Vincenza, Italy – Murder Bowl mania

I’ve been following closely Generation Waste and Murder skateboards since I met them in January.

The Italian scene seems as rich and happy as the country seems poor and in deep shit, so when I saw the Murder bowl contest ad, my bag was ready.

Being in Italy is always something special for me: I love the people, the history, the architecture, the food, well.. the country. This time didn’t disappoint me – Giulio, Cristiano, Alberto Scattolin and their crew set the contest in Vicenza, north east of Italy within a throw’s stone from Venezia.

Saturday’s warm up session at the concrete bowl started early with Oliver Gordon and his austrian mates, Josh “Skreech” Sandoval coming from his new home in Germany, Ross McGouran from England and a lot of Italian rippers like Aref Koushesh and Jacopo Carozzi from Milano, Il Baro the more English of all Italians and more.

Austrian dude. Frontside transfer.

Hannes Bauhofer. Frontside transfer.

The session roared from 12 to 10pm, the crew added a little fun adding a swimming pool ladder and a vert wall. The ladder saw plenty of action from seasoned backyard pool rider Skreech and even a double’s line with Ross the boss.

Josh "Skreech" Sandoval. Backside air.

Josh “Skreech” Sandoval. Backside air.

The pool coping on top of the wall was harder to master, my guess was the riders were saving their best lines for the contest… Paolo was seen doing a Salba like rock N roll on the clamshell. While Il Baro and Christopher from Austria were playing games of S.K.A.T.E. in the shallow end, Aref Koushesh and Jacopo Carozzi were ripping all around.. what a great day!

Aref Koushesh. Stalefish.

Aref Koushesh. Stalefish.

Jacopo Carozzi. Frontside kickflip.

Jacopo Carozzi. Frontside kickflip.

Skreech backside air over Ross McGouran hippy jumping the stairs.

Skreech backside air over Ross McGouran hippy jumping the stairs.

Giulio and his crew then took us to a sweet family restaurant, Vicolo Benvenuto de Campesai; the best food at a ridiculously low price! The Saturday night party raged late in the night with three hard core bands playing for free! The italians knows how to party.

Everyone had a hard time to wake up on Sunday, but managed to be at the spot by 1:30pm.

The Murder team had been busy setting up the barriers, the fence, the bar tent and all… Young ripper Ivan Federico and other kids showed great promises in their warm up runs while riders from towns around were showing up.

DJ Mauro’s music was sick and everything was in place for a great afternoon… Helas for everyone! At two o’clock sharp the rain started to pour! Nooooooo! The riders and the crowd rushed under the tents and… the fun kept on! In most contests I have been to, rain is the signal to go home, but the Italian spirit of working a way out of everything was there big time!

DJ Mauro has left the building to find some turkish delights, so Skreech took over the scratch machine and had everyone dancing… Giulio disappointed by the cancellation kept his coolness and offered a case of Moretti Beer to all the newfound DJ’s and the skateless time was a blast!

After a while a local proposed a session at his private indoor mini ramp nearby!! Yeahhhhh!

Ultimately, we witnessed some great skateboarding, more drinking and fun and friendship!

Michael Nadler. Salad grind.

Michael Nadler. Salad grind in a local private indoor mini ramp where the session moved after the rain shut down the concrete bowl session.

I want to thank Giulio, Cristiano, Alberto, Andrea and the Murder crew for their kindness and energy, and of course all the skaters and people around this event, the plan is to set up a new date in spring, keep your eyes opened, you don’t want to miss a second chance to go there!

Words and photos by Fred Ferand

Skreech. Rock n roll.

Skreech. Rock n roll on the wood extension.

Ross McGouran. Frontside nosebone over the stairs.

Ross McGouran. Frontside nosebone over the stairs.

Another austrian dude. Frontside transfer.

Hannes Bauhofer. Frontside transfer.

Paolo Busetti. Rock N Roll.

Paolo Busetti. Rock N Roll.

Skreech. One foot to fakie.

Skreech. One foot to fakie.

Alessandro Redaeli. Sweeper.

Alessandro Redaeli. Texas plant.

Rain!

Then came the rain!

Giulio

Giulio

DJ

Renegade DJs raiding the tables

Birra Moretti!

Birra Moretti!

Fred Ferand and friends.

Fred Ferand and friends.

Alberto Scatoni and Ross McGouran

Alberto Scattolin and Ross McGouran finding shelter from the rain

Alberto Scatoni. Frontside ollie.

Alberto Scattolin. Frontside ollie.

Ross McGouran. Backsmith.

Ross McGouran. Backsmith.

Andrea. Melon.

Andrea. Melon.

bowlmania-italy

Bonus photo + video from: Alberto Scattolin

Filippo 'Il Baro' Baronello.  Photo: Alberto Scattolin

Filippo ‘Il Baro’ Baronello. Stalefish over the stairs. Photo: Alberto Scattolin