Danielle Bostick and her husband Don Bostick (member of the Skateboard Hall of Fame) are the founders of World Cup Skateboarding and organizers of many legendary skateboarding contests since 1994. These include Vancouver’s Slam City Jam, Prague’s Mystic Cup, the Dew Tour, the X-Games and many other events around the world. In some years, the circuit included as many as 24 stages. So it’s been a front-row seat to some of the greatest moments in history over the past 30 years.
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We spoke to Danielle, one of the pioneers of skateboard contests to learn about the history in 6 memorable moments.
1- Bob Burnquist and his Switch Run
2- The Elissa Steamer Controversy
3- First Women’s Bowl Competition at the Mystic Cup in Prague
4- Bucky Lasek Drives a Car in the Skatepark
5- A Village Invaded by Skateboarders
6- A Travel Agency for Skaters
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1- Bob Burnquist and his Switch Run
Bob Burnquist surprises everyone with a switch run and wins the Vert Ramp competition at the 1995 Slam City Jam in Vancouver. “It was the first time Bob Burnquist had won a professional competition on the international circuit, and from then on he dominated contests for years. He took everyone by surprise because nobody knew him. In 1995, Brazilian skaters were not very well known outside their own country. So he caused a huge surprise by winning then and innovating with his switch tricks.
2- The Elissa Steamer Controversy
In the 90s, Elissa Steamer was by far the best female skater, and there was a controversy when she asked to compete in the men’s category. She was indeed of an appropriate caliber to participate, but a major sponsor of the competition objected by insisting that she be entered with the women. Globe, the shoe brand, owned the event, the Globe World Cup in Melbourne, Australia, and with their brand Gallaz, a line of women’s skate shoes, they insisted that the best skater in the women’s category should take part in the competition they sponsored.
Danielle adds, “The group of women competing paved the way for the explosion of talent we are currently witnessing on the global women’s scene. And it was truly amazing.”
3- First Women’s Bowl Competition at the Mystic Cup in Prague
There has always been a girl’s category in street contests, and even if sometimes there was a shortage of participants, the category has always been open and planned into the schedule since the very early 90s. One year between 1995 and 2000, for the Mystic Cup in Prague, there were enough girls to make a category for women, and since then, women have been competing in the bowl on the world circuit. It all started there. A few years later, the arrival of Lyn-Z Adams brought a lot of dynamism to the scene, thanks to her personality and energy.
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4- Bucky Lasek Drives a Car in the Skatepark
Danielle says it was a different time, with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere that could quickly turn chaotic, which is what happened when Bucky Lasek won a full-size truck at the Globe World Cup. He decided to try out his new truck in the skatepark and ride the obstacles, even attempting to climb a quarter pipe, with his wife, Jen Lasek, in the passenger seat. Fortunately, all ended well, and Danielle points out that: “It was a very different context because even though there were cameras, there was less visibility, so it was more crazy. You won’t see this at the Olympics.”
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5- A Village Invaded by Skateboarders
While this anecdote may appear humorous in hindsight, the residents of a quaint village nestled in the French Alps, where athlete accommodations were situated, didn’t quite see the humor when skateboarders descended upon their streets during a competition in Le Grand Bornand, France.
“Everyone who took part in the contests traveled together and knew each other well. They were all young and bursting with excitement to be part of it. Life for the participants was all about skating and partying, so naturally, it got noisy. One evening, the mayor called a meeting and then sent Don into the village with a megaphone to politely request that everyone return to their hotels.”
The event, known as the Le Grand Bornand event (which lasted 2 years), is probably the most legendary of all Euro event stories through time, with countless tales to tell. This is the one where 3 full-sized buses picked the skaters up at the Munster Monster Mastership and transported them to Le Grand Bornand. WCS included. Crazy stories!
6- A Travel Agency for Skaters
Here’s a hint of the historic scale that the discipline was beginning to take on in the late 90s and early 2000s. After a few years, Danielle recounts that a partnership with a travel agency enabled athletes to purchase a “World Cup circuit” package including transport and accommodation during the various contests in Europe. That was the moment when skaters started to travel all over the world on a regular basis to show the best of skateboarding.
Looking back on 30 years of skateboard competition around the world, Danielle reaffirms her commitment and the importance of events alongside the Olympics:
“It’s obvious to us that if the discipline is now integrated into the Olympics, there absolutely must be other high-level, large-scale competition networks, and it’s in this spirit that JACKALOPE is in line with what we’ve been doing for 30 years. And then, too, it’s important to bring people together in person, because screens can’t replace the energy of a stadium exclaiming at the sight of a live performance.”
Bringing together some of the world’s best skaters helps to spread and share the culture, and advance the discipline, but there’s also an element of celebration and fun that adds all the more to these days. The history of skateboarding is written before our eyes in a friendly ambiance and electrifying atmosphere. Don’t miss the chance to attend our next event in Virginia Beach in May / June 2024.
