JACKALOPE BLOCK PARTY NEWCASTLE 2025: When Newcastle Becomes the Arena of Australian Skateboarding

JACKALOPE BLOCK PARTY landed at the South Newcastle Beach Skate Park on November 14 and 15, 2025 with an energy like no other. If we had to sum up the event in one word: community. The entire local scene showed up: kids, groms, rising talents, and Australian legends.

If the future of skateboarding in Australia were a landscape, JACKALOPE BLOCK PARTY NEWCASTLE 2025 would be the postcard.

AN EVENT PROTECTED BY “THE GODS”

We can say it: we were blessed. Just before the start of the competition, we were given a traditional blessing performed by members of the local community, a powerful moment that marked the opening of the event. And as if to confirm this symbolic gesture, A huge storm, ready to shut down the competition, literally curved around the skatepark…without ever touching it. Sunshine broke open right above Newcastle as if the scene had earned its moment.

The whole community came out: crews, vendors, families, local legends, creating, a palpable collective energy.

But beyond the weather, another major challenge awaited us: the South Newcastle Beach Skatepark itself. Its hybrid flow park / street park structure required real thought to ensure a fair format. The adaptation wasn’t easy, but the final setup allowed every skater to shine in their own discipline, whether street or transition. The skatepark, with its unique identity, ultimately served the event perfectly.

The result:
👉 over 50 registered athletes
👉 more than 10,000 festival-goers throughout the weekend

And now, here are our best moments:

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14: A SUPERCHARGED BEST TRICK

The weekend exploded right from the first day with a Best Trick worthy of major international scenes. Pros : Bob Burnquist, Tommy Fynn, Kieran Woolley, Beaver Fleming, Raphael Detienne and locals:  George Richards, Hudson Walker, Taj Wolfenden, Marley Rea, shared the spot, creating unforgettable sequences.

The tone was set early with Beaver Fleming’s backflip during qualifications, which instantly lit up the park. No surprise we chose it to open the recap video!

Then it was George Richards who stole the spotlight: stylish, creative, explosive, delivering a backflip lipslide that shook the skatepark, along with a perfectly executed backside nosegrind.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15: PUP CUP & GROM UNDER BOB BURNQUIST’S EYE, FOLLOWED BY A GRAVITY-DEFYING SUPER FINAL

The day kicked off with a record-breaking Pup Cup. Registrations skyrocketed, confirming that the Australian junior scene is booming.

For the first time ever, the level was high enough to create a proper under-7 competition: adorable performances but impressively strong.

The GROM competition was equally spectacular. All of it took place under the eye of Bob Burnquist whose presence touched both starstruck kids and nostalgic parents. Impressed by the level, he highlighted the bright future of Australia’s next generation. His kindness, attention, and energy elevated the day  and the entire event.

The Super Final then delivered a colossal show, bringing together three Australian legends, each dominant in their craft:

Hudson Walker: vert prodigy
Jake Thatcher: the bowl warrior
Kieran Woolley: the ultimate street machine
Together, they transformed the skatepark into a true arena, surrounded by a crowd packed tightly around the oceanfront bowl.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Hudson Walker: massive backside 5 tail grab
Kieran Woolley: a precise handplant — his signature style
Tommy Flynn: fakie 3 flip → 3 flip noseslide → backside flip fakie nose grind reverse on the ledge after the event (just to show he still had more in the tank).