Flat-A-Rama S.K.A.T.Es into Bondi

Bowl-A-Rama is back and this year the event sees the inclusion of the highly anticipated Flat-A-Rama, a brand new format being held at the Bondi Open Air Cinema from 6:30pm on Friday February 19.

Flat-A-Rama came into being after Sydney local Michael “Davo” Davidson and some friends decided to hold a small game of s.k.a.t.e with old skating buddies.

“I have been living in Japan for years now and every year when I come home I usually meet up with some friends and have a game of s.k.a.t.e. A bit of a muck-around for some older guys who used to skate,” Davo said.

“Earlier last year after not being home for nearly four years due to starting a family we decided to take a trip home. I spoke to my best friend Teagues about the trip and we decided to try and round everyone up, pick a day and have a game of s.k.a.t.e.”

What started as a small group of mates on Facebook quickly spread and Davo, swamped with indications of interest, decided to open the event to anyone who wanted to participate. The group called the event Flat-A-Rama as a joking tribute to the popular Bondi Bowl-A-Rama.

“There were ex-pros, current pros and guys who may be pro one day too,” Davo said of the crowd attracted to the original Flat-A-Rama.

“A lot of the old boys got knocked out early and retired to drink beer and watch the youngsters battle it out. It was awesome.”

Three months after Flat-A-Rama, organisers of Bowl-A-Rama approached Davo with the idea to combine the two comps into one long weekend of skating action.

“Flat-A-Rama is an official comp now,” Davo said. “I am sure that the next one is going to be bigger and better than the first.”

The rules of S.K.A.T.E are simple. A player chooses a skateboarding trick, and performs or fails to land the trick. If successful, the trick is set. No trick may be set more than once by the same person.

The other players must match the trick or receive a letter from “S” to “E” [S.K.A.T.E.] Each skater gets three attempts at each trick. Players are knocked out when they reach “E”. The last skater standing is the winner.

Bowl-A-Rama will heat up Bondi Beach skate park on February 20.

– By Liam Kinkead