Cade Wison-Russ » Lipslide

The kids were killing it on Saturday at the 2011 Cheapskates Canterbury Skateboarding Regionals. 46 Competitors battled it out for automatic qualification into the Nationals later in the month as well as over $3000 worth of product up for grabs.

Skaters hailed from as far as Dunedin and even the West Coast to compete in this year’s event. Some amazing skateboarding took place and over 300 people came to enjoy the action.

With 22 competitors in the 13 & Unders, it was great to see that skateboarding has a bright future down here in the South. None could compare to the bag of tricks Cade Wilson-Russ brought over from the coast who ended up taking home top spot in this division. Dan Kelcher set the record for most tricks nailed in one minute as he blazed around the street course taking 2nd, and Daniel Bridgeman from Dunno’s killed it with cleanness taking 3rd.

The 16 & Unders put on a good show but it was PJ Wybrow from Dunedin who took 1st place with clean, consistent tricks all day long. A special shout out to Nick Butcher who qualified for the finals but wrecked himself on the rail – good luck with your surgery mate.

After this the Open Mens threw down some gnarly hammers throwing the judges into a heated debate. Fortunately for those entered James Kingston was out with a injury so last years 16 & under champ Jack ‘The Darganator’ Dargan deservedly took first place, followed by local Will Hobbs and ‘out of no where’ – Shaun Burgess the only skater from Ashburton took 3rd.

The Best trick competition threw the crowd into a frenzy with stunt after stunt on the rail, hubba and drop. 17 year old Temuka ripper, Billy McLachlan stepped up with a Bigspin flip followed by a Backside 180 Nose grind to seal the deal. Other amazing tricks worth a mention were Dargy’s nollie nose grind down the hubba and Sean’s kicky frontboard on the rail.

All up another epic regional skate comp. Cheers to those who travelled from out of town and big ups to the sponsors who made this event possible – Cheapskates, Vans, Thunder, Baker, Bones, Volcom and Skullcandy.

Well done to the Cheapies team skaters who placed – Jack Dargan, Dan Kelcher, Daniel Bridgman and also Hannah Kennedy who took first in the girls.

Andy Brown spent the entire day behind the lens, be sure to check out the photos below…

Results

13 & Under
1st » Cade Wilson-Russ (Greymouth)
2nd » Dan Kelcher
3rd » Daniel Bridgeman (Dunedin)

16 & Under
1st » PJ Wybrow (Dunedin)
2nd » Tom Galligan
3rd » Isaak Calvert (Greymouth)

Open
1st » Jack Dargan
2nd » Will Hobbs
3rd » Sean Burgess (Ashburton)

Girls
1st » Hannah Kennedy
2nd » Mikayla Gilmore

Saul Titheridge » FS 180 down the death drop

Niwa Warner » Tre flip

Daniel Bridgeman » Varial heel

Jordan Kidd » Melon

Dan Kelcher » Boardslide

Dan Kelcher » Crail

Ryan Helm » 5-0

Nick Butcher » BS 180 down to the flat

Nick Butcher » Badge of commitment

Josh Stewart » FS 180 over the rail

Tom Galligan » BS Nose grind

Josh Bamford » Crooked grind

Will Hobbs » Bluntslide

Ben McConnell » Switch back tail

Billy McLachlan » Front board

Andrew ‘Chunks’ Norton » Back tail

Jack Dargan » Front board

PJ Wybrow » Varial heel

Isaak Calvert » 5-0

Tane Campbell » Lipslide across and down

Tane Campbell » 5-0

Vinnie Bolt » BS Disaster

Joe ‘Sass’ Hill » 5-0

Billy McLachlan » FS Nosegrind

Eru Tutaki » Bigspin to frontboard

Joe ‘Sass’ Hill’ » Nosegrind

Sean Burgess » Overcrooks

Sean Burgess » Gap to lipslide

From the Best Trick Comp…

Lindsay Bae » Boneless

Cade Wilson-Russ » Noseblunt

Sean Burgess » Kickflip to frontboard

Prizes…

Best Trick Comp » Billy McLachlan

Girl’s open » Mikayla and Hannah

13 & under » Dan, Cade, and Daniel

16 & under » Tom, PJ, and Isaak

Men’s open » Sean, Will, and Jack

Goodies

… and more goodies