The 13th edition of Battle At The Berrics, aptly named "Freedom," took a unique spin on the contest, challenging skaters with their tricks and the evolving concept of freedom within skateboarding.
The competition stirred controversy as freestyle pro skater Andy Anderson faced backlash for disregarding the rules.
The debate over whether skateboarding should have rules or remain a canvas for unrestrained creativity ignited when legendary skateboarder Mike Vallely boldly proclaimed, "There are no rules in skateboarding."
As Girl Skateboards pro Sean Malto takes on the battle with 2020 SOTY Mason Silva, he questions why it is freedom when there are so many rules.
It raises questions about the balance between artistic expression and adhering to the essence of skateboarding.
When Silva read "No Malto Manual Sh*t," Malto immediately said, "This is getting less and less free. There's a lot of rules to freedom."
"This is Battle At The Berrics Freedom, but here's twenty rules," Silva said.
BATB 13's "Freedom Rules" seemed to tap into this exuberance, inviting skaters to embrace the idea of limitless creativity.
However, the unconventional approach brought the clash of two philosophies to the forefront: those who believe skateboarding should remain untethered by rules and those who see guidelines as essential for maintaining contest integrity in skating.