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Watch “44 Ramps New Brighton Ramp Jam”
Coverage from the 44 Ramps and Gator Skins Beach Blowout Skate Jam at the Duke Festival of Surfing. New Brighton, Christchurch on March 23rd.
Posted 30 May 2024
Three years in is middle age as far as DIYs are concerned. Ōtepoti skaters gathered with the gulls to celebrate crusty seaside fun and their patch by the bay.
We are now entering year three of Fryatt DIY. This is practically middle-aged DIY years. We are enjoying the cycles of life the DIY provides. Our features and groms are being replenished. Skaters of all abilities are acculturating themselves to windswept, cracked surfaces. We have worked ourselves into the fabric of the industrial waterfront. I can happily report that the Southern Black Gull and Kahawai populations are strong.
With all these elements in place, it was time to finally launch the place with a public event. Thanks to a Giddy Up from Craig at Pavement and our filmer/vibes curator Elliot Phillips, we held our inaugural Fryatt Jam. This was a crucial test. Can our anarchic group chat form like Voltron and make a deadline? The results, beautifully captured here by (Flynn and Zach) speak for themselves. We poured a new pump bump thanks to Jonny, Flynn, Sam and Higgy. We even sorted out our trash and whitewashed a few features for some fresh paint from Sean Duffel and Harry Dolan.
The day was exquisite — one of five days a year when the waterfront is windless. Also, people from the Ōtepoti complain if it’s hotter than 17℃. Countless rippers busted out, from Pauly Kauri, Morph, Chey Grace, Byrnesy, Hannah Prout, and Dom Chapman to Danny B.
I hate to be corny and talk about “community,” but this is the big lesson here. If we give everyone a role and outlet, suddenly, we can take up space in the city and get past some of our frustration with council politics. It all kind of snaps into place. Go forth and build.
Photo Gallery by Zach Sullivan
Photo Gallery by Jonny Gilks
Made possible by the generosity of our sponsors:
Common Ground Espresso, New Balance Numeric, After Hours, Independent, Bones and Pavement Store.
Special note from Craig Strong of Pavement Store:
Also, the actual “Giddy up” came via Common Ground wanting to put actual cash towards the event. They kicked in $500 for the bump, $500 for Skater of The Day (Pauly Kauri) and another $1100 for assorted rippers.
Pump bump build photos by Flynn Acworth
