Manchester, UK – It’s one of our favourite times of the year again. It’s Vans Shop Riot Finals and this year’s edition will take place on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st October at Graystone Action Sports, Manchester.
Now in its 13th year, the original concept by Vans celebrates Europe’s finest street skaters, whilst offering the core skateboard scene and the best skate shop teams from all over Europe an authentic platform for recognition and community. This year the series finale will come to a dramatic close in Manchester to determine who will be crowned the 2023 Vans Shop Riot Champions.
Over the past few months, Vans Shop Riot has made its way across Europe, stopping in 14 different countries for the regional qualifiers – victorious shops include last year’s winners Venero, Spain and two-time champions Burnside, Netherlands. They will join 12 other hungry skate shop teams competing for a total prize purse of €15,000.
Each team that qualified for the finals will have a 3-minute jam to progress to the Top 8. From the Top 8, it will be a knock-out format until we crown the Riot Champions. Vans will also be running a cash for tricks session with a mystery obstacle in partnership with Skateboard Café on Friday and another round between the contest and the awards on the street course at Graystone on the Saturday. Saturday’s Best Trick is sponsored by Spitfire and €1500 cash prizes are up for grabs each day.
Every year, Vans have partnered with a respected artist on the creative execution of the event. There’s a very clear synergy between art and skateboarding and this year’s artist of choice is the legendary and self-described “Antihero graphics duder”, Todd Francis. The American artist, born and raised in Los Angeles, has spent the last two decades creating memorable and iconic skateboard and graphics for several companies including the original Antihero logo and numerous Vans projects. In addition, his studio art has been shown in galleries around the world.
An exhibition of Francis’ work and original Shop Riot artwork and sketches will take place across the weekend, paying tribute to the event’s rich and riotous history. Some of Todd’s prints will be raffled off with all donations going to The Ben Raemers Foundation. The Ben Raemers Foundation will also have a pop-up space with screen printing and games, creating awareness of their programming and therapy sessions.
Vans Shop Riot 2023 Finalists
Skate.CH– Switzerland
SH Store – Poland
Frisco – Italy
Skateboutique – Belgium
Darkslide – Czech Republic
Venero Skateshop – Spain
Civilist – Germany
Supereight – United Kingdom
WallStreet – France
Stigberget Skateshop – Sweden
Burnside – The Netherlands
Ministry of Concrete – Greece
4 Culture – Portugal
Gilis Skateshop – Israel
Friday, October 20th
17:00 – 19:30
Graystone Action Sports (Playground Area)
Cash for Tricks
Saturday, October 21st
12:00 – 18:00
Graystone Action Sports
Vans Shop Riot Finals
The 2023 Vans Shop Riot Finals will take place on October 20 and 21 in Manchester, UK. For more information, check out vans.eu/shopriot.
