Tom Schaar Dominates 2026 Belco Bowl Jam in Canberra, Australia

The 2026 Belco Bowl Jam, held from February 20-22 in Canberra, Australia, showcased thrilling performances from elite skateboarders. Among the standout competitors was Tom Schaar, who secured first place in the Men’s Skateboard Vert event, marking his second consecutive victory in this prestigious competition. The event, celebrating its 25th anniversary, featured a total prize purse of $60,000 and attracted top talent from around the globe.

This annual event, established in 2001, has become Australia’s longest-running skateboarding competition and culture festival. Supported by Monster Energy, the 2026 edition included various activities such as a halfpipe contest, street Best Trick competitions, concerts, skate video premieres, and DJ performances.

In the Men’s Skateboard Vert event, Schaar, the two-time defending champion, impressed judges with an array of innovative tricks. His performance included a kickflip Indy to fakie, alley-oop Caballerial disaster revert over the channel, and a frontside bluntslide, which ultimately earned him the title of King of Belco Bowl Jam once again.

Schaar also excelled in the street Best Trick competition, taking first place at Spot 2 with a frontside blunt over the wall ride obstacle. His teammate, JD Sanchez, a 16-year-old rider from Pleasanton, California, finished in second place, showcasing high airs and technical lip tricks. Sanchez’s performance featured impressive moves like a massive backside tailgrab and a kickflip Indy finger flip, also earning him the title for Highest Air.

Completing the podium for Team Monster Energy, Kieran Woolley, a 22-year-old from Kiama Downs, Australia, clinched third place with dynamic runs highlighted by a frontside lipslide and a frontside invert revert. Woolley also took home the Best Trick award on the channel rail for his frontside lipslide transfer.

The women’s division also saw remarkable performances from Monster Energy riders. Ruby Lilley, a 19-year-old from Ocean City, Maryland, claimed second place with her impressive tricks, including a lien to disaster over the channel and a finger flip lien to tail. Another standout, Asahi Kaihara, also 19 and from Osaka, Japan, finished third with her technical run that featured high-flying benihanas and a frontside nosegrind lipslide.

The excitement continued on Sunday at the Belco Vert Jam, where Moto Shibata, aged 30 and also from Osaka, achieved victory in the Men’s Skateboard Vert, repeating his success from the previous year. Despite inclement weather, Shibata executed a flawless series of tricks, including a front foot impossible lien air and a Caballerial 540.

Sanchez further solidified his reputation by taking second place in the Vert Jam. In the Women’s Skateboard Vert final, Kaihara showcased her skills, finishing in second place with a run that included a frontside body varial benihana and a stylish Madonna.

The weekend concluded with Liam Pace, a 25-year-old rider from Tucson, Arizona, receiving the MVJ (Most Valuable Jammer) Performance Prize. Pace captured attention with his big flip backside disaster on the quarter pipe and continued to impress with his high-speed tricks throughout the event.

For more information on the accomplishments of Tom Schaar, Moto Shibata, and the rest of the Monster Energy skateboarding team, visit www.monsterenergy.com. Fans can also follow Monster Energy on various social media platforms for updates as the action sports season progresses.

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