Girl Skate Jam UK 2010

by Ground Almond and Jenna Selby

Sponsored by Death Skateboards, Vans, Rogue, Rubicon, OH! Beanie, Nikita, Lovenskate, Pro Tec, Misticon, Cooler Magazine and Les Ettes

On Saturday 19^th June Pioneer Skate Park hosted its 9^th annual Girl Skate Jam. This year saw skaters make their way over to St Albans from all corners of the UK, the Czech Republic, Italy, Poland and Belgium, plus there were also for the first time entrants from further afield – New Zealand and Australia.

From its beginnings at Playstation Skatepark (Bay 66) in West London back in 2002 and Creation skatepark in 2003, Pioneer Skatepark in St Albans has now become the established home to the Girl Skate Jam UK. Plans for a big 10-year party next year at the park are already underway.

Between 1-3pm there was a free skate for all the girls – the rain until this point had held off even though there were reports coming in from Kent and other home counties of a downpour on its way. So, the decision was made to put the miniramp comp on first. From the off, the standard was evidently high: Melbourne’s Hilary Pearce was awarded first place after two faultless runs, her fast and aggressive style is amazing to watch – frontside Smiths, frontside 5-0’s, frontside tails – the list kept going!

Hilary Pearce – Frontside Smith Grind

Danielle Mellor was on a no-holds-barred mission to pull off the most technical tricks of the day, placing her second – frontside-half cab-rock and rolls, backside disaster-revert out and switch front rocks. Third went to New Zealand’s Georgina Matthews AKA Hori who was all about the hand plants and Indy Grabs.

Charlotte Brennan – Frontside grab to tail

Next up was a pretty fierce Under 18’s comp. Placing 1^st, Laura Johnson was on flip-tastic form, with a kickflip to fakie and a frontside flip over the driveway, 2nd-placed Charlotte Brennon pulled out a nice early grab transfer out of the 6ft quatre to flat bank and Pioneer local prodigy 13 year old Caitlyn a good ollie from the driveway to flat to award her third.

In the Over 18’s, first went to Georgina Matthews after a solid run including a 5-0 180 out across and down the driveway, a boardslide on the rail and bs and fs 50-50 on the box. It was really good to see Emma the Brum Richardson back on top form – fs 5-0 revert on the quater and a nollie bigspin on the bank, which gave her 2nd. Danielle Gallagher placed third after her run of front rocks and feeble fakies on the big quaters.

Georgina Matthews – Ollie bump to bump

The Over 18’s were over by 4.30pm, at which point Evelien Bouilliart rolled in, just off a train from Brussels – much to the delight of the younger girls. She had little time to warm up before the sponsored comp started, although it was apparent that as soon as she set foot in the park everyone upped their game just a little. There were four groups in the Sponsored Section, each had 2 runs of 2 minutes.

Evelien Bouilliart – Crooked Grind

Caroline was straight into noseslides on the big ledge, Lottie who had looked incredible in the warm up with front boards down the rail and 5-0’s on the block got a small attack of the nerves, Lois had some good lines on the go – kickflip on the driveway – kickflip to fakie on the quater. Evelien went into full feeble and lipslide assault on the rail – and just after her run ended she also landed a flip front board which gave everyone in the park goose bumps at how cleanly she stomped it. Amazing.

Evelien Bouilliart – Kickflip Frontside Boardslide

Lucy Adams landed a host of tricks – fakie 360 flip, fakie shuv-it flip and a switch heel on the bank; then Bs 50-50 on the big ledge and a backside tail on the block. The judges admitted it was incredibly tight and difficult to decide a winner. However due to Lucy’s use of the whole park and the consistency of all the tricks she threw in between her main ones, she was awarded first place, with Evelien 2^nd and Caroline 3^rd.

The day ended with a big prize giving, BBQ, beers and hangout time for all the skaters that only see each other at this time of year. A perfect end to an amazing day of skateboarding!

—-

RESULTS:

Sponsored –

1^st Lucy Adams (UK)

2^nd Evelien Bouilliart (BEL)

3^rd Caroline Dynybil (CZE)

Over 18 –

1^st Georgina Matthews (NZ)

2^nd Emma Richardson (UK)

3^rd Danielle Gallagher (UK)

Under 18 –

1^st Laura Johnson (UK)

2^nd Charlotte Brennon (UK)

3^rd Caitlyn Robinson (UK)

Mini Ramp –

1^st Hilary Pearce (Aus)

2^nd Danielle Mellor (UK)

3^rd Georgina Matthews (NZ)

If anyone is interested in starting skateboarding or wants to pick it up again, don’t hesitate to get involved – join Rogue Skateboards’ facebook page, an all-girl skateboard company, or read the Girl Skater Blog at www.skatergirl.co.uk.

Hope to see you all next year!