3 big things happened on July 1st, 2009, with the 3rd being the least important, but merely a formality to mention...
1: Canada Day: the nationwide holiday celebrating our country's 142nd birthday.
2: Metro Vancouver's Bowl Series Opener: The grassroots jam is in its 15th year, and travels to older concrete snake runs/concrete bowls around Metro Vancouver, Squamish and Whistler. The overall ripper from all the events claims the coveted annual crown and title: The King of the Bowls. The events are free to enter, there are no cash prizes, and usually everyone who enters comes out with some product from the numerous sponsors who generously back the Series. The annual Canada Day opener also takes place at Seylynn in North Van, which is now 31 years old—Canada's oldest intact outdoor concrete skatepark.
3: This is my first Push.ca blog post (I told you, it's the most insignificant of the 3 on this list.) It'll appear on Thursdays as far as I know, and will feature both current and nostalgic content. Really, I'll be making it up as I go along...
But, back to the Bowl Series. It's a pretty loose jam, so I'll have no "official results" to report. I do, however, have some photos and captions to go along with them. The only "official" thing I have is the Bowl Series #15 poster, which you'll find by clicking here. Here are some photos from the event...
The Annual Bowl Series Canada Day kick-off event always draws the biggest crowd from the local skate community.
Seb Templer (left) and Chris "Cuz" Parry (right) have been involved with the Series for quite some time, and are 2 big reasons why it continues to operate. Seb is a local mini-ramp builder/aficionado, and Parry is an Associate Producer for the Electronic Arts' Skate video game franchise. Both Cuz and Seylynn skatepark actually appear in the game.
Dan "Alien" Nelson and our fine red Maple Leaf were representing on July 1st. Alien sported his patent-pending watermelon and Caribou helmet affixed with a fine royal blue shoe-lace chin strap.
Dave "Dirtboy" Priest is a guaranteed participant in the annual Bowl Series, and knows how to have a blast. High speed Canada Day fatty-to-flatty in fine Dirbs fashion.
Ottawa-to-Vancouver transplant, Chris Connolly has a mean airwalk going on and flipped me a pleasant, yet patriotic bird while embracing his hombre, Nate Lacoste.
There was a constant train runnin' on the Seylynn speed line...
The 2009 Canada Day Bowl Series opener went on without a hitch. There was good vibes all around, impressive skating, and BBQ's blazin'. Unfortunately, there was a collision involving "Carver" Don Hartley, a well-known Vancouver skate-legend, who had to be taken to hospital. We all wish him the best, and a speedy recovery.