| Founded | Los Angeles (December 7, 2007) |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Steve Berra, Eric Koston |
| Website | theberrics.com |
The Berrics is a privately owned, indoor skatepark owned by pro skateboarders Steve Berra and Eric Koston. 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).
Contents |
Following the website's inception in late 2007, it quickly grew and, according to the The Wall Street Journal, in January 2009 the Berrics attracted more unique visitors than the websites of every major skateboard magazine and ESPN.com action sports section.[1] The skatepark itself is redesigned regularly. Rob Dyrdek's show Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory is purportedly inspired by the Berrics.[2]
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, Eric Koston, Rob Dyrdek, Andrew Reynolds, Mike Carroll, Marc Johnson, Erik Ellington, James White, PJ Ladd, and Sean Malto, among others. [1] Mike Mo Capaldi beat Benny Fairfax to win, with Billy Marks finishing third. Mike Mo was awarded a $10,000 prize, courtesy of DVS Shoe Company.[3] 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".[4]
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.[5] Competitors included Kenny Anderson, Lucas Puig, Heath Kirchart, Jerry Hsu, Dennis Busenitz and Mike Vallely, among others. Chris Cole eventually won the final against Paul Rodriguez, with Cory Kennedy achieving third place.
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. [6] Battle at the Berrics 3 was won by Paul Rodriguez after defeating PJ Ladd; Shane O'neill finished in third place.
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.