The highlights of the NIKIN Skate Contest 2018 at a glance.
The skate contest organized by NIKIN will take place for the first time on a late summer Sunday afternoon, September 9, 2018. Registration for the contest opens at 11 a.m., but long before that, the first skaters are already warming up, gliding and jumping across the skateboarding facility that was installed under the A1 motorway bridge around five years ago.
Slowly, all the preparations are completed, the DJ booth is installed, the NIKIN shop is set up, the sausages are on the grill and soon the area is filling up with curious spectators who are getting excited for the upcoming first run to the funky beats of the two DJs Chuck Boris and Mario.
DJs Chuck Boris and Mario create a great atmosphere with hot tunes.
At 1 p.m. sharp, speaker Mattia, who leads the approximately 40 skaters and the numerous spectators through the contest, signals the start of the first of two runs. Each skater is given exactly one minute to showcase their skills in the park and impress the three-person jury: John, Ralph, and Bruce. The open participation offers the audience a wide field of different age groups and skate types, who compete against each other, making the contest all the more attractive. From 11 to 30-year-olds and from German-speaking to French-speaking Switzerland, everyone is represented, ensuring a diverse competition and a great atmosphere among all participants. Fortunately, numerous skaters from the NIKIN Teamriders are also in attendance. Only the surprisingly hot September sun is a hindrance, but with plenty to drink and a shady spot, the contest can still be enjoyed to the fullest.
From young to old - the diversity makes the competition extremely exciting.
After the first two runs, which already provided quite a spectacle, and a short break, the skaters who qualified for the finals prepare for their two final runs, each lasting 45 seconds, around 5 p.m. In the sweltering heat, TreeCaps are in high demand in the shop, and thirst and hunger keep the grill and refrigerator running at full speed.
The final rounds once again revealed a fierce competition among the finalists, but four of them stood out and won over the judges, ultimately winning the first NIKIN skate contest in Lenzburg, Aargau. Third place went to 16-year-old Noel Schärer, second place was shared by Martin Rechtsteiner and Lucas Bigün, and we warmly congratulate Lino Häfeli from Aarau on taking first place, stunning the spectators with an incredible jump over the park fence. Lucas Bigün again took home the "Best Trick" award with a "Trick Fakie Cab Flip."
The winners of the NIKIN Skate Contest 2018 from left to right: Noel Schärer, Lino Häfeli, Lucas Bigün and Martin Rechtsteiner together with speaker Mattia Zehnder.
The first NIKIN Skate Contest was a huge success and brought great joy to everyone involved. A lot of passion, action, and good humor made this day extra special. We would like to thank all the tireless helpers, all the spectators who made their way to Lenzburg despite the bad weather, and of course the numerous skaters, without whom the contest would not have been possible.
We're already looking forward to the second round of the NIKIN Skate Contest next year, probably at the same time and place, and hope that we might be able to welcome some female skaters then, too. ;-)
The final ranking of all participants in the NIKIN Skate Contest 2018 in Lenzburg:
