Quiksilver Bowlriders presented by Vans Australian Qualifier

(Monday, 26^th May 2008):  Sydney skateboarder Corbin Harris has claimed the Quiksilver Bowlriders presented by Vans Australian qualifying event held at Elanora, on Queensland’s Gold Coast on the weekend to earn himself a wildcard entry and airfares to Europe to compete in the prestigious international final scheduled for Malmo, Sweden in June.

Proving to be one Australia’s best bowl skaters, Harris made it his second consecutive Bowlriders win - outclassing 45 participants in the sponsored division with some ripping lines, airs and blunt variations to claim the top-prize.

Jackson Pilz (Sunshine Coast, Qld) came in second, pulling nose grinds up the extension and clean, big airs in the event that also boasted the first ever full-pipe competition in the country.

Gold Coaster John Dickenson was the highest placed local in third after ripping the park to pieces with clean back smiths and long flowing lines, and Trevor Ward finished fourth.

Harris was clearly pleased with his back-to-back wins.

“I’m obviously really stoked, especially to get it a second year in a row. It’s really good knowing I get to go back to Malmo again to compete against the best guys in the world,” said Harris.

“There is A LOT of good guys over there and there are plenty of locals who skate that place every day, so to get over there and only have one or two days to practice is tough but was good to get there last year – it’s pretty much a concrete paradise, one of the best parks to skate in the world,” he explained.

Highly touted favourite Renton Millar (Melbourne) skated well all day but was taken out in a collision during the “Texas Death Match”, one of the most exciting formats of the day that saw 12 finalists skate simultaneously, whipping the crowd into a frenzy as the riders followed each other, crossed paths, aired over each other and skated with pure spontaneity.

“The 12 man final was probably one of the most intense finals I’ve been in, even more intense than the Bondi Bowlarama (held Feb 22- 24 earlier this year),” continued Harris.

“There is a few blinde spots in the park at Elanora which meant a few guys walked away with injuries. But with 12 guys going bananas for 15 minutes – you can’t go wrong. The crowd was loving every minute, everyone was screaming.”

Harris credited the minor placegetters, standouts Jackson Pilz for his frontside nose grinds, Todd Shirley’s backside smith grind on the big wall and last but not least, Jack Fardell.

“Jack’s hair style was a standout of the day for sure,” joked Harris.

Big props goes out to additional Sponsors of the event Vans, SLAM magazine and Spitfire.

Official Results – Quiksilver Bowlriders presented by Vans - Australian Qualifier

Sponsored Division

^1st Corbin Harris (tickets to Sweden and wildcard into Quiksilver Bowlriders)

^2nd Jackson Pilz ($750)

^3rd John Dickenson ($500)

^4th Trevor Ward ($400)

^5th Andrew Currie ($300)

Unsponsored Division

1^st Jesse Noonan

2^nd Bugs Fardell

3^rd Jonathan Shwan

4^th Tim Kelly