Back To The Banks Preview

For more than twenty-five years now, the gritty streets of New York City have served as a massive, ever-changing skate spot with sick terrain scattered throughout all five boroughs. One spot in particular that’s come to firmly symbolize NYC’s unique skate scene is the legendary Brooklyn Banks.

Lurking in the shadows at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge on the Manhattan side of the East River, the average passerby would pay little attention to the perfectly formed waves of sloping red bricks, weathered wallride pillars, and assortment of handmade obstacles that define the Banks. It’s a world-renowned spot that caters to all abilities and styles. Show up and go for broke on the ten-stair rail or just play it mellow and carve–the Banks don’t discriminate, they simply provide a hassle free place to shred in lower Manhattan.

While the Banks have always been a coveted spot in the skateboarding community, the city of New York hasn’t always viewed them as such. Five years ago the city was planning to destroy the Banks, but due to the tireless efforts of 5boro Skateboards founder and owner, Steve Rodriguez, portions of the Brooklyn Banks were saved and designated specifically for skateboarding. To celebrate this accomplishment, in 2004 Steve organized the first-ever Back to the Banks contest as a way to promote and preserve skateboarding at the famed spot.


Photos courtesy Felipe Lara (felipelaraphotography.com)

Today, Back to the Banks is widely recognized as one of the most legit street contests in the US. It gets bigger and better each year and always brings out hordes of veteran pros and hungry ams, as well as a mob of spectators and media.

This year’s Back to the Banks contest is set for Saturday, June 6th, and boasts the largest prize purse in contest history with more than $10,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs. Kicking off at 1PM, an open jam will be followed by three best trick sessions on the banks, blocks, and stairs/rail. $2,000 will be awarded to each best trick winner, with an additional $2G’s awarded to the best overall skater of the day. And once all the shredding is complete, a massive product toss will go down, so don’t cut out early.

Back to the Banks wouldn’t be what it is today without the solid support it receives from the entire skateboarding community. The 5th Annual Back to the Banks contest is sponsored by 5boro, Emerica, Volcom, Skateboarder Magazine, Red Bull, MetroPlus, World Industries, Bones, and Tech Deck.

For more info, check out: www.backtothebanks.com . See ya at the Banks!

-Greg Waters