Bright blue skies at a warm 27°C, over 40 registered skaters from young to old, funky sounds, the beer chilled and the bratwurst sizzling on the grill - the conditions for the first NIKIN Skate Contest at Hammerpark Lenzburg could hardly be better. All profits will then be passed on to our tree planting partner One Tree Planted and invested in planting trees worldwide.
On a late summer Sunday afternoon, 9 September 2018, the skate contest organized by NIKIN will take place for the first time. You can sign up for the contest from 11 a.m., but the first skaters are already warming up long before then, curving and jumping over the skateboard facility that was set up under the A1 highway bridge around five years ago.
Slowly all the preparations are completed, the DJ booth installed, the NIKIN store set up, the sausages on the grill and soon the area is filling up more and more with onlookers who are getting ready for the upcoming first run to the funky beats of the two DJs Chuck Boris and Mario.
DJs Chuck Boris and Mario create a great atmosphere with hot tunes.
Speaker Mattia, who guides the 40 or so skaters and the numerous spectators through the contest, heralds the start of the first of two runs at 1 pm on the dot. Each skater is given exactly one minute to show off their skills in the park and convince the three-member jury, John, Ralph and Bruce. The free participation offers the audience a large field of different age groups and skate types who compete with each other and make the contest all the more attractive. From 11 to 30-year-olds and from German to French-speaking Swiss skaters, everything is represented and therefore ensures a diverse competition and a great atmosphere among all participants. Fortunately, numerous skaters from the NIKIN Teamriders are also represented. Only the surprisingly hot September sun is a bit of a problem, but with plenty to drink and a place in the shade, the contest can still be enjoyed to the full.
From young to old - the variety makes the competition extremely exciting.
After the first two runs, which have already provided quite a spectacle, and a short break, the skaters qualified for the final prepare for their two final runs of 45 seconds each at around 5 pm. In the sweltering heat, the TreeCaps in the store are in high demand and thirst and hunger ensure that the barbecue and fridge are running at full speed throughout.
The final rounds once again proved to be a tough competition between the finalists, but four of them stood out and won over the jury, ultimately winning the first NIKIN Skate Contest in Lenzburg, Aargau. Third place went to 16-year-old Noel Schärer, second place was shared by Martin Rechtsteiner and Lucas Bigün and first place went to Lino Häfeli from Aarau, who amazed the spectators with an incredible jump over the park fence. The "Best Trick" was again won by Lucas Bigün with a "Trick Fakie Cab Flip".
The winners of the NIKIN Skate Contest 2018 from left to right: Noel Schärer, Lino Häfeli, Lucas Bigün and Martin Rechtsteiner together with speaker Mattia Zehnder.
The first NIKIN Skate Contest was a huge success and was a great pleasure for everyone involved. Lots of passion, action and good humor made this day very special. We would like to thank all the tireless helpers, all the spectators who found their way to Lenzburg despite the bad weather and of course the numerous skaters, without whom the contest would not have been possible.
We are already looking forward to the second round of the NIKIN Skate Contest next year, probably at the same time and in the same place, and hope that we will then perhaps be able to welcome some female skaters ;-)
The final ranking list of all participants in the NIKIN Skate Contest 2018 in Lenzburg:
