Workin. Judgin. Getting easy. photo: Dave Durfey/skatetheory.com
Manchester, New Hampshire has not had a skateboarding contest since the 1980’s and the skatepark in the city has been abandoned by the locals due to poor construction and violence. Despite these factors, a local skate scene thrives in southern New Hampshire, and just as a new skate boutique opened this past month on Hanover Street, it was perfect timing to bring the skate community together.
Nate Jackson skated strong all day. photo: LAustin
Enter Red Bull Manny Mania, a contest with an emphasis on technical skating as well as having fun. New Manchvegas shop, Embasi (expanding into Manchester from their first location in West Lebanon), celebrated its Grand Opening on Saturday, June 28th by partnering with Red Bull to set up skateable terrain in Arms Park on the river.
The weather all around New England was rainy, but it held off in downtown Manch for the duration of the contest. Sixty-five competitors showed up to skate the Red Bull custom-built many pad, a three part box consisting of a c box, an up down, and a flat box with a mini curb a third of the way down its length. There was a huge showing by the NH and greater New England skate community; skaters ranged from 10 years old to a group of 30-somethings, and came from as far away as Rutland, Vermont and Springfield, Massachusetts. The sessions began around 1pm and for the next few hours, the crowd was entertained by heats of skaters pulling out consistently technical and creative tricks.
Dillon Buss running the manny pad. photo: LAustin
The judges narrowed down the groups and in semis the skaters really stepped it up, throwing the kind of technical trickery that made the wise and hardened judges literally jump from their seats shouting. Mark Nicholson was consistently skating well, and last year’s Manny Mania Boston winner, Marshall Heath, was attempting tons of very challenging switch tricks, one standout being a switch heelflip manual. Dillon Buss was shredding every part of the pad, coming in with kickflip nose manuals, kickflip manual fs 180, and a couple grind in shuv-it out variations. Buss got tons of cheers from the crowd with fast and big wallies off the curb on the flat box.
By the time finals rolled around, the five skaters left were beat, but still skating like they were fresh. Marshall landed a nose manny nollie big spin and Nate Jackson was just killing it all over the place, landing too many tricks to name. Kyle Burroughs was skating super strong as well. But, it was Buss, who had come all the way up to Manchester from Cape Cod, who just kept landing everything (including a sick nose manual shuv-it manual), hitting a wide variety of tech tricks and big ollies over the curb.
Results:
1st – Dillon Buss
2nd – Nate Jackson
3rd – Kyle Burroughs
Best Trick – Nate Jackson, ollie north manual trey flip out
A huge thanks to everyone who came out and supported Manny Mania—Chris, Nate and Keith from Embasi, Nelson for providing verbiage, Dave Durfey for supporting the local scene and taking photos, Surfolas for the photos and food and Lotus Entertainment for providing music.
Check the video:
The Celtics were fresh off a victory in the NBA finals and still found time to skate the manny pad. photo: Surfolas
Nelson blew my spot at least three times by telling the crowd I hadn't slept the night before, but he and Matt gave me a pair of frogskins later that night as an MVP award. photo: LAustin
Tall tees start young in Manchvegas. photo: Surfolas
This kid had style beyond his age. photo: Surfolas
Marshall Heath was last year's winner in Boston. He spent most of his time Saturday skating switch, nbd.
action action action. photo: LAustin
photo: Surfolas
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