Once again one of Europe’s biggest contests cracked off in Tallinn, Estonia, this time with warm summer weather in stark contrast to the winter events we’ve attended in the past. The skatepark was built in an old rubber factory with a mini ramp outside and surrounding buildings with food, coffee, yoga, and tattoos. With the pleasant weather and the fact that it stays light in Estonia until 11 pm in the summer, the organizers set up jams at street spots throughout the city, similar to how CPH Open does it. On Thursday, the skaters were able to skate Tallinn’s most famous street plaza, Hamarik plaza, with added rails and Hubbas down the stairs. Then on Friday evening, a hot tub was set up in the middle of Freedom Square with kickers on both sides and a wild huck-fest ensued. At the end of the five-day festival (it really was), we saw Jaime Mateu backfilp the hot tub and win the mini ramp contest, were introduced to the smooth skating of 15 year old Japan sensation Toa Sasaki, Matias Dell Olio won the Hamarik Hubba best trick, and Liam Pace once again took home a gold trophy inside the Pohjala Factory. Scroll down for tons of photos with more info in the captions. Full recap edit coming soon!
Photo Credit: Blair Alley
Practice Day 1: Remco Erkeland, the pride of The Netherlands. NBS.
Matias Dell Olio from Argentina. Feeble transfer.
Daniel Moragues, 15 years young from Spain. Banging kickflip.
Remco with a nice KF too.
Remco with a 360 flip.
Remco, Back Smith.
Yam Behar had a great part on our site last year.
Liam Pace looked good in practice.
Big frontside wallride yank in. Liam Pace.
Liam, nosegrind.
Then we cruised over to Viru Keskus, Tallinn’s most famous skate spot.
Koffe Kroon, frontside bluntslide.
Toa Sasaki, hardflip.
Toa kickflip back lipping over Jaime Mateu.
Toa’s hype man was live on IG all week.
Just look for this statue when you’re looking for the spot.
Toa put down this back noseblunt second try.
Daniel Moragues, kickflip back Smith.
Matias, 270 lip.
Daniel, back tail.
Matias with his winning 360 flip noseslide, bigspin out.
Another angle with some natural light reflecting.
Toa won the rail section.
Matias won the Hubba. Day 2 Practice: Diego Fiorese, wallride yank off.
Pat Duffy was down from Finland to judge, but you can’t keep this skate rat off the course!
Liam Pace, fakie wallride, Ollie in.
Steve Pineiro, backside noseblunt.
Then over to Freedom Square for the Sauna Launch! Elias Nilsen going indy over Jaime.
Skate boss Jarmo stretching out a melon.
Diego got some too.
Don’t feed him after midnight.
Liam, kickflip indy.
Teddy hopped in.
Elias going backside 180.
Duffy! going backside. Jaime shut it down with this backflip!
The champ wanted in!
Wild one!
Matias and Duffy.
The hillside overlooking the square. Finals day: The packed bus with Diego getting in some pull ups.
The hype man!
Liam getting up there!
Ivan Federico with a butter smooth backside boneless.
And this kickflip lien!
Outside at the mini ramp jam, Jaime was starting his runs like this!
Foot plant to fakie.
Duffy, bigspin back tail.
Liam, Smith.
Jaime’s front blunt that won the jam.
The 16 finalists.
Europe’s finest!
Elias, impossible tail grab.
Photog Teddy Morellec, Brandon Valjalo, and our filmer Cameron McIntosh.
Liam did it again with a perfect run.
In the best trick over the volcano, Yam put down this 360 varial.
Elias, 540.
Steven won the best trick with this kickflip 360 indy.
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