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The classic Bondi beach scene was set with the sun shining bright all day, the waves were pumping, DJ Scott Wolf had the tunes cranking and the grandstands were cheering loudly for their favorite skaters, as 14 year old phenom Pedro Barros charged his way to back to back Bowl a Rama victories in Wellington and Bondi. Skate legend Steve Caballero also rolled smoothly to a 3 peat in the 40 and over Masters division at the Vans Bowl a Rama down under in Bondi Beach, Australia.
 
Pro's
1. Pedro Barros
2. Bucky Lasek
3. Bob Burnquist
Master's
1. Steve Caballero
2. Pat Ngoho
3. Mik Mulhall
Click here for complete results
In the Pro division, last years champion Bucky Lasek qualified in 1st place, but over amped on his first 2 intro runs in the finals to leave the top spot open for anyone to take over early in the 30 minute final jam session. Bucky started his 1st intro run with a powerful Mctwist and then blasted a huge air to fakie through the corner, only to hang up hard. He eventually got his rhythym as did all of the riders as the final jam session started heating up and then all of a sudden BAM! Renton Millar slams hard on a 540 because as the sun went down, the pool got slippery, which took him out of the finals. (Sergie Ventura got knocked out at about the same time the night before and got 10 stitches in his head which took him out of the comp as well). We took a break to mop the pool, and then unleashed the 10 finalists in no order for one of the hardest fought battles, and toughest snake sessions in pool competition history. RJ Barbaro from Melbourne was ripping hard and blasting high airs, with powerful lines all week long, he finished in 6th. Rune slammed his shin and knee earlier in the week but still turned it on hard to take 5th. Omar pulled everything he had including 20’ plus long 50-50s, 540s, heel flip variations including HF frontsides in the corner just missing a podium spot to take 4th. Bob was as spontaneous as ever with huge airs, classic Bob switch lines including a switch rock n roll slider through the corner and many other switch combos, F/S lien gay twist, a frontside cab, Mctwist and more, eventually landing low and falling hard onto the flat on a massive air to jewels tap to fakie. This slam took him out towards the latter part of the session, so he finished 3rd. Once the mopping was done Bucky cme out swinging with a F/S heel flip gay twist, all of his classic Bucky moves and a nollie flip stalefish. At the buzzer he tried a McEgg but failed to land it. Last year he pulled it which sealed the deal for him in 2009. Bucky put up a hard fought battle, but had to settle for 2nd. Pedro Barros has come on strong since winning the amateur vert comps. He finished in 4th at ProTec Pool Party 2009, won the Rock the Cradle in Houston in October, won the NZ Bowl a Rama the week prior giving him the confidence to charge hard and take the win in his first appearance in the Bondi comp. You have read the list of moves thrown down by the other riders, so you can imagine the intensity of Pedros riding to beat the Bondi veterans. He was snaking lots of runs which was very hectic with 10 of the worlds best pool riders all charging hard. This ‘Go for it’ attitude was what earned him the win. Lots of 540s, corner airs, nose grinds, smith grinds and stylish moves dazzled the crowd and the judges enough to earn him the Top spot. Congratulations to Pedro on the biggest win of his career! Also congratulations to all of the finalists for surviving one of the most heated sessions I have ever witnessed.
Steve Caballero had the stiffest competition this year in the Masters division, with Lance Mountain, Pat Ngoho, Glen Charnoski, Lester Kasai, Jeff Grosso and local Mik Mulhall all ripping hard. In classic Cabbie form he handled the pressure and seemed to be enjoying a heated jam session with good friends. He pulled out all of his classic moves and smooth flowing lines including stylish airs, a Miller flip, Elguerial, finger flip indy, slide n rolls, smith grinds and much, much more to easily take the win. Pat Ngoho took the win in NZ and continued skating stylish and strong enough in Bondi to take the #2 spot in Bondi. Local Mik Mulhall got hid rhthym mid way through the 25 minute jam to take 3rd. Charno, Kasai and Grosso all skated super strong and finished 4th, 5th and 6th respectively. Lance Mountain looked great early on, but his back gave him to much trouble and he had to settle for last place in the 8 man jam.
A big thanks to Steve Van Doren and his Vans crew for all of their support of the event over the years. The word of the week was that this is definitely one of all of the skaters favorite events of the year! Also thanks to Oakley, Mt Dew, Surf Dive and Ski, Tony Hawks Ride and Fuel TV for their support. The total prize purse was $40,000, the biggest in event history, proving that the Vans Bowl a Rama gets better every year. Also a big thanks to the pool designer and event promoter Chad Ford and his entire crew for organizing a great event, free drink parties, live bands Disbelievers and Chain gang, Love and Guts art show (thanks Ngoho), etc… Thanks to the Beach Road hotel for putting up with all of the after hours antics and roof top party craziness! Thanks to Jeds for feeding the crew!!! Thanks to Sasha Stienhorst and the WCS crew and judges for putting on an amazing event every year. Start saving your money now, because you want to be in Bondi in Feb for 2011!
Hope to see you all there, D.D.
Bowl a Rama Gallery here... Thanks John Rintoul, Chris Ortiz, John Fox...
Video here...
Alli coverage here...
TWS coverage here...
Love & Gut's Art Show Gallery
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