One week ago we flew into Copenhagen airport because we had been invited by Vans to Sweden to witness one of the most prestigious and well-known skate contests in the world, the Vans Park Series in Malmö.
There were at least two things that had aroused my enthusiasm about this event days before the whole thing actually took place: First of all, I have never been to Sweden, and secondly, I have never watched any bowl contest on a comparable level of skating before. It soon turned out that this event managed to measure up to my high expectations. The line-up was insane, the crowd hyped and the weather almost a little bit too sunny (for Sweden).

000034260022
CJ Collins is a man (boy) you will hear more about.

IMG_6628

 

000034250031

A chance to see these two in action is a chance you must take!

However, what was really striking me was the fact that nobody of the riders was wearing a helmet or at least knee pads at all (some of the women did), which I really liked because – let’s face it – it makes every trick look even heavier and way more stylish. A fact that unfortunately the youngest and smallest rider CJ Collins painfully had to pay for with a hard slam in the finals. Luckily, he did not get seriously injured (after the contest he skated on).

In the end, Alex Sorgente deservedly took the victory but the crowd’s favorite was clearly once again Malmö’s own Mr. Oskar Rozenberg Hallberg.

Mr. Rosenberg Hallberg in action!
Mr. Rosenberg Hallberg in action!

 

000034260009
If you think Oski was the only local ripping you are mistaken Karl Berglind was out there and placed even higher than Polar’s prodigy.

000034250023

 

000034250030

 

000034250033

 

000034250018
Raven Tershy Crooked grind up and over.

 

000034250032

 

000034250029
Two of Malmö’s finest inhabitants Mr.Stankovic senior and junior.

 

000034250019
Black SOTY aka Ishod Wair.

 

000034260016

 

000034260015

 

000034260014

 

000034260011

 

Photos & Text by Paul Röhrs