Junior Jam podium from Charm City
All photos courtesy of Alli Sports
GrindTV Newswire, Via Alli Sports: (Burr Ridge, Ill. - July 26, 2010)Events this past weekend produced three more winners for the Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals, which will be held at Salt Lake City's EnergySolutions Arena September 17-19. Baltimore's Charm City hosted a skate park competition with skate-apparel company Zoo York providing additional sponsorship, where Tyson Bowerbank took the top spot. In Sacramento, Bradley Elias won 28th and B's first Gatorade Free Flow Tour competition in skate park, and Jason Lopez will move on to the BMX park finals after winning the final event to ever be held at Ramp Rats' Petaluma park.
Fifteen-year-old Bowerbank made the long trip from Sandy, Utah to Baltimore, Md. worthwhile. He earned the skate park victory at Charm City with a final jam session full of bangers, including a smith grind kickflip out, smith grind frontside flip out, a huge 360 off the pyramid, and a bigspin front board kickflip out.
"This contest was really good, the kids here rip," Bowerbank said. "I have been to the finals the past three years and it is always a blast. It's cool because a bunch of my friends from all over the country come to S-L-C for the weekend. I can't wait."
Bowerbank is a four-time winner on the Gatorade Free Flow Tour, having won stops in Arizona in 2006 and 2008, and in Kentucky in 2009. In last year's Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals he placed fifth overall.
"I think today went great. Good thing we had all that Gatorade for the competitors," Charm City manager, Jason Chapman, said. "I went to the finals last year with a few team skaters and was really impressed, so we are always down to host a Gatorade contest."
On the other side of the country, 16-year-old Elias from Fresno, Calif. earned the skate park victory at Sacramento's 28th and B with his consistency and smooth flow over the entire course. His final jam session showcased a back lip on the bump to bar, a mellon to smith on the eight-foot quarter, and a kickflip indy over the pyramid.
"I can't believe I won, it doesn't seem real," Elias said. "I'm so excited for the Finals in S-LC."
"Everything ran really smooth, and we couldn't have asked for a more well put together competition," 28TH and B manager, Matt Pailes, said. "Thanks to Gatorade for all the generosity and park support."
Sunday's event at Petaluma Calif.'s Ramp Rats saw 18-year-old Lopez from Richmond, Calif. earn the BMX park victory. His jaw-dropping runs during the final comprised of a 360 double whip, front flip, triple whip, and a 720 whip.
"The Finals are going to be fun," Lopez said. "I'm going to be busy with park and dirt, but I can't wait."
BMX park will be Lopez's second discipline for the 2010 Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals after taking third place at the Windell's BMX dirt competition earlier this month. Due to the three-stop nature of the Gatorade Free Flow Tour's dirt discipline, the top three competitors earn a spot in the Finals.
"Seven years of my life passed at Petaluma Ramp Rats," Ramp Rats manager, Mike Krnaich, said. "Going out with the Gatorade Free Flow Tour for the sixth year was the best way to end an era here."
With the win, Bowerbank, Elias, and Lopez all earn an automatic bid into the Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals that will take place at the Dew Tour's Toyota Challenge, September 16-19, 2010.
Gatorade Free Flow Tour - Charm City Results
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Baltimore, Md.
Skate Park
1. Tyson Bowerbank, Sandy, Utah. 2. Miles Willard, Towson, Md. 3. KDN Maxwell, Baltimore, Md. 4. Tyler Thomas, Baltimore, Md. 5. Brandon Strosser, Lancaster, Pa.
Gatorade Free Flow Tour - 28TH and B Results
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Sacramento, Calif.
Skate Park
1. Bradley Elias, Fresno, Calif. 2. Dalton Dern, Orlando, Fl. 3. Michael Ruiz, Fresno, Calif. 4. Adam Emery, Manteca, Calif. 5. Trino Mercado, Sacramento, Calif. 6. Ryan Farley, San Jose, Calif.
Gatorade Free Flow Tour - Ramp Rats Results
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Petaluma, Calif.
BMX Park
1. Jason Lopez, Richmond, Calif. 2. Chris Canepa, Fairfield, Calif. 3. Jimmy Ohagan, Petaluma, Calif. 4. Ty Callias, Concord, Calif. 5. Aaron Brewer, Petaluma, Calif. 6. AL-J Javellana, Vacaville, Calif.
The 2010 Gatorade Free Flow Tour includes a total of 30 skateboarding competitions (seven skate vert and 23 skate park) and 17 BMX contests (three BMX dirt and 14 BMX park) at 30 parks across the United States. The winners in each of the 45 competitions will be flown to the Gatorade Free Flow Tour Finals, taking place in conjunction with the Dew Tour's Toyota Challenge, September 16-19. Encompassing the "Flow to Pro" theme that is the cornerstone of the Gatorade Free Flow Tour, the two overall skate champions and the two BMX champions will earn a spot to compete against the pros at the final stop of the 2010 Dew Tour season, October 14-17 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
2010 Registration
All competitions are open to both male and female amateur competitors 21 and younger for all skate and BMX disciplines. There is a $15 entry fee, and all participants under the age of 18 must bring a parent or guardian to the event to sign a liability waiver. Contest registration forms, waivers and detailed information are available ahead of time at gatoradefreeflowtour.com.
