NYSEA’s skate contest wows crowds

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Residents flocked to Long Beach’s skate park for NYSEA’s Bowl and Street Bash Skate Contest last Saturday, as amateur and professional skateboarders competed for cash and sponsorship prizes.

The event, originally scheduled for July 16 as a part of NYSEA’s Surf Week, was cancelled due to inclement weather, but despite the month delay, the 65 competitors were able to dazzle crowds last weekend at the skate park’s first-ever competition.

“Surf Week brings a lot of energy toward the town…so for me, I was a little worried when we didn’t have a rescheduled date,” said Chris Hamlet, content manager for NYSEA’s website. “I didn’t know how [the contest] was going to be received by the town but we did a good job of getting the word out and it was actually a really good turnout and I think the competitors and spectators enjoyed.”

Standout pro skateboarders Eddie Henriquez and Brandon Aziz Johnson were named the Bowl Champion and Street Champion, respectively, each taking home a $250 cash prize. Johnson landed a massive 360 air from the quarter pipe to the boardwalk for one of the night’s many highlights, and Long Beach native Noah Wilson, who finished fourth during Surf Week last month, was awarded Best Trick for a wicked transfer out of the bowl and into the flat of the park.

The contest also featured a kids’ division with participants as young as seven years old. Brian Scala, of Oceanside, topped the youngsters and claimed a prize pack from the event sponsors, which included Hurley, Unsound Surf, Brand’s Deli and Gino’s Pizzeria, who provided pizza during the break between divisions.

“It was a great, fun, family-friendly event where skateboarders of all ages competed in the skate park’s first-ever competition,” said Cliff Skudin, Co-Founder of Skudin Surf, which also sponsored the event. “It highlighted the city’s park and some of the top skaters from around the tri-state area, so it was pretty awesome.”