TITUS "Battle of the shops" 2023 | 45 Years of TITUS
"Bangin`Busride 2023"
Photos: M. Tromp, T. Busuttil, T. Gentsch Words: T. Gentsch
5 years ago when the 40th anniversary of TITUS was coming up, the marketing crew decided to throw an extra special "Battle of the shops" event. The skaters would ride through Münster in a sightseeing bus and, instead of a contest at a skatepark, everyone would skate actual street spots. At the time (it's hard to believe this was already 5 years ago) we went with the DJ of the evening, Chad Muska, to the most famous spots of our Westphalian metropolis. Since then, not much has changed in how the event takes place. There’s just something awesome about going street skating in party mode with a huge crew of some of the best skateboarders from across Europe. Nevertheless, Münster is not Berlin, so the amount of spots isn’t infinite. For the 5th edition of this unique event (and the 45th anniversary of TITUS!) a little magic had to be done. Spots that were previously considered unskateable were made skateable thanks to the "TITUS x Antidote" Crackfiller and by looking just beyond our city limits, some new possibilities opened up. On Saturday 6.5.23, the skaters met up at TITUS to board the double-decker "Münster Bus". First stop: a pump track in Münster-Wolbeck!
Julius Dittmann greets everyone for this years "Battle of the shops" - "May the best team win!"
The "French Connection", represented by Theo Moga und Thomas Busuttil!
...off to the bus!
The skateboard party started right after a 100m drive on the bus!
After arriving at the first spot, the pump track in Münster-Wolbeck, hardly anyone was able to stop the first laps!
There were quite some close races...
...and riders like Patrick Rogalski already started popping over some of the bumps.
While pump tracks might not be the first thing that comes to mind for street skaters, it is a fitting place to get your legs warmed up. We began with a casual race, followed by a best trick contest called “Pump the track” over two bumps. In the race as well as the best trick, Mika Möller especially threw down and showed he meant business. Mika lost the final race against Bart Buikman, but then out of nowhere did a tre flip over the double bump followed by a ridiculous frontside flip!
The final of the "Pump the track" challenge: Bart Buikman vs. Mika Möller - Bart won that shit!
Dominic Wenzel | Kickflip Roastbeef
Dominik Maul ("Ey,calm down Loco, it´s all chill...!")...
...Rocco ("Ey, might as well first somke one!")...
...Tim Otto ("Ey, that´s actually a good idea...!")...
...und Loco Papi: ("Ey, fuck these shit wobbles, duuuude!")
After the track, we went in true “side mission” fashion to a never before skated double set outside an indoor pool in the small town. Originally, this spot wasn’t even planned, but since it was on the way back to the city, why not? Mika once again bossed up with a huge heelflip among the others throwing down. Afterwards, on to the next spot - Stadtwerke.
Mika Möller | Fs Flip
Dani Lebron at the Pump-Track in Münster-Wolbeck - who would have ever thought!?!
TITUS Skateboards Team aka "Team Gentschy Life" with Master-Coin-Collector Jesse Kloes!
At the second spot, the double-set at the indoor swimming-bath in Münster-Wolbeck, the media-hype was real; it was the first session ever there!
Paul Joa, at first only chilling...
...and then, all of a sudden, flying down the double-set with a Fs Pop Shove-It!
Mika Möller | Heelflip
Marcel "Loco Papi" Rieger | Kickflip
Josh Junkes | Bs Kickflip
Come on guys, let´s goooo...!"
Leon Merschmann and Jost Arens discussing tactics.
"...ähhhh, what what...?"
..."ahhh, there you go, Pizzaaaas!"
Theo Moga | Bs Nosegrind Revert
Markus Blessing | Kickflip Bs Nosebluntslide
Dominic Wenzel | Fs Nollie Sw Crooks
After many discussions and internal meetings, we came to the realization that you can’t ONLY have super gnarly spots. When we arrived to Stadtwerke, we had a mountain of pizzas waiting for the crew which were gone in about 5 minutes. Also waiting for the skaters were two beautiful ledges which should be skated in a line. Markus Blessing set a high bar with a back nosegrind on the first ledge followed by a kickflip backside noseblunt on the second. Many other amazing lines followed before we jumped back on the bus to head to Berg Fidel. You may have heard of this place as it’s stood for skateboarding in Münster since 1989! Gotta add a little history to the excursion.
Louis Bijan | Fs Air
Mika Möller | Fs Truckbash to fakie
Loco Papi, always holding up the vibes at a maximum height!
Antoni Zeyer | Boardslide
TITUS Skateboards had a very "unique" team-name!
Since “The Berg” is mainly about the bowl for transition skaters (and unfortunately there were only a few transition shredders among the crew), another focus was the “Berg Rail”, a big ass handrail next to the bowl. Torsten Ballhause threw down a frontside 50-50. While anticipation was high that 2023 would be the year that the rail sees some new tricks go down, the rail proved just as difficult to skate as always. Jelle Maatman and Antoni Zeyer both tossed boardslides down it regardless. Then, it was time to head to the final spot of the event.
Jelle Maatman | Boardslide
Bart Buikman was... just stoked!
Chris Howe had definetely fun...
...and Gustavo Dos Anjos kept it rolling smoothly!
Antoni Zeyer | Late Shove-It
Ilya Merkushev | Hardflip
Also a never before skated spot was a nice new parking garage in an industrial area not far from the TITUS headquarters. Here, you’ll find a downhill from one level of the garage to the other. If you don’t turn, you’ll head straight towards a big 10 stair. The “Downhill of Doom” required a first trick to be done into the bank and then a second down the 10. Many were coming close to tricks, but Jelle Maatman finally got a front-shuv into the bank to hefty frontside flip down the stairs. It was Ilya Merkushev who won this event though with a kickflip into the bank and a crazy hardflip down the set. Mad Respect Ilya!
Jelle Maatman | Fs Flip
The winning teams: 3rd: TITUS Tornados Am´s (Tim Otto, Victor Bass, Antoni Zeyer, Max Hünnekens, Jan Hellwig) | 2nd: TITUS Tornados Pro´s (Loco Papi, Theo Moga, Josh Junkes, Dominic Wenzel, Bart Buikman) | 1st: TITUS Skateboards (Jelle Maatman, Markus Blessing, Gustavo Do Anjos, Patrick Rogalski, Dominik Maul)
The MVP´s: Ilya Merkushev (Kickflip to Hardflip "Coaster of Doom")| Jelle Maatman (Bs Bluntslide & Boardslide "Back to the Berg") | Mika Möller (2nd in Race & Best Trick Bump (und Heelflip Double-Set) "Pump the Track")
...and the all over "Soundboks MVP" winner: Jelle Maatman!
After 7 hours of fierce street skating, the event came to a close. We had no busts and no injuries (Except judge Timo Krone who still threw down in the bowl - Get well soon bro!). In the end, everyone was hyped. Jelle Maatman earned a well deserved MVP of the day and we had an amazing start to summer 2023. Much love to skateboarding!