Backstory

The ramp was redesigned from the ground up, leaving the old container-based layout behind in favour of a more traditional build that opened up better lines, longer grinds, and more fluid skating. The work was carried out by a large volunteer crew comprising skaters, builders, engineers, teachers, BMX riders, artists, and local supporters, who gave their time over weeks of planning, long days, and multiple weekends to dismantle, transport, and rebuild the ramp, section by section.

It wasn’t a simple job. It involved flat tyres and some big splinters, wasp nests and sandy sausages, borrowed tools and a lot of improvisation. Music played constantly across the site, and long days sometimes stretched past 7 pm, with some volunteers putting in the big 12-hour shifts to keep things moving. By the time the event rolled around, the ramp had already lived through a huge story of sweat, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Event Weekend Vibe

Duckbrewe 6 carried the energy of the rebuild straight into the festival. Skaters took over the ramp across the three-day festival, with competition heats, practice sessions, free skating, and side events like the basketball and limbo comp, creating moments that connected the skate whānau with the wider festival audience. The skate competition was even moved from day two to day one due to rain, and the skaters took it in their stride. On day two, the party didn’t stop; just a few more beer cans entered the chat, and the dancing shoes got muddy in the wet sand.

Duckbrewe 6 Comp Results

Men’s Street

1st – Pauly Kauri
2nd – Josh Bamford
3rd – Sam Novak

It was a shame to lose the concrete slab that was poured at the previous site, but with some improvisation and tweaking, a ‘street’ course was created and then shredded to pieces! Four heats whittled down to one final with some of the South Island’s finest.

The judges had a tough time calling the top 3 in the Men’s final; it was such a close call with everyone bringing their own flavour to the mix. It was a pleasure to watch everyone throw down.

Sam Novak brought huge pop and stylish, tweaked tricks off the kicker. Josh Bamford couldn’t stop jumping off the roof; he bonelessed and ollied into the small 4ft-wide quarter pipe multiple times throughout the session (Absolute madness). Pauly brought the big smile and big tricks, and was super consistent through the finals, which ended with him taking out the top spot.

Women’s Street

1st – Rachel Shirley
2nd – Rose Jenkins
3rd – Elly Townshend

2025/6 saw a similar crew of girls come out and shred. They all looked like they had a great time skating together and having fun. Elly made the mission up from Queenstown and is the Instagram edit queen, well worth checking out! Rose is always 100% committed and took some decent slams, eventually landing half-cab and fakie shuv off the drop. Rachel skated everything on the course and landed most tricks on the day. It’s been great to see her progression over the past couple of years.

Men’s Ramp

1st – Jack Woodrow
2nd – Tim Cunneen
3rd – Willy Bartlett

The finals were stacked, with some of Christchurch’s best transition skaters amping each other up; it was bound to be a big one. I’ll be honest, my memory might be a tad hazy from the beers, but here are some of the tricks I remember – John Routledge found some time to stop talking and got his hips lubed up enough to get out the old faithful fs grab and a couple of indys to disaster. Bamford was yet again jumping off the top and bonelessed from the top deck into the 5ft end, skating at high speed everywhere. Moonboots was trying all kinds of technical wizardry that didn’t seem possible, from sweepers to staple guns. Noah has one of the best sugarcanes in the business, and Roper was fighting illness but still managed a big hurricane in the deep and a couple back tails.

At one point, I thought I might have had one too many drinks, but was lucky enough to make it onto the 3rd step of the podium. I had so much fun skating with everyone! In the second spot, we saw a Canterbury OG and previous winner, Tim Cunneen, ending his run with the signature kicky back 5 on demand. Jack Woodrow takes the top spot on his comeback to skating. I remember seeing wicked back tailside to fakie and all around good style. Jack is 2 years on from a bad leg break, many hours in the gym, and he’s back enjoying skating, and the result here shows!

Left to right: Men’s Ramp – 2nd Tim Cunneen, 3rd Will Bartlett, 1st Jack Woodrow.

Women’s Ramp

1st – Rose Jenkins
2nd – Rachel Shirley
3rd – Elly Townshend

Rose Jenkins (Left), Rachel Shirley (Right), Elly Townshend (Middle).

The girls always enjoy skating together and constantly encourage each other to try new tricks. They put on another show for the crowds and had fun in the process. Always keen to push herself and constantly learning new tricks! Rachel has skated really well in 2025 and had a few wins under her belt; coming in second was still an excellent achievement. Rose had a few moves up the sleeve with nosestalls, halfcab rocks and fakie 50s coming with ease. It’s great to see that women’s skating in Canterbury is thriving.

After the festival, we held a whānau day in January, opening the ramp to U18 skaters and giving younger riders the chance to experience the new setup before it returned to hibernation. The session was heavy, with James Mulder boneless-ing off the pergola roof while Jake Hunter Harris cleared it with an ollie and landed a kickflip rock to fakie. Skye put on a clinic with a frontside lipslide and a feeble to fakie, Cooper Mulder locked in a lien to tail, and Hazza Hayden Collins flew through a frontside air.

​With the smell of a sausage sizzle in the air, the vibe was pure chaos in the best way—dirt bikes and BMXers joined the mix while the parent skaters hopped on to shred alongside the groms.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements go to George Read and Johny Routledge for MCing, Simon Granville and Josh Parker for judging, the festival team for hosting and support, every volunteer who helped move, rebuild, prep, cook, clean, and pack down, and all the prize sponsors who quietly back the event year after year. Duckbrewe exists because so many people step up, day after day, and their energy and commitment make it all possible.

About the Numbers

The scale of the rebuild and the resources involved are significant. Weeks of planning, multiple weekends, and long days on site, combined with hundreds of volunteer hours, donated or discounted materials, tools, and expertise, made it possible. Around 88 volunteers helped during the move and rebuild phase, with over 100 people contributing by the end of the festival and pack down.

The ramp was constructed largely from “legacy timber,” including recycled sections, bearers, handrails, and seating, supplemented by new timber where needed. None of this could have happened without the steadfast support of key partners: Rolling Meadows Festival, which provides funding, tickets, logistical support, and a world-class festival environment year after year, and Rangiora ITM, which supplies countless amounts of timber to make the ramp possible. Together with volunteers and prize sponsors, these contributions transformed the vision into a permanent city-edge ramp that continues to energise Canterbury’s skate community.

A Few Words from Jack

Every year at Duckbrewe is ambitious, yet somehow it all comes together. From the first edition at the brewery, through several years in scenic North Canterbury with the container ramp, and now back on home turf near Ōtautahi, it’s been one hell of a ride — and there’s always more to come. I owe a huge thank-you and a debt of gratitude to everyone who made it possible. Leading the project on-site every day was incredible. Still, it could never have happened without the skaters, builders, volunteers, and friends who came together to bring Duckbrewe 6 to life — from dismantling and moving, through the rebuild, to finally seeing it skated at the festival. This ramp shows what a community of legends and passionate locals can achieve when they join forces with energy and focus. I feel lucky to have been along for the ride, and I can’t wait to see where we go next.

Sponsors & Supporters

Festival & Timber Support: Rolling Meadows Festival, Rangiora ITM, Hunter Civil, Tyanhaus, CUBA, BAT Structures, JOHN inc., JW Fencing, 4×4 Mowing, The Tree Guys
Skate & Lifestyle Prize Sponsors: SUB180, Skullcandy, Pit Viper, Bones Wheels, ACE Trucks, Collab Distribution, Outsiders Skate Store, Propaganda Streetwear & Skate, Tide and Timber, The Coff Shop, Disciple of Discipline, Od Tattoos, Laneway Tattoos, MNTN, Evergreen Workshop
MCs & Event Hosts’ Businesses: Cheapskates Skate Skool — George Read, Self-Contained Testing — John Routledge 
Media Partner: Manual Magazine

Duckbrewe exists because of the ongoing generosity and support of this incredible network — from festival hosts to timber suppliers, prize sponsors, MCs, and media partners — each playing a crucial role in making the event possible.