The Cochrane Zero Gravity Skate Park will be booming with talent and tunes July 27, as the second annual Bowl-a-Palooza gets underway.
The yearly skate competition, an event organizers call a “rock n’ roll skateboard jam,” will see Cochrane play host to a number of talented skateboarders from Western Canada, each on the hunt for winner’s share of the prizes, include a cool $1,000.
Local athletes won’t be the only ones taking the stage, Bowl-a-Palooza goers will catch live musical performances from a selection of Western Canadian bands.
“We wanted to showcase some of the incredible skateboarders we have in the area,” said Jordan Kendel, who is organizing the event. “And rock n’ roll and skateboarding just come together naturally.”
Hitting the stage alongside the skate park’s bowl will be bands Trip and Stumble, Falcon and The Tontos.
“You could characterize the music as surf-rock style,” said Kendel. “It’s not punk, it’s not heavy metal — it just flows well with this style of skateboarding.”
The skateboarding action will be what Kendel described as “transitional.”
“This form of skateboarding is about going fast and connecting lines — moving from one side of the bowl to another,” he added.
The event will be raising money for Rock Guitar Shelter, a Calgary-based organization that collects donated guitars and other instruments and provides them — along with music lessons — to qualified children and youth.
Currently, the group is collecting instruments to help kids and established musicians who lost or damaged their gear during last month’s flooding.
Skateboarders of all levels are welcome to enter Bowl-a-Palooza the day of the event. Kendel said there will be a small registration of about $10-$15. Registration starts at 12 p.m.
“People are going to be blown away,” said Kendel. “This is going to be a great event for years to come.”
Admission to Bowl-a-Palooza is free for all-ages.
The skateboarding action is slated to get underway at about 1 p.m., with the first band to hit the stage at 2 p.m.
