Skate Festival returns to Wellington in 2022

Skateboarding Festival, BOWLZILLA, is being held at Waitangi Park on 29th October and in addition to the main event there will also be a free women’s learn to ride clinic, and ARTZILLA, a New Zealand skate community art show.

Wellington City Council has partnered with Miryoku Agency, Wellington Skateboarding Association, Skateboarding New Zealand, and Redhead or Dead Events to bring this festival to the capital. Radio Active is sponsoring the event this year.

With COVID-19 having prevented the festival from taking place over the last couple of years, the BOWLZILLA skate festival is on track to be bigger than ever before attracting skaters from across New Zealand and other countries.

Kiwi skaters missed out on the Tokyo Olympics because they were unable to earn international ranking points due to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic – but Paris 2024 is the next goal for one of New Zealand’s top skateboarders, 27-year-old Krysta Ashwell.

Ashwell shares “I took up skateboarding later in life because everyone thought it was a boy’s sport – but they were wrong, and still are.

“It was so great to see so many women on the Olympic stage showing off their skate skills at Tokyo this year, which will hopefully boost the growing numbers of women in the sport both here and overseas.

“New Zealand competitions are such a good vibe, especially having the local support, and it feels more inclusive and there’s a real supportive and fun feel about them – so everyone should come along and be a part of it at BOWLZILLA this year.”

Skateboarding New Zealand is now a High Performance Sport New Zealand investment partner, receiving funding to go towards the campaign for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Radio Active is sponsoring the event this year. Visit BOWLZILLA and follow @bowlzilla for more information. 

Image: Krysta Ashwell. Credit: Wellington City Council