By Kevin Dankman
By Bernie Boulders
ISSUE 76 | DECEMBER 2025
Writing
Bernie Boulders
Kevin Dankman
CHAMPS Magazine Staff
Amear Moretall
Photography
CHAMPS Show Magazine Staff
Jeff Becker
CuRB Staff Design & Layout
DJ Sixxx Publisher
CHAMPS Trade Shows Editorial Director
Kevin Dankman
Kevin Dankman Becca Office 818-616-7424
By Kevin Dankman
The CHAMPS Trade Show in Fort Lauderdale this November proved to be a spectacular event, perfectly mirroring the exceptional South Florida weather. Despite a gloomy forecast leading up to the show, the sun broke through just in time, delivering cool, sunny, and fantastic days.
Attendees enjoyed pleasant morning walks to the convention center and perfect evenings for exploring the harbors and checking out the impressive luxury boats. The beautiful weather set the stage for an equally amazing show.
Business Buzz: Busiest Show Floor Yet The energy inside the convention center was palpable, with the show floor seeing record traffic and high-volume business transactions.
Big Winners: Booths were buzzing from open to close. Heavy hitters like Mellow Fellow saw constant activity, demonstrating high demand in the market.
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The strong business wasn't limited to the largest exhibitors. Companies like Smoke Odor were also consistently taking orders, indicating a prosperous show for businesses of all sizes.
Florida brought the heat with major star power, adding excitement to the show floor:
Bam Margera joined Smoke Nation to meet with the community and tour the show. He later headed over to the CuRB Show area for an action-packed mini-ramp session.
Killa Cam made a special appearance on Day 3! Cam'Ron walked the show in support of The Diplomats, who were exhibiting at the CuRB Show. Sources hint we may be seeing more of him at future shows… stay tuned!
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Daily $1,000 Payouts!
Adding to the excitement, CHAMPS gave away $1,000 daily to a lucky shop just for pre-registering and showing up! The winners were:
Day 1 Winner: Cloud Smoke Shop (Tallahassee, FL)
Day 2 Winner: Amigo Smoke / Lava Vape (Clifton, NJ)
Day 3 Winner: Vape & Tobacco Express (Middle River, MD)
Glass Games Arcade of Fun Engages the Crowd Smiles were everywhere, especially thanks to the Glass Games' all-new Arcade of Fun. This fun activation kept buyers engaged and entertained all three days:
Plinko: Attendees had the chance to win free product.
RC Crawler Experience: The crowd was thrilled to participate in an exciting challenge to win the glass product featured on the RC truck!
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Buyers were highly receptive, loving the opportunity to play a game and win a prize. The games stayed busy until the very last minute, cementing the fun atmosphere of the event.
CHAMPS: Proving the Value of Regional Shows CHAMPS Trade Show once again confirmed that its regional events are highly profitable for companies and a vital part of what sets it apart from other national shows.
Don't Miss the Next Event! Be there in January for our next show at the Palmer Events Center in Austin, TX!
January 19th-21st, 2026
By CHAMPS Magazine Staff
Get ready, industry pros! After a blockbuster debut, CHAMPS Trade Show Austin is returning to the Texas capital to kick off the new year at the Palmer Events Center.
Mark Your Calendars: January 19-21, 2026
This isn't just another show—it's replacing Las Vegas as the first major industry event of the year!
• Need to refresh your inventory after the holidays?
• Ready to spot the hottest trends before anyone else?
CHAMPS Austin is the definitive place to be for your post-holiday stock up.
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Secure your accommodations now with our special group rate at the conveniently located Hyatt Regency Austin.
The Hyatt Regency is located just steps away (about a 7-minute walk) from the
CHAMPS Glass Games:
Goblet Grab & After Hours
The legendary CHAMPS Glass Games are back, featuring high-stakes competition and can't-miss after-hours events!
Goblet Grab Raffle
Tickets: Available for $200 CASH starting at Noon on Day 1 until sold out.
Raffle Draw: Begins around 3 PM on Wednesday, January 21st, following the Awards Ceremony.
Must Be Present: Ticket holders must be present
when their number is called, or the next number will be drawn.
The Spread: Be sure to check out the amazing array of glass art featured in the American Glass Section!
Official After Hours Events at The Glassmith
Get ready for action after the convention floor closes!
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The Ultimate Austin Foodie Guide (A Necessary Detour)
CHAMPS takes place in Austin, and you simply cannot visit with out diving headfirst into the legendary Texas BBQ scene.
• Terry Black’s BBQ (The Con vention Center Staple): directly across from the conven tion center, this spot is non-nego tiable. The brisket is incredibly moist, and the beef rib is spectacu lar. Pro-Tip: Enjoy it outside before heading back into the show—the aroma is strong!
The Iconic Road Trip: Lick: Crave a scenic 30-minute drive? Head out to this legendary institution. This is an iconic stop on the Texas BBQ map, and both the ride and the meal are worth the effort.
The Quick & Quality Fix: Thundercloud
Subs: For a fast, affordable, and high-quality meal, hit up Thundercloud. They strive for quality, and they succeed.
Classic Comfort Food: Sandy’s Hamburgers: Skip the Whataburger and embrace a 1950s retro food adventure at this Austin classic near the convention center. You can't go wrong with their classic American burger and amazing shakes.
The CHAMPS Trade Show Austin at the Palmer Events Center is sure to be another incredible and essential stop on the 2026 tour.
PHOTOS BY JEFF BECKER AND CURB STAFF
By Bernie Boulders
What a phenomenal experience with an incredible group of people! We at Culture Retailers and Board Sports Show extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who showed up to make this event a massive success.
A Huge Shout-Out to Our Sponsors!
Special thanks to our incredible sponsors for their vital support:
EDP ENERGY SHOT
SMAK’D
Highpoint Cash and Carry
SkyCo
Jay Ramps
Goat Ramps
Embassy Skateboards
Black Fly’s Eyewear
Yesca Finds
Official Genius
DIPSET Diplomats
Redbull (for loaning us the mobile dj van)
And a special thank you to Mike at Grind for Life for coming out and giving us his stamp of approval!
Judges & Announcer
A massive thanks to the crew who kept the event running smoothly:
• Announcer: Dave Duncan
• Judges: Chaz Ortiz, Danny Fuenzalida, and Ray Mane
• DJ KeenOne
Local Brands Making Appearences, Take Flight, Skateboards, Lake Skateboards, Kast Skateboards, and Turmoil Skateboards who came all the way from Colorado with teammates to support the event.
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The Skating Action: Day 1 Highlights Day 1 kicked off with an explosive Cash for Tricks session, followed by an impromptu Goat Ramp Session with Bam Margera! The day concluded with the highly anticipated Shop Showdown!
Top 5 Individual Shop Showdown Skaters
1. @matiasdellolio1
2. @dustinblauvelt
3. @dengdoink
4. @lando27fm
5. @pretty.sauced_
Participating Shops
10 shops and 25 skaters battled it out, with the winning teams being:
• Greater Miami Skate Shop (FL)
• Modern Skate and Surf (MI)
• Funk’s Skateshop (FL)
• Lot Boys (FL)
• Galactic G (FL)
• Ocean Magic Skateshop (FL)
• Innercity Skateshop (CA)
• Compound Skateshop (FL)
• Island Watersports (FL)
Day 2: The EDP Jeep Jam & Open Contest Day 2 featured the EDP Jeep Jam Cash for Tricks, the Goat Ramp Best Trick, and the main event: the Jeep Jam Open.
EDP Jeep Jam Cash for Tricks
This was hands down the most exciting Cash for Tricks session we have ever hosted! Skaters were absolutely hucking themselves over the massive EDP Energy Shot Jeep like it was just another curb. High-flying tricks went off all day, with some riders hitting the landing ramp while others took 7-foot drop to
Goat Ramp Best Trick Winners
Willy Lara
2. Dustin Blauvelt
3. Juan Polania
WE WERE ALL WINNERS AT THE GOAT RAMP! Special thanks to Nick for showing the crowd that blind doesn’t mean you can’t skate! He placed higher than a few other competitors and put on one hell of a show! Thanks to Modern Skate and Surf for bringing him out.
The Jeep Jam Open: A Thrilling Finale! The final contest saw everyone take multiple, high-stakes attempts at the Jeep obstacle. The energy was electric! From smooth tail slides to high-amplitude gap tricks, the riders left nothing on the table.
In the end, it was Argentinian Olympian Matias Dell Olio who took the victory and the massive $2,000 Grand Prize!
What’s Next?
Save the Date! This event was truly one-of-a-kind — skaters, for skaters.
Our next event will be our biggest and most epic yet! Join us May 6-9th CHAMPS Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada!
The Vegas event will feature:
• A high-stakes
• The highly competitive Shop Showdown
• Pro and Amateur Brackets
With over $60,000 in cash and prizes skate shops, you won't want to miss it. what shop deck is crowned the Best Shop Deck in the Country at a special evening Concert event featuring spe cial guests from all over the industry.
By Amear Moretall
The silence of the North Pole workshop on December 26th was absolute, a profound, comforting void after the tempest of Christmas Eve. Santa’s belly rumbled not from hunger, but from the deep, satisfying stretch of a man whose biggest annual task was complete.
He shuffled into the main living room—a vast space lined with cozy, deep-red velvet sofas and a roaring stone fireplace—where Mrs. Claus (or Miss Santa, as the reindeer often called her) was already preparing for what she deemed "The Great Post-Holiday Decompression."
“Good morning, my dear,” Santa boomed, his voice a gentle low register after a night of whispering Ho Ho Hos.
“Morning, Nick,” she replied, a faint smile on her face as she straightened a stack of worn vinyl records. “The reindeer are already out back. They insisted on being involved in the relaxation process this year.”
Indeed, outside, under the gentle Arctic sun, Rudolph, Prancer, and Dancer were lounging near the massive, barn-shaped sauna, looking blissfully exhausted. Rudolph’s nose glowed a soft, tranquil amber, no longer the
frantic, guiding beacon of the night before, but a comforting nightlight.
Mrs. Claus approached a heavy, polished oak chest labeled "Emergency Stress Relief Kit." She extracted a beautifully carved wooden box containing their favorite herbal blend. “The Sleigh Ride Sunset,” she announced, its name evoking the final, golden hours of their epic journey. It was a potent, calming strain grown in a special, geothermal greenhouse maintained by the gardening elves.
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The aroma of pine and cedar from the roaring fire mingled with the rich, earthy scent of the cannabis, filling the room with an immediate sense of peace. Santa leaned back on the massive sofa, letting out a blissful sigh as the first mellow notes of the saxophone drifted through the air. Outside, Prancer nudged a small, hay-filled basket toward Dancer. “Tell me again why we didn’t discover the bliss of a CBD-infused hay bale sooner?” Prancer whispered, his antlers gently knocking Dancer’s.
Dancer simply stretched his elegant neck, sinking deeper into his comfort bedding. Rudolph, with his low, resonant voice, murmured, “It’s about balance. The chaos of giving, followed by the serenity of chilling. It resets the clock.”
Back inside, Santa closed his eyes. The jazz seemed to melt the tightness from his shoulders. He reached out and found Mrs. Claus’s hand.
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“Best part of the year, isn’t it?” he mumbled contentedly.
Mrs. Claus squeezed his hand. “The delivery is magical, Nick. But this? The silence and the sunset? This is perfect.”
The North Pole, for one glorious day, was utterly still, the ultimate reward for a job well done, enjoyed with their favorite music and their favorite way to unwind. It was a clear, vital lesson that busy shop
owners everywhere should heed: taking a complete break after a frantic season is absolutely imperative for maintaining both mental and physical health.
Happy Holidays from the CHAMPS Show Magazine Team and CHAMPS Trade Show
