On your birthday, it really is all fun and games – at least for Cameron Culver, who won the HammerFest skateboarding title on his 15th birthday on Aug. 21.
“It was really fun skating with my homies on my birthday,” said Culver, who beat out five other competitors in the fifth annual best trick contest.
It wasn’t totally easy for him, though. He had some tough challengers throughout the afternoon.
“Texas was kind of scary to compete against,” Culver admitted, referring to co-competitor Texas Mickey, who came in second overall in the competition.
It’s not the first win for the Prince Rupert teen, who has participated in most of the previous contests, and he says he will definitely be back next year to defend his title.
Culver says his signature trick would be a hard flip, which is a move where you flick the skateboard, so it flips vertically between your legs as you attempt to land on the board mid-air and skate away on all four wheels.
First skateboarding when he was just four years old, Culver likes the social aspect of the sport.
“I just kind of got into it and it just became this thing that I really like to do. So I just stuck with it.”
HammerFest is a free event put on by Loaded Sports every year. The skaters each do runs at a variety of obstacles and attempt their best trick. A panel of judges decide who the winner and runners-up are for each challenge and then an overall winner is decided at the end.
“I think that kids need something to do, like a free event that gets them out of their shell and out of the house,” said organizer Steve Newman. “It’s nice to showcase the talent in town too… and get everybody together and have something fun to do.”
Prizes were handed out for first, second and third place for each obstacle, as well as overall winners. Since Culver won – or tied to win – each obstacle, he took home quite a handful of prizes.