As we prepare ourselves for the 15th annual Winterclash, taking place February 14th through 16th, 2019 in Eindhoven, Netherlands at AreaFiftyOne Skate Park, we’re asking some attendees about their history with the staple competition. For this installment, we spoke with Dominic Bruce, who will not only be in attendance to compete, but will be hosting a panel titled “The Future Is Now – Listen to Them!” .
Dominic Bruce
MY FIRST WINTERCLASH WAS…
My first Winterclash was the year after it had been hosted in some huge event space in Berlin – Meaning it was 2011 which was the first year it had returned to Area 51 in Eindhoven where it has remained since year after year. I had travelled there with my parents and it has forever since been an annual ritual, a great celebration of all that our culture and community is. I haven’t missed one since that first year. The beauty of Winterclash is as although each particular year stands out for what it is at the time, upon recalling the memories, they still tend to blend and blur making it hard to remember what was what and when was what… which leads me into the next question.
MY FAVORITE WINTERCLASH WAS…
Winterclash gets better every year for me as my love for it grows the more I notice different aspects of it and more years of attendance i have under my belt the closer it becomes to your heart. But it definitely was special moments to be able to place 1st in the junior and AM contest over the years – each have brought so much support and opportunity my way, Winterclash acting as a gateway of sorts for new connections. Seeing people I admire very much and friends alike skate and place on the podium also warms the whole atmosphere. It’s a giant family reunion.
I’M GOING TO WINTERCLASH BECAUSE…
I’m going to Winterclash this year because I feel compelled to and as long as it happens I hope to support it. Winterclash gives me so much energy in the vital way as much as it’s an exhausting full on long weekend.
I am very much looking forward to this years event for many reasons. The most obvious one for every year is to see friends and meet people I have longed to meet who are also in attendance and I see this year there are so many different faces from all different nationalities – a lot from the states even, Winterclash provides a space for us to just hold up the mirror and witness how amazing and bizarre our community can be.
What truly excites me this year is also the World Premiere of “INTI”, a project I am indebted too for it was such a joy to be a part of and to be able to screen it at my favourite event makes bubbles in my mind, joy and anticipation! For those that aren’t aware of what INTI is – it is a collaborative video production that is being brought into the world by Haitian Magazine and Balas Perdidas. A documentation of a journey we took to Peru, it’s set to be a treat. Also worth the mention is the whole host of panel discussions this years event will include and I’m grateful to have been asked to host one called “The Future is now – Listen to them!” So come along and have a listen to what’s on offer if you are reading this and will also be at Winterclash this year, maybe we will say something that makes you laugh!!
I THINK X IS GOING TO WIN WINTERCLASH BECAUSE…
And finally, I think X is going to win Winterclash because X gon’ give it to ya. Nah, in all honesty I have no idea but I would like to see the following dancers take to the stage for some fierce tango – Joe Atkinson, Sean Darst, Philip Moore, Nils Jansons and the list goes on and on and on…Winterclash can really bring the best and wildest out in people’s skating. The power of collective enthusiasm on display. I hope to see you at Winterclash, come say hello if you see me and I don’t see you 
