by BLAKE JONES

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Punk rock spewing from the speakers as the crowds of people piled through the gates, bleachers filling up fast, and the skate decks slap as these killer athletes took to the course to plot what their top tricks would be in order to hit those 9s. BBQ smoke wafting alongside tacos and pizza, like a cartoon-scent trail edging you toward a line of fans wrapped around the block. Telltale signs it’s going to be an epic day.
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This wasn’t a casual tailgate party in the parking lot; this was the Street League Skateboarding Takeover.

Outside the monumental convention hall of Las Vegas flew the banners for Complex Con: the Iconic trade show for streetwear, fashion, and culture. It would turn out to be an insane, one-day event surrounding this one-of-a-kind street course, custom-built in the Las Vegas sun. The energy was palpable, loud, and alive. And just as the heat started to rise, the clouds rolled in like a blessing, cooling everything down for what turned out to be an epic and cool day.

HEAVY METAL Magazine showed up swinging alongside the heavyweight champions of the world, WWE, and Nevermade. We came ready to throw down. The booth was stacked with our custom skate decks, tees, hoodies, patches, and prints featuring new art from Vance Kelly, and with our Iconic HEAVY METAL Logo, but also flipped to feature prominently Street League. Marvel at the Epic artwork created for this momentous occasion.

The moment those gates opened to the public, chaos ensued. As the day began, so did the flips! Nitro Circus featured a steady stream of acrobatic daredevils on dirt bikes that filled the air.

Closely followed by a cacophonic swell of guitars and vocals led by Punk Rock band Dead City Punx. Screams of "FUCK PEACE" alongside screaming guitars and blasting drums shook the gravel.

From there, it was time for the SLS Wildcard Jam. As the crowd filled every spot they could pack into, the battle of eleven skaters began for only two spots in the Men’s Final. Jake Ilardi and 15-year-old (yup, ONE FIVE!!!) Ginwoo Onodera claimed them in a fierce showdown.

The Women’s Final was killer to watch as we saw Liz Akama take first. Just super clean and precise. She was closely followed by Rayssa Leal and Aoi Uemera in the top three.

Then came the Men’s Final, and the teenage PHENOM Ginwoo came all the way from the back in the wildcard to take the entire day. An insane heat typically run by legends Nyjah Huston and the last event's winner, Vincent Milou. It truly just goes to show you, kids are taking over the world if we like it or not! The next generation is already HERE.

By the time the sun started to dip past the iconic Las Vegas Skyline, we got one more set from the Lee Spielman fronted hardcore punk band Trash Talk! He came from his booth at Complex Con to close out the day.

For HEAVY METAL, this wasn’t just another event. It felt like home. The collision of skate, sound, and culture is everything we stand for. We’re grateful for the love and energy from the community, and we’ll keep pushing that signal beacon out further and further into the outer reaches of space.
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Thanks again to the incredible team at Thrillone Sports and Entertainment, Street League Skateboarding, and everyone who showed up, stopped by, and shared in the chaos. See you at the next one!

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