The Berrics - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Berrics is a privately owned, indoor skatepark

Skatepark

A skatepark is a purpose-built recreational environment made for skateboarding, BMX, aggressive inline skating and scooters. A skatepark may contain half-pipes, quarter pipes, spine transfers, handrails, funboxes, vert ramps, pyramids, banked ramps, full pipes, pools, bowls, snake runs stairsets,...

owned by pro skateboarders Steve Berra

Steve Berra

-Career:Steve Berra began his skateboarding career in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 14. In 1989, Steve Berra met skating legend Tony Hawk in Nebraska. The two forged a friendship over their love for all things skateboarding. At the age of 18,Berra quit his affiliation with Blockhead to turn pro for...

and Eric Koston

Eric Koston

Eric Koston is a Thai American professional skater who grew up in San Bernardino, California.He began skating in 1986 and remains active. He was first sponsored in 1991 and turned pro in 1993. He has been featured in the "Tony Hawk" video game series and "EA" Skate 2 and Skate 3...

. It is also a website providing content filmed in the skatepark, as well other skateboard-related media. The facility's name is a portmanteau of the owners' names (the "Ber" of Steve Berra's surname and the "ric" of Eric Koston's first name).

History

Following the website's inception in late 2007, it quickly grew and, according to the The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....

, in January 2009 the Berrics attracted more unique visitors than the websites of every major skateboard magazine and ESPN.com action sports section. The skatepark itself is redesigned regularly. Rob Dyrdek

Rob Dyrdek

Robert Stanley "Rob" Dyrdek is an American professional skateboarder, actor, entrepreneur, producer, philanthropist, and reality TV star. He is best known for his roles in the reality shows Rob and Big, Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory and Ridiculousness .- Personal life :Rob Dyrdek was born in...

's show Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory

Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory

Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory is an American reality television series starring Rob Dyrdek. The first season premiered on February 8, 2009 on MTV.-Summary:...

is purportedly inspired by the Berrics.

Battle at the Berrics

In 2009, skateboard brand DVS Shoe Company hosted a professional game of S.K.A.T.E. at the Berrics. The competition, titled "Battle at the Berrics" pitting 32 skaters against each other in bracket-style S.K.A.T.E. tournament. The competitors included Steve Berra

Steve Berra

, Eric Koston

Eric Koston

, Rob Dyrdek

Rob Dyrdek

, Andrew Reynolds

Andrew Reynolds

Andrew Reynolds, , is a professional skateboarder and he rides his skateboard with a regular footed stance. Andrew Reynolds' nicknames are Drew, The Boss, and Turtle Boy. He is the owner of Baker Skateboards, and Brigada Eyewear. He is creative director of Altamont Apparel...

, Mike Carroll

Mike Carroll

Mike Carroll is a professional skateboarder from San Francisco who skated for H-Street and then joined the super team Plan B Skateboards...

, Marc Johnson

Marc Johnson (skateboarder)

Marc Johnson is a professional skateboarder.-Biography:Marc Johnson is one of the pioneers of 1990's style "switch-stance" and "gnar-tech" street skateboarding and is known for his technical skill on a skateboard, including a "supernatural" level of ambidextrousness...

, Erik Ellington

Erik Ellington

Erik Ellington is a professional skateboarder. Ellington is goofy footed. He currently resides in Hollywood, California.Ellington was/is a member of the "Piss Drunx" c...

, James White, PJ Ladd

PJ Ladd

Patrick John Ladd, professionally referred to as PJ Ladd, born in Rockland, Massachusetts is a professional skateboarder. He recently left DC shoes and apparel. His stance on a skateboard is regular...

, and Sean Malto, among others. http://www.theberrics.com/batb.php Mike Mo Capaldi

Mike Mo Capaldi

Michael Capaldi , also known as Mike Mo Capaldi, is a professional skateboarder. He is currently sponsored by Girl Skateboards, Matix Clothing, Royal Trucks, Spitfire wheels, Mob Griptape, Bones Bearings, Skatelab and MUCHOPASSION SERIES. Mike Mo was a part of the Lakai team, but has recently left....

beat Benny Fairfax to win, with Billy Marks

Billy Marks

Billy Marks is an American professional skateboarder.He is sponsored by Toy Machine, Fallen Footwear, Pig Wheels, Thunder Trucks, Skatepark Of Tampa,...

finishing third. Mike Mo was awarded a $10,000 prize, courtesy of DVS Shoe Company. While the series proved largely popular with skateboarders, some lament its homogenizing effect on casual games of S.K.A.T.E. that now often conform to "Berrics Rules".

Battle at the Berrics 2

Battle at the Berrics 2, the second installment of Battle at the Berrics allowed the Berrics' viewership to vote for 32 of more than 150 skateboarders, with the most popular invited to fill the tournament's 32 competitor slots. Competitors included Kenny Anderson, Lucas Puig, Heath Kirchart, Jerry Hsu

Jerry Hsu

Jerry Hsu is a professional skateboarder. He is of Chinese descent.-Biography:At the age of nine, Hsu began recording himself skateboarding, for the purpose of discovering what his skateboarding really looked like...

, Dennis Busenitz and Mike Vallely

Mike Vallely

Mike Vallely , also known as Mike V, is a professional skateboarder. Mike is also a musician, actor, television personality, stuntman, professional wrestler and FHL hockey player.-Early life:...

, among others. Chris Cole

Chris Cole (skateboarder)

James Chris Cole is a professional skateboarder. He grew up in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, but now lives in San Marcos, California with his wife and children. His stance is regular....

eventually won the final against Paul Rodriguez

Paul Rodriguez Jr.

Paul Rodriguez III , also known by his nickname P-Rod, is a Mexican-American professional street skateboarder and actor.-Early life:...

, with Cory Kennedy

Cory Kennedy (skateboarder)

Cory Kennedy is an American professional skateboarder. Born in Seattle, Washington, Kennedy currently lives in Santa Monica, California. He started skateboarding at a young age, but first came to prominence after winning the "Bang Yo'self 2" amateur video submission contest put on by noted...

achieving third place.

Battle at the Berrics 3

Battle at the Berrics 3 is the third installment in the series. It follows the same format as the previous versions and primarily features the first-round winners of the previous tournaments.
Battle at the Berrics 3 was won by Paul Rodriguez after defeating PJ Ladd; Shane O'neill

Shane O'Neill

Seán Ó Néill, anglicised Shane O'Neill , nicknamed 'Seán an díomais', was an Irish king of the O'Neill dynasty of Ulster in the mid 16th century. Shane O'Neill's career was marked by his ambition to be The Ó Néill Mór - Sovereign of the dominant Ó Néill Mór family of Tyrone... and thus head...

finished in third place.

Battle at the Berrics 4

Battle at the Berrics 4 is the fourth installment in the series. Subtitled "U.S. vs. THEM," the first round of the competition matched 16 skateboarders from the United States against 16 skateboarders from foreign countries including Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Spain, and the Netherlands. Battle at the Berrics 4 was won by Morgan Smith (Canada) after defeating PJ Ladd (U.S) with Davis Torgerson (U.S) placing third.

External links

TheBerrics.com Official site
Google Street view

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