Skaters own the day at Go Skateboarding Day

MANILA, Philippines – There are very few places in Metro Manila where skateboarders can ply their trade without fear of reprisal. Luneta Park is not one of them. 

Ollying over Jose Rizal Monument remains a pipe dream, but skaters got the next best thing on Sunday, June 21, when Vans Philippines hosted its annual Go Skateboarding Day celebration at Philippine International Convention Center.

Skateboarders flocked the streets for a push parade from Manila Post Office to PICC in Pasay City, making their presence felt along Roxas Boulevard with a traffic jam of their own design.

Skateboarding has truly grown in numbers the past years and seems to be growing in popularity as skateboarders are starting out younger. Local skateboarders continue to seek support for the creation of more public skateparks. 

(IN PHOTOS: The skater’s shoes)

Vans Philippines held its 5th annual Go Skateboarding Day this year at the PICC forum made Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Filipino themed obstacles such as the Rizal Monument, two jeepneys and the ice cream sorbetero. The obstacles were created by The Rail, Calle Skate Shop and Sebby’s Skate Shop.

“The way we did the whole setup was like Sunday in the Park,” said Vans Philippines CEO Wendell Cunanan. “Pardon the pun, we’re having ice cream in here.

“I call it Sunday Funday because of the theme we have here of outdoors being inside.”

Entrance was free and skaters filled the venue from wall to wall, despite the event moving a few minutes from its home in past years at World Trade Center.

Vans held different competitions besides the championship such as the highest ollie, longest power slide, most kickflips, longest gap fastest push and a competition for the old school skaters. 

Young skaters, older skaters, male skaters and female skaters demonstrated that skateboarding skateboarding was for one and all.

The main event was the Vans championship with competitors from each region of the Philippines battling it out for the P30,000 grand prize.

The competitors brought their A-game as they ripped the obstacles apart, giving the judges a hard time. At the end of the day, Demetrio Cuevas (NCR) earned the overall championship with Mak Feliciano from Baler and Chris Hurich from Iloilo grabbing second and third place, respectively.

With another successful event it seems that skateboarding in the Philippines is here to stay and will continue grow. With a little more help from the government and skate companies, Filipino skateboarders can continue to improve in their craft.

To cap off the day local bands The Exsenadors, Bad Omen, Pingkaw and Urbandub gave the crowd entertaining music as they skated and slammed the night away.

Championship

1 Demetrio Cuevas

2 Mak Feliciano

3 Christopher Hurich

Old school division

1 David Valino

2 JR Tuazon

3 Lloyd Briones

Best Trick Kids 

1 Mark Barriento

2 Ayang Cacho

3 Jushua Devara

Game of Skate Girls

1 Ayang Cacho

2 Arianne Trinidad

Most Kickflips

Lee Dela Cruz

Highest Ollie

Cholo Valenzuela

Longest Powerslide

Jommel Tumbokon

Fastest Push

Richard Dy

Longest Gap

Ryan Farley

– with reports from Ryan Songalia/Rappler.com