The Rundown - CSC Plaza Comp 2022

September 20, 2022 Dan Bunn

Our 12th annual Plaza Comp went down last week and safe to say it was a banger of a day. Check the edit and have a read below to find out what you missed if you didn't make it down to the most eagerly anticipated event of the year.

For the 12th year running, last Sunday saw hordes of skaters descending on Cardiff Bay in the hopes of securing glory at our legendary CSC Plaza Comp. The crowds gathered as everyone warmed up with Cardiff's ever-expanding troop of skate parents entrenching themselves around the park's perimeter armed with camping chairs, blankets and G&T.

Despite Al Power being characteristically late arriving with his party wagon we still managed to get the comp started in good time with the Under 16s kicking things off and setting the tone for the day. As always the competition was tough and all the young legends killed it, it always gets us hyped seeing everyone progress and this year was definitely one of the best yet. Congrats to Louis on the W!

Jack Steele frontside bluntslide, photo by Ian Fernando

Next up we had the Over 16's category with a strong selection of the Plaza's biggest lurkers battling it out for the top spot. The competition was tight, however despite his best efforts the Plaza King, Rob Herrington, was dethroned by Has who claimed his second straight Plaza Comp win. What will it take to dethrone the Champ?

Next on the list we had the Ladies competition which saw some of the finest four-wheeled females from across South Wales fighting for the crown. We always love seeing the female skate scene grow here in Cardiff and this year was one of our best turnouts yet with ladies of all ages showing us how it's done. The battle for the top spot was fierce with both Fran and Lauren bringing some serious hammers but just getting pipped to the post by Lona and her next-level creativity. Good shit ladies!

Sam Pulley frontside ollie, photo by Ian Fernando - CSC, Cardiff Skateboard Club - UK Skate Store

Last but not least, we closed off the competition proper with the Sponsored division. We had a load of the best skaters from across the UK battling it out, including Jack Branch and Ben Naylor repping Bridgend with their synchronised routine, Sam Pulley holding it down for Newport, Jack Steele bringing the hammers for West Wales, and James Threlfall repping the BBC. Despite the heavy lineup, nobody could beat the unstoppable force that is Pulley going demo mode so it was Newport who took the win this year.

To top it all off, the day finished with the chaotic Best Trick contest in which everyone battled to land their beefiest bangers in the hopes of scoring some tasty morsels from our stockpile of prizes. Obviously Jack Steele unleashed devastation on the handrail and just like last year the China Gap got a proper seeing to with not one but three people stomping treflips over it. Either that gap's getting smaller or some of you lot are getting pretty handy.

Jacob Price kickflip over the China Gap, photo by Ian Fernando - CSC, Cardiff Skateboard Club - UK Skate Store

As always we want to say a massive thank you to everyone who came down and made it a sick day, and of course a huge shoutout to Keen Dist, Rock Solid, Shiner, Knight Vintage, Caffeine and Crooks, Bacareto, Spit and Sawdust, Carve Wicked, New Balance, National Skateboard Co, Helas, Fountain and everyone else who donated prizes and helped make it happen. Here's to next year!