Rumble on the Reef Check-in: Meet the legends From 2021
RUMBLE 2022: Warming up to next week’s event we’re checking in with some of the legends that are returning this year to skate hard and live hard. Get their best hype songs, see what tricks they’ve been pushing for and give them a massive high five when you see them in Mackay at Rumble on the Reef 2022.
Lukas Byers, 14
Sponsors: Element, Australia Boardstore
Home park: Sunshine Beach Skate Park
Everybody held their breath last year when Lukas Byers took a massive slam in during the Bowl Championships at Rumble on the Reef 2021. He was well on his way to securing a top spot. It was even more of a surprise to see him come back stronger than ever in the Street Championships. He skated his best and won Gold in the U16 - and it’s safe to say everyone was super stoked for him. The stylish bowl rider has just come back from an injury and is getting back in the flow of things. We can’t wait to follow him in this year’s Rumble.
Lukas, what are you looking forward to at Rumble 2022?
I’m excited about competing as I haven’t competed for a while & also spending the week skating with friends which is always fun!
Have you been working on any particular tricks?
No trick in particular but working on getting everything back since coming back from injury
What’s your favourite part of the sugar bowl skatepark?
Probably just mucking around in the mini bowl with friends haha
Have you got a hype song you wanna share?
Don’t really have a favourite hype song but I like listening to Tame Impala, Tyler the creator and Kanye west.
Haylie Powell (Micro), 16
Home park: The Hideaway (Haylie’s own private skatepark) and Nambour, QLD
Sponsors: Etnies, Monster Army, Volcom Australia, Modus, Blind skateboards, Knobby
Haylie Powell in Rome. Photo: Norma “La Pir0” Ibarra
Haylie Powell is one of the very best female street skaters in Australia and if you watched her at the Pro Tour in Rome at the Olympic Qualifier, you’d know she means business. She made it into the quarterfinals despite having an injured ankle that made it impossible to do flip tricks.
Micro Haylie competed in both street and bowl at last year’s Rumble and has been working on getting her tricks more consistent lately. We can’t wait to see what she brings to Mackay.
Hey Haylie, what is your favourite part of the sugar bowl skate park?
The bump to rail in the street section and the nine stair are my favourites.
Bowl cruiser or street dawg?
I like to skate both but mainly street.
What trick have you been working on?
I am currently working on lines and getting my tricks more consistent.
Louie Daiguchi, 8
Home park: Coomera, Gold Coast, QLD
Sponsors: Hurley anz, Boost mobile, Santacruz Skateboards, Independent trucks, OJ Wheels, Bronson, Mobgrip, Level up
Louie at Rumble on the Ref 2021
Pocket rocket Louie Daiguchi won Gold in the Under 12 division in last year’s bowl Championships at Rumble on the Reef 2021 at the age of 7! His style and talent are beyond his years and we can’t wait to see Louie rip up that bowl again this year - while seriously excited to see him skate the street as well!
Hey Louie, what are you looking forward to at Rumble on the Reef 2022?
I’m excited about meeting a lot of friends and doing my run and just having a fun time!
Any trick you’ve been working on?
Bean plant
Favourite part of the Sugar Bowl skatepark?
The pool coping
What song gives you hype?
‘Born for This’ by The Score
Taniah Meyers, age 22
Sponsors: Santa Cruz, Vans, Modus, Krux, Knobby, Boardstore
Home park: Coolum Beach Skatepark, QLD
Taniah Meyers needs no introduction. She won gold at last year’s bowl championships at Rumble on the Reef 2021 in the Women’s division. She is one of Australia’s best bowl skaters and she was so veeeeery close to securing a spot in the Tokyo Olympics. Missed out by one spot! With her get-go attitude, she is always bringing positivity and creativity into skateboarding and reminds us all that no matter what, skateboarding has to be fun, social and supportive.
Besides skating, Taniah runs Fastplant Skateboarding with Mikayla Senior. They run skateboarding coaching in and around the Sunshine Coast.
So Taniah, what tricks have you been working on?
5.0 fakie, they honestly scare the poop out of me
Bet they do. What is your favourite part of Sugarbowl skatepark?
Damn this is a hard one, I really like the mini bowl and the slappy grind over the a-frame box. But the whole park is sick
Favourite hype song
At the moment would have to be ‘Cash in Cash Out’ by Pharrell Williams
Eli Waterson, 11
Home park: Dicky’s Beach, Sunny Coast, QLD
Sponsors: Boardstore, Project Distribution, Real, Grizzly, DC, Iceblock
Tech wizard and Dicky local Eli Waterson is turning eyes these days with his heavily technical tricks way beyond his age. Without hesitation he board slid the 9 stair handrail last year and who knows what he’s cooking up this year. The past year he has been coached by Tommy Fynn alongside some of Queensland’s best young and up-and-coming talents. Quite a few sponsors have come on board to support Eli and his skateboarding, which is great to see.
Have you been cooking up some gnarly tricks?
Been working on kick flip front feeble
Uh, nice. And what’s your favourite thing to skate in Mackay?
Definitely the A-frame
What’s your ultimate hype song?
‘Diamonds Dancing’ by Drake & Future
Abby Rose, 9
Home park: Coorparoo and Paddo, Brisbane, QLD
Sponsors: Parliament Skateshop, Knobby, DC, Ynot
Kickflipping her way through last year’s Rumble with unparallelled focus in her runs and best tricks, Abby surprised everyone, including herself, and took home Gold in the U12 Street Championships last year at Rumble on the Reef 2021. Girl was on fire!
Abby is leading the way for girls in technical skills, inspiring girls to get onto that kick flip, get creative and hit the streets.
Have you been cooking up some gnarly tricks?
Been working hard on my flat ground tricks
What’s your favourite thing to skate in Mackay?
Pretty much the entire street park but can’t wait to skate the ledges this year
What’s your ultimate hype song?
I love everything my coach and friend Patty G likes. Haha. We listen to Oasis and Offspring a lot and when I need to get really hyped it has to be heavy metal - but right now ‘Enemy’ by Imagine Dragons x J.I.D is on repeat