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.
Dave Duncan & Tonan

Daniel Cuervo


Jeff Ho

Pauline Branom


A ton shots in the full Photo Gallery (219 photos total):
2014 Makaha Bowl Jam Photo Gallery


For more photos at the Venice Skate Park:

Venice Surf-A-Thon

The 21st Annual Venice Surf-A-Thon was went down on Saturday, December 20th. It's the longest running annual surf contest in the Los Angeles area. Held at Venice Beach, just south of the Breakwater.

Unlike many surf contests, the Venice Surf-A-Thon is really laid back. There was a heat schedule, but the contest started when it started, the heats started whenever people were ready. There was an entry fee ($25), but if you didn't have it, it was okay, you could still surf in it, probably wouldn't have got one of the cool contest t-shirts, but you were able to surf in the contest. Speaking of the t-shirts, every year there's a new version by a local artist. The awards are given out at a party later on in the evening.

Unlike last year, there were some better than average waves this year. The contest "area" slowly moved north throughout the day following the waves. The finales ended up being held right next to the breakwater rocks, a first for the Surf-A-Thon.

A total of 46 surfers surfed in the Surf-A-Thon, with ages ranging from 3 years old to 55 years young. Most locals, but some from as far as Brazil and Japan. One surfer, Sol, rode his bike up to Venice Beach from Redondo Beach, surfed the contest, placed second, rode back home, then came back to Venice again later that evening for the awards party where he preformed with his band, STD's.

It's been a labor of love for contest's founder Ger-I Lewis, who also helped make the famous Venice Beach Skatepark a reality. "I Founded the Venice Surf-A-Thon in 1993 after returning home from military service. I wished to do something for the children, young adults and the community in general that is fun and has a positive influence on everyone" says Ger-I. "For sure back in the day the contest was edgy, as so was I! Instead of handing out trophies at the beach like most contests, I incorporated the awards party to give everyone a chance to shine. Inviting local talent as well." In addition to the awards after party held at a venue off the beach, the early years of the Surf-A-Thon also hosted a bikini contest. "The bikini contest was also a strategy to enhance and create a Venice culture showcase. Well times have changed and folks have mellowed, the bikini contest is no longer a part of the event as many of the original contestants are grandparents now!" And as in previous years, proceeds from the contest went to the MLD Elementary School in the Philippines. This year $800 was raised.

As for the contest results, "Unfortunately, as Peck and I where cleaning up the awards party location after all the revelry, I forgot the contest results on the clipboard and they got tossed in the trash!" So here are the results from Ger-I's memory:
Girls
1.Oshi Massy
2.Vegas Massy
3.Jennifer D
Boys
1.Beck Adler
2 & 3. The rippers from Huntington Beach
Longboard
1. Norm Antonio
2. Brock
3. C S
Mens
1. Jack from Santa Cruz
2. Slo from the STD's
3. Sam
Masters
1. Jimmy Papik
2. Tex from Dana Point
3. DJ Jaques

A ton shots in the full Photo Gallery (299 photos total):
Venice Surf-A-Thon Photo Gallery
Need a cool late Christmas gift, how about a print of one of these, or any other surf or skate photos. From 4x6" to big 24x36" and larger, you can even choose the photo to be printed on canvas or metal. There's also coffee mugs, magnets, and other items the photos can be printed on. Check the link below for more photos :

Another Week Of Storm Surfing In Venice

Another wet week, here is a photo set of some surfing along the Venice Breakwater during a rainy December day.

More shots in the Photo Gallery:
Venice 12-16-2014
Need a cool Christmas gift, how about a print of one of these, or any other surf or skate photos. From 4x6" to big 24x36" and larger, you can even choose the photo to be printed on canvas or metal. There's also coffee mugs, magnets, and other items the photos can be printed on. Check the link below for more photos :

2.5-D Skate Images

Took several still photos and gave them the 2.5D effect.

More from Venice Skate Park: