Berrics this, Maloof that! Sponsored by Monster here, presented by Redbull there… Comps these days are are a dime a dozen, turns out skateboarding is big business, and these days it’s more competitive than ever. I’m usually one to ditch the park and hit the streets. But every so often there comes along something unique, something rather epic, and something refreshingly different from the aforementioned. Australia’s best skateboarders stranded on an Island for the day? Genius!
Morgan Campbell and Andrew Currie at SbA have got a paradise for your skateboarding eyes just around the corner, Christmas really is coming early this year! The Island is put together by some of the most legit minds in Australian skateboarding all for the benefit of the local scene. If you’re in the area come December 10, or have the ability to be sure you will be in the area on the day, then get your mind blown by Australia’s best skateboarders on none other than Cockatoo Island!
Turbo Crumpet interviews Morgan Campbell for Butter Goods.
TC – So you have been working for SbA for a while right? What does your job entail?
MC – I take care of PR, all the web content and judging for the SbA comp series.
TC – I hear there are a few Sand Gropers in the comp. Which Western Australian’s do you expect to see out there?
MC – Confirmed West Coasters include Alex Campbell, Harry Clark, Phil Marshall and Barry Mansfield.
TC – What are you expecting from Alex Campbell?
MC – It is always gold. I’m thinking massive floaters; ninja flips and of course the best Howard grind in the biz. He will kill all aspects of the course. Reckon he will have some ridiculous bank to ledge action.
TC – What do you think Harry Clark will bring to the course?
MC – As you all probably know, Harry is a total all rounder. He will have something for every single bit of the course. There might be a nose wheelie or a power wallie thrown in the mix. He will kill the doorstops and the China Bank. The doorstops are the strange wallie objects on top of the centre piece. They were my idea, but they were named by Doctor Jay. I hope people like them. I think at a glance the look pointless. But once you have a think about it you can skate am as wallie sliders, kicker into the banks, fatty to flatties, or slappy curbs.
TC – How bout Phil Marshall?
MC – Phil is great. He has a really good eye and some serious power. I think he will also live for the doorstops, and have some left of field rail tricks too.
TC – What do you reckon Barry Mansfield will offer our retinas?
MC – Barry is lucky. He can do whatever he wants on a skateboard. If Barry is in the zone dudes wont know what hit ‘em. I guess in a situation like The Island (or any comp for that matter) being able to make every trick every single time is a bonus.
TC – So it is on Cockatoo Island right? How the hell do you get a skate course onto an Island? Do you have an SbA boat?
MC – Yep Cockatoo is a heratige-listed island in the middle of Sydney Harbour. You are better off talking to our logistics manager on this one. I’m pretty sure we have the use of several barges. But yeah it is mad hectic when you think about it. Every single thing from the tents, to the course, to the barricades to the skaters has to be brought by boat. Makes you wonder how the hell Kid Zoom built a house out there.
TC – How was the course designed?
MC – Basically Andrew Currie (who obviously needs no introduction, but is the event manager) went out there in the early days of Cockatoo being finalized as the destination. He had a look at the area and then went about designing a course. He drew up the centrepiece and end ramps. Then he came down to Melbourne and we had an inspired meeting on our ping-pong table. We studied real street spots, counted bricks, paced out steps and had fun with the space that we had to work with. We didn’t want it to simply be a carcass toss. We wanted flow, and elements of street and some, but minimal transition. I think the most transtion-based obstacle is the China Bank. So after the ping-pong table meet we finished the drawings, had another site visit and gave ‘em to Darren White from Convic who drew ‘em all up dandy-likes. Between Andrew, Darren and I we almost have a 100 years of skateboarding experience so it is pretty good to work together.
So after the ping-pong table meet we finished the drawings, had another site visit and gave ‘em to Darren White from Convic who drew ‘em all up dandy-likes. Between Andrew, Darren and I we almost have a 100 years of skateboarding experience so it is pretty good to work together. And I should mention that unless it was for the vision of GM Glenn Walker we would not have this location for the Pro/Am final. So hats of to Glenn-burger.
