SPOILER ALERT! Before reading this article, get caught up on the brackets leading up to Saturday’s finals here!
*Mouse over the photos to read the captions – tap if you’re on a mobile device
On September 29th, 2019, The Berrics announced they would be hosting the first-ever Women’s Battle At The Berries (WBATB). After eleven years, the original BATB has become the world’s most revered game of S.K.A.T.E. Because the female version replaced its counterpoint this year, this event entered the world extra spicy.
CHANGE IS INEVITABLE. TO STAY CURRENT, YOU'VE GOT TO PIVOT*
Here’s one example. If you think you’ll be able to high five all the old homies at events these days, think again. Women are skating into new territory. Vanessa and Alex were mic’d up, sharing colorful commentary on the big screen between games. Referees Lisa Whitaker and Kristin Ebeling kept the competition kosher, and Mimi coached on the sidelines, right next to the big guy, Steve Berra. The rest of the crew was spread among thousands of fans that turned out to witness the crowning of the first-ever queen of the flat!
WBTAB was a revelation. The fact that OGs were on the forefront of production was perfect, trumping anyone’s selfish desire for hugs and high fives*. This was about skateboarding, pure and simple. The Berrics handed BATB over to the ladies with respect. A testament to the fact that the organization was built by and for skateboarders. We hope WBATB joins The Vans Girls Combi Pool Classic, Wheels of Fortune and Exposure as an essential stop on the women’s skateboarding annual itinerary.
THE LOWDOWN:
The original four headed for the semi-finals were Christiana Means, Sammaria Brevard, Lacey Baker and Candy Jacobs. Sadly Portland’s transient hometown hero, Christiana, had to forfeit her spot because of an Olympic team commitment in the Philippines?♀️. So previous challengers Monica Torres and Chelsea Castro staged a “redemption round,” with Torres ultimately earning her spot in the final four.
Shortly before game day, Dutch dynamo Candy Jacobs laid down some good & bad news. The bad: because of an injury she had to stay home in the Netherlands. Good? The injury isn’t that serious, she should be back in action soon. So the FIRST MAJOR PLOT TWIST of the WBATB finals was a SECOND redemption round, this time between Alexis Sablone and Jenn Soto. If it was a hairstyle competition, Jenn would have flat-out topped everyone, but ultimately Alexis persevered to the finish and joining Lacey, Monica, and Sammaria in the semi finals.
ROUND 1: LACEY VS. MONICA
Lacey was undoubtedly under a lot pressure with their established record as top dog on flat ground. Monica, on the other hand, had already been eliminated. And when you earn a surprise second chance, you’ve got nothing to lose. She bet the pot outright, and when the cards were laid down, took the W. The defeat rattled rowdy Lacey devotees, caused Monica’s Brazilian fans to go totally ape, and was the SECOND MAJOR PLOT FLIPPITY-FLOP OF THE NIGHT!
ROUND 2: SAMMARIA VS. ALEXIS
After earning redemption, Alexis was now slated to battle her second challenger of the night with great hair, Sammaria Brevard. It’s interesting to see the competitive side reveal itself within these two humble creatures. Ultimately, the crowd got twisted up in THIRD PLOT SHOCK of the night; Alexis was victorious. This meant the final match would be the same (and only) two souls who had risen from the dead to get back in the comp, Alexis and Monica.
CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE: MONICA VS. ALEXIS
Alexis Sablone is everyone’s fave. She’s got a sick low-key style, works super hard and is hella smart (she has a master’s in architecture from M.I.T.). She’s been around for a long time, doing amazing skateboarding and supporting her comrades. Monica is newer on the scene and a little younger. And the fact that she beat everyone to the top at this level of competition proves she is extremely talented. So, with a well-executed nollie 360 flip, Monica Torres served up the FOURTH AND FINAL PLOT PUNCH OF THE NIGHT & went home with 10 well-earned Gs and the title of the first-ever WOMEN’S BATTLE AT THE BERRICS Champion!
