The CalStreets Fingerjam contests were produced out of the raw love of skateboarding in all forms. Originating back in spring of 2015; CalStreets founder and former Sponsored Sims freestyler Rick Tetz collaborated with local Canadian fingerboard manufacturer/enthusiast Adam Longair. Sparking a fire in the industry that no one saw coming.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF THE FINGERBOARD!
Many people got their first exposure to fingerboarding in the Powell-Peralta video Future Primitive from 1985. Lance Mountain gleefully “rode” his homemade deck around a kitchen sink as Tony Hawk and Mike McGill looked on. Of course, well before then, people made their own fingerboards, but that sequence with Lance put fingerboarding on the map.
A slew of companies started to make plastic fingerboard key-chains in the late ’80s, but it wasn’t until Tech Deck appeared in the later part of the 1990s that things really exploded. Here in North America, Tech Deck enjoyed a frenzy of interest.
“Over time, dozens of skate companies licensed their logos. Both kids and skate collectors enjoyed the experience. But if you ask most skateboarders about fingerboards, they might just say “Oh, yeah … I had one,” and leave at that. For most, the fingerboard remains a curious artifact from youth.
But Martin Ehrenberger had other ideas. He founded a fingerboard company, Blackriver, in 1999, and it’s still going today. Blackriver creates professional fingerboards and ramps and distributes a multitude of fingerboard product. Prices are not what you might expect. Believe it or not, Blackriver sells fingerboard decks for $100, and completes can be over $200. You can also buy trucks – $45 per set! Fortunately, grip tape is about the same price you’d find for regular-size grip. I am going to pause for a moment and let you absorb that last paragraph.”
– Michael Brooke, Concrete Wave Magazine.
June 25th marked the start of Vancouver Fingerjam II Fingerboard Competition. Large key sponsors including CALSTREETS FINGERJAM, Filthy Fingerboard Ramps, Roswell’s Fingerboards, and Board Kennel all contributed to building the park’s features, and supplying free gear and prizes to the contestants and audience.
What sets Fingerjam apart from other finger skate events as well is the fact that it is designed to support and help the community. Adam’s company Board Kennel supplied decks with limited edition BLADE SK8 KITTY graphics. Board Kennel and CalStreets created BLADE PARK : In memory of our SK8 Kitty Blade. BLADE was featured on all of this years FREE BOARD KENNEL DECKS.
The jam consisted of a one hour practice session in the two BLADE PARKS. Kids, teens, and even some PROS came to compete, each rider was given a limited amount of time to perform their best for Fingerjam judges Brandon Hoare and Adam Longair himself!! Finalists then were selected to compete against each other in a head to head competition on the park, winners were picked based not only on skill, but consistency, cleanliness, and difficulty. Congratulations on our winners of the Fingerjam II!!
Again, thank you to everyone who came to the event, whether you were a competitor, audience, or parent. You are the foundation to what is the sport of skateboarding. A special thanks to CALSTREETS FINGERJAM for creating such one of a kind event in CANADA.
Huge thank you to the two judges Adam Longair, Brandon Hoare, legendary announcer Jay Addison, Adam again for supplying all the Board Kennel decks, Rick Tetz and CalStreets for creating this event and Boarder Labs for hosting the event Alot of work was put into making this event and we are super delighted to how it turned out! Hmmm Fingerjam III anyone.
Photos By Rick Tetz
BLADE FINGERBOARD PARK IS OPEN DAILY AT CALSTREETS | BOARDERLABS. PARK IS FREE TO RIDE. NOW YOU WANT A PRO FINGERBOARD – CLICK HERE
CALSTREETS FINGERJAM – BLADE FINGERBOARD PARK
Dedicated to Further the Advancement of Fingerboarding in Canada.