Thrasher Magazine

It started 25 years ago on Australia Day in Canberra, the nation’s capital, a city better known for politicians than pro skaters. That first Belco Bowl Jam was just locals and a handful of close interstate mates. Nothing fancy. It was simply a bowl session: mates, beers, tunes and skating. As the sun went down, a van rolled into the carpark and some unannounced skaters jumped out. Who hops out? Duane Peters, the Master of Disaster! They didn’t even know about the Jam, and we didn’t know they were in Canberra. Things went from zero to 100 pretty fast, and Duane reverted his way into Belco folklore. Fast-forward a quarter century and the Jam is still rolling. It’s been big, small and everything in between. What started as a session with mates has grown into a multi-day blur of bowl, street and vert skating, with parties, bands, leg wrestling and wild side-quests across Australia’s Bush Capital. And none of it happens without a like-minded crew putting in a bit extra, year after year, for the love of skateboarding. Cheers to Belco's silver jubilee. —Jim Fowlie, Belco Leg Wrestling Commissioner

Photos by Luke Brown, Sam Coady and Bryce Golder
Captions by: Luke Brown


If you don't know how to read, you could get the idea with this heavy recap. But you should still read the full story below

Not even Belco is immune to evolutions in digital media. This year’s event kicked off with Belco Banter, a live podcast hosted by Terrible Happy's Shan and Jesse Noonan. All was going well when Conz hijacked Tom’s set, challenging him to some traditional leg wrestling: “Hey, Tom Scar! My neckbeard is bigger than yours! Are you ready, fool?!” More on that later

And it's ON! Erindale’s brick banks were constructed in the 1980s, and in the 40s years since it's never seen a session this serious

Yeah, we get hurricanes in Canberra, just ask Matt Beer

Liam Pace pays homage to Cardiel. All hail

Carcasses were rubbed raw on the rough surface, but JD Sanchez kept his skin intact with this NBD frontside heelflip

The rules are clear: the winner goes to the loudest cheer. Close race, but it was JD who grabbed the cash

Down at the steeper end, Dylan Donnini dips a Smith where most couldn't even reach

Pedro put the pedal to the metal and took the best trick around the bend. Noseslide to fakie

Over to Glebe Park. What started as a modest ride-on rail quickly turned into a menacing rainbow. Slams, sacks and Squish, the crowd got what they came for

A simple 50-50 wouldn't do for Jack O’Grady. He skips the over top and grabs the cash for best rip

Behind the city’s Convention Centre were some lonely walls, until this day. Looks like Rune wants some

And the young bucks too! Keiran Woolley and Ethan Copeland also get some, crail and Smith respectively

Local star Hayley Wilson flips the channel, followed by Tom's love tap on the top

Standing room only

Ivy League front blunt

Cash Only ain't just an Australian skate company

This is what democracy looks like. A crowd gathers outside the government office for more action

Piece-of-cake frontside flip for Chloe

Wax on, wax off, grasshopper. Eli Waterson gets a few pointers from the OG

Lock in, bro. Brad Saunders holds on for a front crooks

It came down to Brad and Jhanka. The crowd sided with the young Australian this time

We skate the whole city. Lenny Tejada soars a ghetto bird off the Indy bump

Where’s ya board, mate?!

Liv Lovelace gets a lovely nose manny

Nakula Boag got the best trick on the whip ledge with a tailslide kickflipflip to fakie, but I didn’t get the shot. So here’s a nollie backside flip on the vert wall instead

Liam Pace, back D high above the crowd. This spot is mental

The fireball shots flowed and JD Sanchez dodged the masses for an insane kickflip Indy to fakie

George Richards took some heavy slams, but the crowd wouldn’t let him give up. With blokes holding the back, he popped this front blunt to put a bow on the first day's street sessions

Madness and mayhem. Bottom left shot is a reaction to George's slam. Bottom right is a reaction to the make

After the session, audiences gathered for a massive screening of Volcom’s new full-length Microwave

Ooooh, aaaahhhh!

Volcom family in the house

Movies and music! Headliner Frenzal Rhomb got it going with a rendition of Black Sabbath’s "War Pigs," sung mostly by the crowd. Safety first in this pit

Great first day. See you tomorrow

Wake up call! Live metal, another sack and some cash. It's a timeless formula

Eli goes switch. How do you you think he got that 50?

Chloe, no! Dues paid in digits

Conz was keen to tell me that his boss was totally cool with this bin being used. Rob Pace made it look easy with a classic shove

Tony Hawk couldn't make it but we still got the loop

Fabi and Liv, just two highlights from the packed crowd

Spectator sport

Jhanka holds on switch

Sam Atkins soared over the dump with a wet tré. Speaking of wet...

Brutus and Head were on board-catching duty in the dingy

Jhanka’s postcard from Canberra

Pedro goes upside down

Gather round

The best launch went to Liam Pace, as declared by a bikini-clad Red

Brutus and Head serenaded by Red whilst “Footy Shorts Guy” looks on

And it's time for the main event! The deck was cookin', so Austin caught a break with the Yeti cooler

And the heat didn't let up; the girls were on fire! Coco Crafter flies high with a Madonna over the channel

The fire burns brighter with Ruby Lilley and her flaming locks on a Sal flip to tail

Snapped back in. You got this next year, Chloe!

Potty wanted me to remind everyone that you can watch from the pub's livestream next door

The crowd went mental anytime Greyson rolled in. He was spontaneous, going mach 10 and fuckin’ huge! FSO

The speed gun was put to the test and, of course, Greyson clocks the highest KMs

Brushing your teeth and Black Sabbath matters

The layback-grind award is dedicated to the late Mike D and Liesel brought Mike’s board along to keep his spirit on the session. Brother Gregg and father Bill were on site to present Dan Pitcher with his well-earned trophy

Belco mascot King Conz donned the royal garb to measure the high-air event. Up near the top, Huddy Walker busted the first-ever 900 in the Belco bowl

JD Sanchez goes WAY UP with a tailgrab

How about a closer look at that love tap?

Doubles runs? Nah, triples is best. Liam, Tom and Greyson put on a hell of a show

Pocket Rocket’s Louie Daiguchi and Huddy took it out with flexibility that only young bodies can manage

The stakes only get higher. Dan, Kieran, Liam and Tom pass the bar with an all-out onslaught

But it was the previous king that took home the top honors. Lipslide to lipslide

Junior kept the bangin’ tracks cranking while Corbin Harris was cruising with Obi-Wan Margaritis

Thought the mag wouldn't make it? Think again! Dylan and Adam take a breath before the finale

Swellbow's got a mean Smith, and a swellknee

Taj Wolfenden, tailgrab 540 over the onion

JD Sanchez had so many high-flying flips I can’t even remember what this one was. Maybe hardflip Indy?

Greyson gets a little footloose to wow the crowd

Look up! Ethan Copeland tweaks out an Indy dive bomber, and Tom Scharr goes fishing

Yep, there goes the hat

Last rips! Greyson floats a massive alley-oop to close the show. We're not worthy!

The scene discusses while the judges debate

The hardest-hitting ladies have been chosen: Asahi Kaihara, Mia Kretzer and Ruby Lilley

If JD Sanchez and Kieran Woolley are cheering, then who's got the helmet?

We give you the 2026 Queen and King of Belco: Mia Kretzer and Tom Schaar!

Remember when we promised you leg wrestling? Even Ruby and Fabi got in there!

The Women’s Final came down to JD Sanchez’s mum Jesse vs Jadey the Tradie. And it looks like the belt stays in Australia, for now. Well done, Jade!

The time has come for the much-anticipated Conz vs Tom bout that started this whole thing. Tom had him, but then! Conz pulls some crazy twist to pin him for the win. By the end of it, the belt went to Jared of the USA. Can’t wait for next year. Stretch those hamstrings, people!

It’s also 25 years of the VeeBees! Bloody oath! They capped the night off with some ripping riffs and Omar surfing the crowd

After a big day boating, Head and Brutus had an even bigger night. And it still ain't over

Some sore heads and sore legs greeted the last day of Belco as Asahi Kaihara took to the sky with her signature style. Good shirt too

Ruby, style for miles—or KMs

Western Australian Mia hits the spin cycle with an alley-oop McTwist

JD, still smilin'

Moto came to collect

Rain slowed the skating. But that just gave us time to add in the extendo

Tom makes time for the fans

Oh shit! Rune's here!

A true king doesn't rest on his laurels—180 up, frontside half-Cab in

Liam pokes a front feeble Tomward before the sky opens up

Tom got a little more spending money, but it was all-terrain destroyer Liam Pace that took home the MVP award for the whole weekend!

Winners are grinners. The Women’s Vert went to Mia and Moto took it for the Men’s. Then came the rain. No wait, that's proddy!

Closing ceremonies at the Lighty for junior arm wrestling… and piña coladas!

Thanks to NHS and everyone who came to celebrate Belco’s silver jubilee. We out!