You know it’s going to be a good jam when there are 8 people staying at your house 3 days before the comp you are organising has even started… Welcome to the 2013 Girl Skate Jam UK!
Words and photos by Jenna Selby
One rider had flown in from Spain and another had spent an epic 24 hours trying to get from Lille to the UK (some sort of problem with papers) – although we think secretly she was trying to outdo the marathon journey of the Cornish girls who spent 9 hours getting to St Albans last year.
So 12 years in and how has the Girl Skate Jam UK evolved? Well for one thing the ’Michelle Rushbrooke/Nikita BBQ’ has become an integral part of the jam – keeping competitors and spectators alike well fed. This year there was also new stall on the scene, that of Hannah Bailey’s Tie Dye session which went down a storm for which Cooler had provided a bunch of tote bags for the girls to dye throughout the day.
The day of the jam itself was a blinder, you couldn’t have asked for better weather. Although the comp was due to kick off at 1pm, girls starting arriving at 11, keen to have a roll on the park. Julia Brueckler from Austria had forgone the Mystic Cup and instead had opted to be at the Jam. This year people had travelled from far and wide from around the UK (incl Liverpool, Sheffield, Birmingham, Falmouth, Plymouth amongst others) just so that they too could be part of the day.
The 2-hour pre comp jam flew by. This was the time earmarked for everybody to skate the course with no pressure, have a chinwag and generally get a feel for the ramps. Before you knew it though, it was time for the comps to start, step up the under 18’s.
17-year-old Charlotte Thatcher rolled around the course with confidence, landing a nice pop shuv on the driveway. Caitlin Mawhood got a clean boardslide and a 180 off the platform but it was Liverpudlian Aimy Brady (or Bradley as she may forever be known thanks to a slight slip of the tongue from MC Joff Talbot) who as they say, stole the show. She landed consistent blunt pull-ins on the 6 footer, a backside flip on the bank and a flip up the step up.
Next up was the Over 18’s. Fran Stroud (who is actually from Stroud!) has recently returned to skating after some time out and instead of diffidently skating around the course she went straight into boardsliding down the rail like she’d not been away. She also flipped the house wedge and up the step up with ease. Hot off her best trick win in Wuppertal and selected female skater to accompany the Pixel You Tour to Gran Caneria, Camilla Mullins was also going all out. She too landed a boardslide down the rail. Other tricks included a sweet front crook on the block and a 50-50 along and down the hubba. “French-but-now-living-in-the-UK” Claire Alleaume run consisted of back tails and back smith on the quatre, a heel flip up the gap and a 50-50 on the block, all of which was enough to secure her first place.
Time was moving on and next up was the miniramp comp. With a whole load of people entered for this particular section it is difficult to do justice in a write up to all. However the highlights had to be Emily Russell’s’ disaster combos and front and back tailslides, Silvia Serret’s Alleyoops, Emma Richardson’s backside flip and Julia Bruecklers nose blunt. It was good to see Danielle Gallacher back on the board after time out from breaking her leg. As it was also her birthday on the same day she got a loud rendition through the miniramp comp of ‘Happy Birthday to You.’
Lastly it was the turn of the sponsored riders. Epic traveller Marie Dabbadie of France landed a nice transfer from quatre to flatbank and also landed a big spin on the bank. Emma Richardson was as solid as ever with a 5-0 on the block and a nollie bigspin on the steep bank. Silvia flew around the course at her usual hectic speed landing a couple of bs disasters along the way. Lucy was her consistent self. Tricks included a fakie lipslide on the rail and fakie flip on the bank. This year though it was the turn of Julia Brueckler to take the title. There had been some difference in opinion about the flat bar rail, whilst Julia wanted to set it too it’s highest point others wanted to keep it set at mid level. Julia conceded and opted to skate other things on the course as she found the rail was a little too low for her. However her tricks still flowed and she landed a 50-50 shuv out on the block, bigspins on various obstacles and a lipslide on the rail.
After the presentation of prizes the girls headed down to the local pub for some much needed refreshment. All in all a great turn out and a great day!
A massive thank you has to go out to everyone who has helped in some way to make the day a success: Matt Talbot, Trophy maker Andrew Selby, Marguerite Selby, MC Joff Talbot, DJ’s Wil Izbister and Glen Chapman, Judges Ben Rafferty and Ash Ellis, Filmer Leigh Burton, Title man Rob Catterall, Michelle Rushbrooke and Hannah Bailey (and helpers), Pioneer Skate Park and Staff.
Also to all the sponsors for their continual support towards the jam – DC, Nikita, Animal, Drift Cameras, Rubicon, Lakai, Royal, Rogue, Death Skateboards, Cooler, Expression Riders and Neon Stash.
Results
Sponsored
1st – Julia Brueckler
2nd – Lucy Adams
3rd – Emma Richardson
Over 18
1st – Claire Alleaume
2nd – Camilla Mullins
3rd – Fran Stroud
Under 18
1st – Aimy Brady
2nd – Caitlin Mawhood
3rd – Charlotte Thatcher
Miniramp
1st – Julia Brueckler
2nd – Lucy Adams
3rd Aimy Brady
