WORDS | MICHAEL MARSH @MIKEY_MARSH.SKATE @SPTJAM.OFFICIAL
PHOTOGRAPHY & ADDITIONAL WORDS | MATT GROWCOOT @MGROWCOOT
EVENT ORGANIZER MICHAEL MARSH DISCUSSES WITH BE-MAG THE PROCESS OF PUTTING TOGETHER THE SECOND SOUTHPORT JAM AND ALL THE HANDS THAT HELPED MAKE IT POSSIBLE
The idea of SPT Jam came about after we started a fundraiser to resurface the local skate park. We secured £18,500 from the council. After seeing the fresh wood, I approached the council about showing off the work in some way. I suggested some form of [skate] jam and they loved the idea. Last year in April 2021, Stuart Ochiltree and myself began organising the first SPT Jam. Being honest — it was pretty daunting. It was with the help of friends, family and all the sponsors we battled through any challenges that came our way. Even that little bit of rain that came on the day of the first jam.
After that success, Stu and I knew we had to put everything into SPT Jam 2022. The council once again had our backs, which was one less thing to worry about. We had to get liability insurance and wrote a list of fixes within the park to be completed before the event, which the council jumped onto straight away!
The response from last year’s sponsors was amazing, most of them coming back on to support us. As we postered the internet, more sponsors came on! It was wonderful how many amazing companies jumped straight onto it!
We thought about parking for attendees so they could park for free. We approached a local car park and they were happy to assist.
Last year, we used my mate’s speaker for music. It was JUST loud enough. This year went all out and approached an audio-visual company. We gave them a run down of how STP Jam came to be and what we were trying to do. They sorted us out with a sick system for a great price, so the park was booming this time!
We worked with another local business, a Mexican restaurant to come setup a stand to serve nachos and tacos. That were absolutely lovely.
I knew we had to make something fun, so I went to a local gate specialist to ask how much it would be to get a up-rail made. After explaining what it was for, they helped out so much. Even better, one of our sponsors, The Bliss Hotel, said they would cover the charge for the rail! Local businesses and support were a huge help throughout the process!
Alchemyst, SFbrand, and BladeLife Clothing gave us permission to sell their goodies on the day of, so that was the cherry on the cake.
Matt Growcoot and Cam Wiggins took some absolutely beautiful shots of the day. Keir Lindsey from SFbrand, Stuart, and myself were judging. My brother Michael Stonebanks absolutely killed as MC, hyping the crowd at park.
It’s amazing how this community came together to make this happen! We even managed to get Dexter ‘the destroyer’ Dex over from Barcelona and Kalléo Hipolito of Brazil (who killed it all day). The amount of love I’ve received is unbelievable so thank you to everyone who came out, so much love goes out to you!
Absolute massive shout out to every single one of our sponsors!
WE NOW HAND THINGS OFF TO MATT GROWCOOT, WHO GIVES HIS ACCOUNT OF THAT SATURDAY
Southport is a sleepy seaside town on the northwest coast of England that was kicked into life last Saturday when local blader Mike Marsh organized SPT Jam. I had not visited the park in well over ten years and not much had changed when I got there. It has a solid layout with something for everybody.
One of the unique aspects of the park is the pier that stretches overhead, which allows the public to stop and spectate as they casually stroll toward the beach. This meant unsuspecting members of the public were drawn into the loud music, food stands, and sick skating. Every time I looked up at the pier, there was a long row of people craning their necks to watch skaters like Kalléo Hipolito, Rob Dalton, and Tom Barrio.
Add that to the hundreds of skaters who turned up and the unusually clement weather for northern England, we had ourselves an unforgettable day!
THE JUNIORS
Starting the day was the junior category. Jacob Vurley taking repeated goes at landing a 360 spin over an eight-foot spine and delighting the crowd.
Another young girl entered the competition and dropped in on a giant quarter-pipe (way taller than her) attracting respectful applause.
London-based Charlie Ramsay took the win, landing an amazing disaster soul-hip transfer. Shout out to his Dad (@bladerdadxlondon) for his support.
RESULTS
1st – Charlie Ramsey
2nd – Jacob Vurley
3rd – Linkon
THE OGS
The OGs (over-30s) were a mixed group with some incredibly creative tricks being thrown. One blader, with an enormous beard, landed a sick floor-to-makio grind all the way across the box.
Dexter Dex had flown in from blade mecca Barcelona and destroyed the box. Throwing alley-oop top acids, half-cab top souls, and backslides. He took first place back to Catalunya.
Glaswegian Lauren laced on the box and repped the bladies!
RESULTS
1st – Dexter Dex
2nd – Aaron Mackenzie
3rd – Scott McDonald
Bladies, 1st – Lauren
THE OPEN
Things really picked up in the main contest, with skaters battling it out as the heat began to dissipate.
Local lad Kai Simpson lit up the park, throwing insane front flip 180s over the huge spine. He spent more time upside down than a bat!
The smooth and silky style of Tom ‘Super’ Barrio was on full display. His effortless style shone between runs, like landing a beautiful alley-oop sunny day to 270 out, ending it with landing in a cess-slide down the bank. Three different types of trick in one you say?
Jamie Willis (@jamiewilliss_) landed some stylish fishbrains, while Rob Dalton took home the ‘most creative’ gong when he destroyed the firecracker rail.
Perhaps no one quite wowed the crowds like Kalléo. The Brazilian-born wheel connoisseur landed huge spinny, flippy transfers, sometimes taking huge slams without ever seeming ruffled. He stole the show and won best trick with a backslide tap out the quarter into a 12-foot plus drop out the back of the park! Kalléo was crowned overall champion for the open.
RESULTS
1st – Kalléo Hipolito
2nd – Tom Barrio
3rd – Kai Simpson
Most Creative, Rob Dalton
A huge shout-out to the judges and to Mike Marsh who organized the day. Big up the sponsors listed below!
@sfbrand
@kaltikhardware
@skatepro
@kromkendama
@locoskates
@bladelifecompany
@createoriginals
@midaswax
@werollbrand
@rollerblade
@sliqxuk
@alchemystskate
@royale_wax_inline
@camwiggins.photography
@usdskates
@revival_lifestyle.co
@blisshotelgroup
@hakonclothing
@20redemption21
@themobclubbarbers
@joesgiants
@tiktacosouthport
@naturesdelightuk
