Vans Shop Riot 2024 Milano _ Photo report _ Italian Qualifiers.

The Italian Qualifiers of the Vans Shop Riot 2024 took place last Saturday in Milano at Pinbowl DIY Skatepark where 17 teams battled to win the ticket for the VSR European Finals scheduled for February 2025. The skate shops involved were Big Air Lab, East Wind, Skateboarding’s Finest, Minoia Board Co., 7Hills, Frisco, Switch, Eight Ball, 360 Skateboard, ACriminalG, Street Style, The Skateshop, Radical, Alternative, Pacific Drive, Kahuna, Blunt.

Photography & words: Davide Biondani.

The event included the classic team contest and four special challenges revealed only at the last moment. In addition to the tricks, this edition’s judging parameters were based on the originality of the runs, the collaboration between the riders, creativity and each team had a girl in.

Michele Salini, Alternative Shop.

Everyone gave their best and many teams were dressing special tees designed for the occasion. It was good to see old faces and a lot of new rippers.

Diego Nardini, kickflip backside lip slide. East Wind.

Special mention goes to East Wind, definitely one of the longest-running skate shops in Italy, whose super young squad killed it all day on rails and double set. Another mention goes to Pacific Drive’s team that all dressed in white in a perfect “summer in Mykonos” style performed some interesting combos especially using the rainbow rail. The team’s t-shirt award goes hands down also this year to Big Air Lab.

Elya, Nicole, Sabrina.

Giuseppe Cola, one foot. The Eight Ball squad…

… and kickflip, back to back.

The large audience fought the intense cold of the shed drinking hot espressos, eating hod dogs and enjoying the pounding sound of DJ Readbeard. Of course the more daring ones enjoyed some nice ice cold beers.

Efrem Sapienza, backside smith grind. Skateboarding’s Finest.

Vans AVE Picnic Table Contest.

The first challenge was the “Vans AVE Picnic Table Contest” in which whoever does the most tricks gets the most points. Eight Ball won.

Tommy Blazek, crooked grind tail grab. Blunt Store.

Will Odiete, noseblunt. Frisco.

Giuseppe Cola, crooks to switch five-0. Eight Ball.

Death Race.

In the “Dead Race” every squad had to cover the distance all together pushing tip tap only. Skateboarding’s Fines won it.

Wheel Of Fortune.

The third challenge was the “Wheel Of Fortune” in which the trick to do was drawn using a real wheel of fortune and the first one to land it win. Imagine 100 skaters trying to land a trick in flat in 20 square meters all crowded together… or jumping off the double set two, or three, at a time. Total chaos. Eight Ball won it.

Diego Nardini, 360 flip. East Wind.

Waffle Eating Contest.

The last and absolutely most fun challenge was “Waffle Eating Contest”: two guys per team sitting face to face, a 15 meter long table with a checkered tablecloth and a stack of waffles in front of each couple. Whoever eats the most waffles in 60 seconds wins. In this challenge too, the “machines from the northeast” from Eight Ball dominated making the crowd scream and cheer.

Final results.

At the end of the day, the Frisco team arrived in third; East Wind in second and the Eight Ball boys deserved the first place and for the first time will go to the European final. Thanks to the Vans staff for having us. It was a fun and cold day, congratulations to all the skaters and see you at the next edition.