Six12 Media

1/6/15

1/2/15

Makaha Bowl Jam

Haden McKenna

On Sunday, Venice Beach Skate Park was once again host to The Makaha Bowl Jam Food Drive & Skate Contest. The Bowl Jam was originally going take place a few weeks ago on a Saturday, but due to rain, it had to be rescheduled to the last weekend of December. This year's format was the same as last years, there were 3 age divisions: 10 & Under, 15 & Under, and a 16 & older Pro/Am Division. Each age division had two qualifying heats where each skater got two runs with the top scoring skaters moving up to the final for that age division. New this year, was an open Girls division. The course consisted of the mini-bowl and the adjacent snake-run. And once again, Dave Duncan mc'ed the contest as DJs Bennett Harada and Kelly Jackson provided the music.

10 & Under

Desmond Sheperd

The contest started off with the youngest group, 10 & Under. Alva team rider Desmond Shepherd was pretty much in charge of this division taking first place, while second went to Dylan Powell and Luke Kahler getting third. For more photos of the 10 & Under Division, click here.

Girls

Pauline Branom

Julie Westfall
Last year, the girls only had a skate jam that took place after the contest, but thankfully, this year, they had their own division to compete in. Handplanting her way to first was Pauline Branom, followed by Sarah Thompson in second and Roxzi Bokolas in third. For more photos of the Girls Division, click here.

15 & Under

Asher Bradshaw

Kiko Fransisco

Tyler Edtmayer

Asher Bradshaw

This was the big air show led by Asher Bradshaw and Kiko Fransisco. All the skaters throwing the huge airs off the snake run's main hip. Kiko with lofty Christ Airs and tweaked leans. Asher doing giant 360*s. Asher and Kiko took first and second, while Tyler Edtmayer got third. For a ton more photos of these guys, click here.

16 & Older

Meklo Rivera

Charlie Blair

Haden Mckenna

Sean Johnson

Haden Mckenna

Charlie Blair

In the 16 & Older Division, last year's winner Charlie Blair claimed the number one spot again, followed by Haden McKenna who place second just like he did last year as well. . Jesus Esteban Correa took third, while Makha's own Sean Johnson placed fourth. For more photos, click here.

Makaha & The Contest
In 1963, Venice Beach lifeguard Larry Stevenson found Makaha Skateboards. The name came from a beach in Hawaii that Stevenson had the chance to visit during his Navy days in the Korean war. Makaha was known for making the first high quality skateboards, and for later inventing the kicktail. During the same year it opened, Makaha had sponsored a team of skateboarders, which included top surfers such as Mike Doyle, and held the first skate contest. In 2013, half century later, Makaha celebrated it's 50th Anniversary and the 50th Anniversary of the first skateboard contest by holding a Snake Run Mini-Bowl Contest & Food Drive at the Venice Beach Skate Park. The contest was open to all with a $10 entry fee and 2 cans of food to donate. 100% of the profits from the event went to the Westside Food Bank. This was the second year of the contest, which now has grown larger and added a Girls Division.