Groundswell BMX Bowl Battle 2025 – Big Air, Bigger Vibes
Sam Grace, flowing like a superstar with a massive flair down whip in the 10ft section of the Scarborough Beach Bowl, unstoppable with power and tricks
The 2025 Groundswell BMX Bowl Battle at the Scarbrough beach skatepark was an absolute blast, with riders from across the country dropping in to throw down for a share of $2000. The crowd was the biggest we’ve ever seen, the stoke was high, and DJ Bambi on the decks in the Red Bull Jeep kept the vibes pumping all day. It was rad to see so many young riders stepping up and showing progression, plus the return of big names like Andrew Ahumada from Victoria, Sam Grace from QLD, and Roman Depiazzi back in WA made it extra special.
The RAD class had some serious energy, with Billy Gibson and Malachi Pooley sending it higher than ever in the 10 and 12-foot, throwing down with confidence and style. Billy qualified 1st, Malachi 2nd, and Jay Furukawa 3rd, but in the head-to-head battles it was Jay who fought his way to the top, taking 1st place, while Billy and Malachi rounded out the podium. Thomas Hollingworth and Liam Rhodes impressed with their solid lines, showing everyone the next level of progression is alive and well.
The Raddest Class brought the big guns and it was next level. Samuel Grace rode like a superstar, throwing massive barrel roll transfurs, super high flair down whips, backflip drop-ins, and flowing through the park with so much power it would make a large river jealous, earning him 1st place. Roman Depiazzi, who has competed at the Groundswell BMX Bowl Battle a few times in the past, has clearly leveled up since his move to Queensland. Once struggling to air over the coping, Roman is now smashing out tricks, with his large flairs proving his progression. Riding off the hip and throwing an alley-oop 270 into the waterfall at speed is just the tip of the potential Roman is unleashing. Can’t wait to see what he brings in 2026, earning him 2nd place. 3rd place getter was Andrew Ahumada who was definitely out of his comfort zone riding the massive Scarborough bowl. Although Andrew can blast 30ft jumps and send double front flips, the Scarborough bowl challenged him at every turn. As a true professional, he took charge of the situation, adapted his riding, and made it work, throwing great handplants in the deep end, a front flip up the waterfall, and big air tricks like no-handers and lookbacks. Although he qualified in 4th, the battle between him and 3rd place qualifier Shane Ellis was one of the best we’ve seen. Shane went huge, towering over the bowl with power and height that had everyone holding their breath, but Andrew’s technical wizardry, smooth combos, and creative lines edged him out for the win in this epic showdown. Luke Tooze brought his signature style and flare, lighting up the bowl with big tricks and high energy. Luke Tooze brought the energy we’ve come to expect, throwing flares and massive tricks that lit up the bowl in only the way Toozy can. It was also great to see Bradley Evans smash out the tricks to take the 6th place with some great turndowns and double peg grinds in the deep end, while Jay Roadley fought through a foot injury with grit and determination.
Roman Depiazzi charging the 10ft with a massive flair, crowds stacked deep behind him. A familiar face at Groundswell over the years, and now a 2nd place finisher in the Raddest class. Roman’s move from Perth to the Gold Coast has taken his riding to another level, bigger airs, sharper tricks, and serious progression on full display.
Clockwise from top left – Andrew Ahumada launching a front flip up the waterfall, pure commitment taking the 3rd place. – Shane Ellis going absolutely massive, one hand off, floating with power and flow that’s honestly breathtaking to watch. The battle round between Shane and Andrew was one for the history books. – Luke Tooze doing what Luke does best, big griz air in the deep end, pumping the bowl hard to build speed and send it sky high. Groundswell energy at its finest. – Bradley Evans getting technical, putting the pegs to work and locking into grinds while a stacked crowd looks on. – More photos can be found on our facebook page here
Clockwise from top left – Jay Furukawa, pure power, battling his way from 3rd to 1st in the RAD class. His full speed 360 down the waterfall into the deep end and this tailwhip from the shallow into the 10ft showed just how strong and fast he was riding. – Billy Gibson qualified in 1st and met Jay in the final battle, smooth, high and confident, with this can-can from the hip into the 12ft section looking dialed. A few more technical tricks might’ve tipped the scales, but the battle was heavy. – Third place went to Malachi Pooley, whose steady progression is impossible to ignore, laying down flatties well above coping and showing he’s firmly on the upward climb. – Thomas Hollingworth battled past Liam Rhodes to earn his shot against Malachi, throwing down tricks like this can-can transfer. Solid riding and a well-earned 4th place at the 2025 Groundswell BMX Bowl Battle. – More photos can be found on our facebook page here
This event was more than just tricks and podiums, it was a celebration of progression, community, and everything that makes BMX rad. The vibe from riders, families, and spectators alike was electric from start to finish. Seeing the stoke in the crowd, the support for the competitors, and the insane riding reminded everyone why we do these events, pushing limits, inspiring each other, and keeping the action sports community thriving.
A huge thank-you to our sponsors Sneaky Wholefoods, Local BMX, Colony, Backbone BMX and VANS for helping make the Groundswell BMX Bowl Battle 2025 possible. We couldn’t have done it without your support, and we’re already counting down to the next one!
Stay tuned for more exhilarating skatepark competition as Freestyle Now continues to celebrate the passion and skill of our incredible action sports community. Freestyle Now is dedicated to delivering high-energy events and inspiring communities. From thrilling stunt shows to engaging coaching sessions and well-managed competitions, we promote active and healthy lifestyles while pushing the boundaries of action sports.
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Groundswell BMX bowl battle – Official results – 11th October 2025
The RAD class – 1st Jay Furukawa, 2nd Billy Gibson, 3rd Malachi Pooley, 4th Thomas Hollingworth, 5th Liam Rhodes, 6th Koutaro Furukawa, 7th Ziggy Ellis, 8th Jaia Forte-Borchers, 9th Garnet Rock, 10th Otis Park, 11th Seth Cooper, 12th Logan Knibbs, 12th Pacey Park
The RADDEST class – 1st Samuel Grace, 2nd Roman Depiazzi, 3rd Andrew Ahumada, 4th Shane Ellis, 5th Luke Tooze, 6th Bradley Evans, 7th Jay Roadley
