Above – Alex Hallford, crail air. Photo by Monkeyglove Matt

This year saw the first annual ‘Beachy Shred’ event hit first Brighton, then Hastings. This had been in the works for some time, with the organisers of both town’s jams coming together to make something bigger, gnarlier and more certain to render those who came down incapable of skating for at least a week afterwards. Those who went to the Shoreham/Hastings weekenders a few years back will know what an endurance test it can be, especially in a corner of the country which seems to have a special relationship with such a big name rum distillery and a penchant for an afterparty…

Ewen Bower – switch bastard plant the extension. Ph: Monkeyglove Matt

While it would be easy to let this write up sprawl, being the kind of weekend it was, I’ll try to keep things brief and let your eyes instead be stoked out by a selection of photos from Monkeyglove Matt and Mark Richards. Concrete destruction, beachfront DIY spots, coping made from pebbles, skag caravans, ridiculous vert extensions, pink string vests, crackheads shouting ‘planker wankers’, promotional rum (which I unfortunately missed out on), shoulders dislocated in the product toss, lost skin and corroded livers – if you weren’t there, you pretty much blew it.

Youngo – rock n roll. Photo: Monkeyglove Matt

While Hastings was a fairly chilled affair, Brighton’s event was packed out so the street jam would take pages to explain. As it was it ran over time by quite along way and I had to run for a train before the results were announced or the bowl jam went down, but from social media it looks as if it was Kris Vile, Jordan Sharkey and Ewen Bower who came out on top – justifiably so given the ridiculous level of consistency all three displayed. I was in no such rush on Sunday, with Hastings seeing Ewen (once again) alongside Alex Hallford and James Moore getting themselves a fancy watch each as well as a share of the cash. Hastings youth George Legg also won some product due to a full weekend of absolutely charging, the future is in good hands…

James Moore – frontside air. Photo: Mark Richards

Anyway, roll on next year and props to Matt Davey, Darren Dartnell, The Source Skateshop and the Level Skateshop alongside anyone else involved! Now enjoy the documented carnage…