl Series in year 19, only 2 years ago, and this year made an impact that will never be forgotten. At 15 years old he took 1^st place at Seylynn Bowl popping all the big gaps, ones that had been done before and some that hadn’t. Griffin Bowl he blew minds when he ollied off the smallest part of the virus to the outside of the bowl, and White Rock he flew with style and flow to take another first place. It was Squamish Beef Under the Chief contest where all eyes were opened wider as they got to see Merrick rip coping, and even though it wasn’t really a Bowl Series jam, Merrick fought to the top 3 by finding every gap possible and crushing the bowl with insane speed and furiousity. But it was Whistler Bowl that everyone was waiting for, where the King would be crowned and Merrick wanted to prove his holiness. He shredded the entire bowl, once again finding impossible and deadly gaps and making them look easy. With long hair blowing, shades on tight and fierceness in his face he battled the best of the best of Whistler and took 3^rd Place. As he ollied over the deepend of the bowl into the other side Renee Renee stopped him in his tracks to let him know he needed to prove no more and 15 year old Merrick Orr was crowned the 2015 King of the Bowls in the unforgettable Bowl Series #21.

Until next year, when we ask the question again

– Who will be King….

One of Hippie Mike’s favorite skate parks the Tsawwassen Skate Park is a great place for competitions. With a wide area full of ledges, rails, manual tables and hip to hips there’s plenty of room for lots of people to have fun together. And that’s what happened on August 2^nd at the 3^rd stop of the 2015 Hippie Mike’s Super Tour.

Kicking things off with the Beginners and Minis, lots of parents and other family members were keep the noise level high as they cheered on the young competitors. In Mini there were some new kids which is always great to see, but Aidan Eastman is a tough kid to beat. He conquered through to win another one. The Beginners was a tough category as all of them were skilled and were landing their stuff. Austin MacBeth showed everyone that he’s not just a Bowl skater and landed in 3^rd place, while Cody Mo and Fletcher Chan battled each other hard for the win, Fletcher took 1^st this time sealing the deal with a big frontside 180 down the 3-block.

The Intermediates stepped up the skill level by adding in the rail and ledge game into their runs. Austin Doquiatan was putting on a show in the qualifiers but ended in 5^th in the finals. All the intermediates skated really solid but the day belonged to the young buck from White Rock Jon Schrack. Way to hold it down Jon!

Advanced started off with an insane run by Jake Johnson from the island, who in height looks like he could be in the Mini category. He came out fierce and landed everything he tried setting the standard super high. Merrick Orr, also from the island, took that as a challenge and put on a serious demo in his runs, and Local boys Mick Bey and Aleka Lang used their long legs to look lazy as they landed a ton of tricks around the whole park, but it was tough for either of them the stay caught up to Bryce Aspinall as he shredded around with speed and style. Top 3 came down to Bryce, Merrick and little Jake but 1^st place went to Merrick who even after a face to face collision with Bryce in the start of the finals pushed through to transfer every gap he could find, kick flip front board the blue rail, crooked grind the red rail, and pretty much just destroy the entire park. It was a great show and a solid contest, thanks to everyone who showed up.

Results:

Mini: 1. Aidan Eastman; 2. Kingston Bird; 3. Dave McGough; 4. Kaelen Faux; 5. Lola Paller

Beginner: 1. Fletcher Chan; 2. Cody Mo; 3. Austin MacBeth; 4. Connor Farren; 5. Sebastian Manlig

Intermediate: 1. Jon Schrack; 2. Paul Abraham; 3. Devin Petry; 4. Colton Wilkinson 5. Austin Doquiatan; 6. Robert Wylie

Girls: 1. Jayna Clarke; 2. Rebecca; 3. Katie Wojtun

Advanced: 1. Merrick Orr; 2. Bryce Aspinall; 3. Jake Johnson; 4. Doogie Lester, Jay Mykyte, Aleka Lang, Riley Allen

Next Stop – Grand Finale

August 29^th – Vancouver Skate Plaza

See you there

Another amazing Canada Day as the 21^st annual Bowl Series kicked off at the legendary Seylynn Bowl. As hundreds of people flock to the park and set up tents, blankets and BBQ’s the sun was shining down to give everyone a good day. The skaters warmed up with speed lines and creative fly outs as we waited for the sound to be set up and Renee Renee to take his position holding the microphone.

Getting started right on time with the Beginners these kids reminded everyone what July 1^st is all about as they dipped in and out of the old snake bowl in every spot they could. Killa B Brayden Nerpio came out fierce in Run #1 and held true in the finals to take 1^st place and get the day rolling.

Moving in to Intermediate, it was great to see a bunch of the old beginners that had moved up a category proving the importance of the Bowl Series. Using the entire bowl these kids really knew how to shred and it was sweet to watch them. The girls category was also solid as this was the first year in a long long time where there were multiple heats and the girls owned the bowl for a good 15-20 minutes. Way to go Ladies!

After a little relaxing dip in the creek it was time to watch the Advanced battle it out. All eyes were on certain people of course like Adam Hopkins, Andy Anderson, Jamie Sherratt, Eve Feaver, Stevie Denham, Rob Rickaby, and the young buck from island Merrick Orr. Merrick came out with full aggression blasting up and down the bowl and over all the hips. He kept popping huge ollies from outside the bowl into the deep end and then somehow maintaining enough control to boneless across the wall in the deep. Eve and Andy touched every part of the snake with unique tricks that fire up the large size audience. And Rob and Stevie just plain laid it down like only they could while Adam Hopkins picked out all the big gaps and blew out his pants while flying through the air at mega speeds, Can’t Stop the Hop. In the finals it was Merrick Orr who pulled through on top of the others and sealed the deal with a first try massive crail grab over MFP – Insane!!

Could this be the beginning of the story of 2015’s King of the Bowls?

1^st – Merrick Orr

2^nd – Rob Rickaby

3^rd – Andy Anderson

4^th – Adam Hopkins

5^th – Stevie D

After the contest was done and the crowd began to disperse it was time to see who had the fastest time as the best of the best at the Seylynn Speed Line put their bearings to the test. Amazingly between about 8-10 people they were all within 1 second of each other to go down and back, it was like an alpine ski race. Steve Denham prevailed at the last moment with a 10.20 second run beating out Adam Hopkins 10.28. So awesome.

That’s it for this year people – another awesome Canada Day thanks to Mike Strato, Renee Renee, Cuz, Seb and everyone who showed up.

Bowl Series 21

See you at Griffin – July 12th