Sport Today

The Australian Bowlriders Championship (ABC) was held February 5-8, 2015 at Empire Skatepark, Bar Beach, Newcastle, NSW. The ABC is the first true skateboarding nationals in Australia, with four divisions: Under 18, Women’s Pro/Am Open, and Masters. This is the fourth year for the ABC, and it gives local riders the opportunity to win wildcard entries to the Vans BOWL A RAMA Bondi.

Poppy Starr Olsen, fresh off a win at the Vans Girls Combi Pool Classic in January, took the win in the Women’s division. Keegan Palmer won the Under-18 division, Alex Sorgente won the Pro/Am title for the third  year in a row, and Bruno Passos took the title in the Masters division.

Australian Bowlriders Championships 2015 Results

Masters

1. Bruno Passos (USA)
2. Brian Patch (USA)
3. Pat Ngoho (USA)
   Luke Jones (Australian Champ)

Women

1. Poppy Starr Olsen (AUS)
2. Sari Simpson (AUS)
3. Tenille Licari (AUS)

Pro/Am

1. Alex Sorgente (USA)
2. Tom Schaar (USA)
3. Cory Juneau (USA)
   RJ Barbaro (Australian Champ)

Under 18

1. Keegan Palmer (AUS)
2. Luke Russell (AUS)
3. Jedd McKenzie (AUS)

Australian Pro Wildcard Winners

1. George Richards
2. Jakob Robinson
3. Renton Millar
4. Matt Kitai

Chad Ford or Frontside Events said, “It’s an incredible spectacle because it’s the only event in the history of Australia where you really get to see the whole ‘birth-to-grave’ of skateboarding: the kids just starting out, the guys well into their 50s still really skating like they’re 15.”

Ford also said that the rising popularity of skateboarding is resulting in more concrete bowls being built all over Australia.

‘‘Today was a big thank-you and acknowledgement to all the believers who have supported Australian skateboarding,’’ Ford said.