Surf X Skate 2019

SURF X SKATE 2019 A HUGE SUCCESS!

Low Pressure (Donghe), WaGaLiGong (Dulan) and Green Skate Shop (Taitung City) teamed up to hold a surf and skate event that would bring surfers and skaters together. In Taiwan, the 2 groups generally do not mix. Time to put an end to that. The 2019 Surf X Skate event was held at Jinzun on April 4th and 5th. Skaters and surfers from Taipei, Taitung, Kaohsiung and Kenting showed up to do battle in 3 divisions: Street skating, mini-ramp and surf. They also held a game of SKATE just for the hell of it.

On the first day of the event, the waves were firing, giving the surfers small ripable waves to play with. Luckily the forecasted rain stayed away, allowing the skaters from other cities to test out the brand new ramp that had been set up only the night before. The Taipei boys immediately showed their dominance in the skate division. Frontside flips, blunt fakies, blunt fingerflip to fakie, pivots to fakie – the list of tricks was endless. The action on the ramp showed how far skating in Taiwan has progressed.

Surf X Skate 2019

There seemed to be three distinct groups of board riders: the hardcore, second generation surfers, who don’t skate at all. Second, the hardcore skaters from Taipei. Skating is their life and it’s pretty much all they know. Mostly living in Taipei, a huge concrete metropolis, these guys have a whole city in their backyard. And lastly, the crossover guys – they can skate and surf. Mostly uber young, second generation surfers. Gabriel Gras (Brazil/USA), although not super young anymore, was ripping in both surf and mini ramp divisions. As were the little Kenting rippers who couldn’t have been older than 15.

Big ups to Jun and Ibu from Low pressure in Donghe, Alang from Green Skate Shop in Taitung City, Yong-yi from WaGaligong and Mark (WGLG surf instructor and skater himself) for MCing the event. Kui for helping with keeping the whole thing running smoothly and Ian and Tom for judging, heatwave and all. And of course, all the skaters and surfers who made the effort and showed up. Such a cool vibe and awesome camaraderie between all involved. This was definitely the type of grassroots event WaGaLiGong is proud to be part of. We all had a blast!

Surf X Skate 2019