Dillon Stephens out front. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
Attach of Danger Bay is definitely OG—a downhill skateboarding event that has been held every third weekend of May for eleven years running—rain or shine. This annual event is hosted by the legendary Bricin “Striker” Lyons of Coast Longboarding and goes down in Pender Harbor, Canada—a beautifully badass ferry-ride north of Vancouver and smack dab in the middle of what is called The Sunshine Coast. To those that make the annual pilgrimage to Attach of Danger Bay, it is more than just a skateboard race—it’s a rowdy, three-day Festival of Shred. The following are images and words reflecting our time at this year’s Attack of Danger Bay XI.
Sk8 Bus driver, Captain Casey Morrow. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
For this year’s Danger Bay XI, we hitched a ride in Portland, Oregon’s PDX Sk8bus, along with a handful of other nomadic-minded downhill skateboarders. The crew consisted of: Casey Morrow, Jimmy Rhia, George Mackenzie, David Hiltbrand, Max Capps, Jon Huey, Pat Rick, and Marcus Bandy. With the Canadian boarder, a two-hour ferry ride, and miles of winding forest-roads behind us, we arrived at the Attack of Danger Bay XI in the wee hours of Friday night, May 18th.
Disembarking the Ferry. Stoked to hit dry land. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
George Mackenzie putting on a downhill demo at the slide jam. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
Many of you have already heard the stories of debauchery and mayhem that happen at the Attack of Danger Bay campsite. Well, we’d like to tell ya all the details, but In order to protect the innocent (and the not-so-innocent), we’ll simply just say, yes, the Danger Bay campsite is in fact rowdy as hell and a major shit-show. The Attack of Danger Bay XI campsite is best described as something akin to the Insane Clown Posse meets “Where The Wind Things Are” meets an army of gutter-punks shot gunnin’ beers and intermittently eating bath salts. Ha ha! Okay, so it’s not quite that sort of face-eating gnarly, but it’s pretty close. Anyway, we didn’t sleep much during our stay, but we did have a good time chilling with the homies. Side note: We do not think anyone actually consumed bath salts. But it’s a possibility.
Striker getting the crowd fired-up and ready to slide jam. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
Saturday, May 19th was beautiful and sunny! The slide jam went down in the AM on a long narrow stretch of road near the campsite. Skaters and spectators lined the entire length of the road as a slew of shredders zipped, ripped, and slipped their way down the steep asphalt. ‘Thane lines everywhere! We’re not sure who officially won the jam, but George Mackenzie, Travis Craig, Chance Gaul, and a host of others killed it.
So Cal dudes, Max Capps and Daniel Luna, mixing it up in Canada. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
Sector 9 homies, Budro and Chance, getting their film on at the slide jam. Photo: Bandy.
You did not win longest slide—this guy did! Photo: Marcus Bandy.
Dillon, Andrew, pretty lady, and Striker like what they are seein’. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
After the slide jam, we headed back to Pender Harbor for their annual parade, the skate hockey event, and to shred Switchback Longboards mini ramp. The ramp was set up smack dab in the middle of the park & general festivities, so many of us either spent the day sessioning it or just lurked around it’s periphery—chilling hard, eating pulled pork sandwiched and soaking up the rays. The skateboard-hockey game was also a rad highlight—many skaters got involved with that. When the game was over the mini ramp once again became the day’s focal point. As for the night’s festivities, we’ll just say it was fun, and shitty. At some point in the night the Rayne bus got completely Antiqued, various and many other bad decision were made, and at 3AM something that felt like a pack of wild Canadian black bears proceeded to stomp and aggressively rape a couple of our tents until they fell flaccid and wet on the cold ground. Stoked!
Switchbacks miniramp jammy jam in Pender Harbor. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
Sunday May, 20th was race day. The weather was wet and overcast. Being as such, Carnage Corner was the perfect place to watch, carnage of course. Even though many riders set up their boards equipped with rain-wheels, there were many hay-bale-slappers and a tone of on-course pileups.
Striker calling it like he sees it. Extra points for afro and sweet grandma leg-blanket! Photo: Marcus Bandy.
Coming into Carnage Corner with speed. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
Two Laguna Groms far away from home, yet still thrown’ shakas! Photo: Marcus Bandy.
An eager pack, pushing it! Photo: Marcus Bandy.
The idea of “slow and steady wins the race” is a pretty solid summing up of this year’s Attack of Danger Bay XI race. Not that any of the riders that won were actually slow, but in the Men’s and Women’s finals, it was the riders near the rear of the heats that ended up winning the race.
Carnage Corner is where the magic happens. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
Rain wheels were a must. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
Lone Danger Bay bomber. Photo Bandy.
The grassy knoll lurk-zone at Attack of Danger Bay XI. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
In a strange turn of events, Kevin Reimer, while in the lead, but quickly slowing speed after a stand up slide, decided to start pushing right in front of the pack just after Carnage Corner. Kevin’s mid-race kicking ultimately caused him to fall and shoot out his board right in front of a close following Alex Tounge, who’s speed at that point was set to take him to a Danger Bay XI win. But that it not what happen. Alex crashed into Kevin’s shot-out board and Patrick’s steady momentum took him across the finish line first.
Knee dippin’ and wheel slippin. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
Each one teach one. The legacy continues. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
An OG, knee dippin’ like an OG. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
Grom dude, gripping around the wet, and final corner of the course. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
James Kelly, rollin with the ladies, as always. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
Chance “Wild Child” Gaul winning the groms division. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
The dude with the striped beanie on the far right of this pic is George Powell, founder of Powell Peralta, Bones, and now These Wheels? We were stoked to see him in attendance. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
The Women’s final unfolded much like the Men’s. It was Charlie Crickett in first followed closely by Tamara Prader in second. As the ladies came into Carnage Corner Charlie was clearly coming in too fast to make it. At the last second and midway through the corner she decided to put a hand down and kick it sideways. Her sliding took out Tamara, who was following close and would have otherwise ended up crossing the finish line first. But again, the Skate Gods had other plans for these mortals, and the Woman’s Division winner of the Attach of Danger Bay XI went to the steady shredding of Mia Johnson of Calgary. Also, our li’l homie Chance Gaul won the Danger Bay Daycare groms division, but that was not an upset of any kind—he was clearly and unquestionably the fastest li’l guy down the hill. Anyway, kudos to all. What a wild race!
Charlie putting on the brakes in the Women’s finals. Game changer. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
Kevin Reimer in the lead just 2 seconds before shit hit the fan. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
Pat wins Attack of Danger Bay XI. Is that a Wheelbase sticker on his board? Indeed it is! Photo: Marcus Bandy.
Results:
Men’s
1st Patrick Switzer
2nd Danky Ovalhe
3rd Kevin Reimer
4th Alex Tongue
Women’s
1st Mia Johnson (Calgary)
2nd Anna O’neil
3rd Charlie Crickett
4th Tamara Prader
Groms’
1st Chance Gaul.
“Good bye Danger Bay!” Ferry ride back to Vancouver. Photo: Marcus Bandy.
Ultimately, Attack of Danger Bay XI was wild, fun, upsetting, and exciting—the perfect combination of Radical and the reason downhill skaters the world over head up to Attack of Danger Bay year after year. We’d like to thank Bricin “Striker” Lyons of Coast Longboarding for hosting the event, all the sponsors for their support, all the skaters we met and chilled with along the way, the pack of wild bears that raped out tents, and a special thanks to Captain Casey Marrow for driving the bus and for putting up with all us rowdy dirt bags. We look forward to seeing you all again at Danger Bay XII!
