Halloween Hellbomb is facing criticism from skaters after this year's event became a private gathering.
This leaves many core heads disappointed and wondering what happened to the wild skateboarding party they had come to expect.
As we previously reported, Halloween Hellbomb descended into the depths of hell during its event with Thrasher.
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The chaos forced organizers to shut things down early after the crowd got out of control.
Following the incident, Hellbomb and Thrasher parted ways, with the Hellbomb crew setting up its own channels to continue independently.
Now, the latest Halloween gathering has left a sour taste in the mouths of some longtime supporters, particularly those in the Los Angeles skate scene who expected the annual event to remain open to the public.
The biggest complaint is not just the private guest list, but also the lack of communication leading up to the gathering.
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Some skaters had been waiting for announcements after seeing teaser videos online, only to discover that the event would not be open to everyone.
One skater expressed their frustration, writing, "So lame it wasn’t public this year. I get why but sucks with no transparency especially with the teaser videos people were expecting it. CHAOS or nothing!!"
For many skaters, the appeal of Halloween Hellbomb was never simply about watching people skate.
It was about the unpredictable crowds, spontaneous sessions, and anything goes atmosphere that made the gathering feel different from a typical skateboarding event.
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Another commenter explained why the private format felt like such a departure from what Hellbomb represented.
"What’s missing is the chaos. The wild freedom. The unexpectedness of it. This says, 'y’all are too crazy so we’re gonna throw a family and friends thing' This isn’t Hellbomb. This is some backyard bbq type shi"
Others were just as blunt about their disappointment, with one person commenting, "Lame that it’s not for the public anymore lol"
The criticism also touched on the kind of crowd attending this year's gathering. One commenter argued that the Los Angeles skate community was a huge part of what made Hellbomb special, writing, "Wow LA crowd is what made hellbomb. Now it's just a bunch of bougie elites in a private party skateboarding ver.. This is not hellbomb."
For these skaters, the event's appeal came from its connection to the local scene, where people could show up, skate, and be part of the madness without needing an invitation.
Restricting attendance has left some wondering if the gathering is losing touch with the people who helped build its reputation.
One commenter said that fans deserved to know in advance that the event would not be open to everyone, especially after the promotional clips had encouraged people to anticipate another Halloween gathering.
"Transparency about this not being open to the public this year would have been nice. If this continues to go private because of sponsors, etc being pissed, just stop supporting the account and show we’re not interested in their content anymore 🤷🏼♀️"
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Some Los Angeles skaters also said they had been waiting for details, believing the event would take place the following weekend, only to discover the private gathering through their social media feeds.
"All us LA homies waiting on the word thinking it’s forsure taking place next weekend only to see this on our timelines :/"
Another reaction was even more direct, with one commenter writing, "Gay as fuck it’s a private event"
Still, not everyone sees the private gathering as a bad thing. Our longtime follower and up-and-coming amateur skater Santana Saldana offered a different take on the situation, commenting, "Maybe this’ll get yall to behave next time."
That response points to the other side of the debate.
After the previous event ended early because of crowd chaos, some may see a private guest list as an understandable response to the problems organizers faced.
Managing a large gathering can be difficult, particularly when the crowd gets out of control and the event has to be shut down.
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With Hellbomb now operating independently following its split with Thrasher, questions remain about what future gatherings will look like and how the crew plans to connect with its audience.
Right now, though, the reaction online suggests that some fans are not happy with the new approach.
The question is whether this was a one-time decision following the previous chaos or a sign that future Halloween Hellbomb events will become private affairs.
If the crew wants to keep its longtime supporters on board, communicating its plans ahead of time could go a long way toward easing the frustration.
After all, for the skaters who helped make Hellbomb what it is, being left out of the party is only part of the problem.
Not knowing what to expect has become just as frustrating.