John P. Brackin - Freelance Writer - Articles

Skateboard Park Launches Contest Series

Alabaster Newsletter, February 2007

In his ongoing crusade to promote skateboarding, Brian Kelly of Ride Skateboards has created a skateboarding competition series for Veterans Skate Park.

The ongoing competition has already held four different contests, and though it’s still in its infancy, it’s creating quite a name for itself with area riders.

“The competitions have been growing. Each one, we’ve picked up about ten more participants than the last,” he said. “The kids are picking up on the recognition and the trophies and the prestige of it.”

The contests are divided by age group and specialty group, like team and sponsored riders. Contest winners receive trophies plus points, which will be used to determine who qualifies for the yearend championships in June.

Veterans Skate Park The fourth contest was held Dec. 9, and included several local winners. First-place winners included Kane Taylor (9 & Under), Rollie Kraus (10-13), Michael Smith (14-17), Justin Cruce (18-Older), Chris Coffman (13 & Under, Sponsored), Jonathan Barnard (14-17, Sponsored), Bryan Park (Men’s Division, Sponsored), and Ride Skateboards (Best Team). Both Barnard and Park are sponsored by Ride Skateboards.

The contest series is part of Kelly’s ultimate goal to create an amateur skateboarding association to provide structure and organization to the traditionally grassroots sport.

“That’s why we’re doing this,” he said. “We’re generating a classic schedule, doing camps and clinics at the park, until we start really putting together an association of participants. And that hopefully will drive the competition as well.”

According to Kelly, the idea of skateboarding as a sport waned in the 1990s, following the death of Tony Hawk’s father, Frank Hawk, who headed the National Skateboard Association. Now, Kelly feels the sport is ready for a return to organized competition.

“Back in the older days, there was no doubt about who was the best in the world. That’s the flavor that we’re looking to bring back. The credibility. Where I can say, hey, I’ve taken six of the last ten contests out there at Alabaster, I have the bragging rights, I have the credibility,” Kelly said.

The next contest is currently scheduled for March 10. Subsequent contests will be held throughout the spring on the second Saturday of each month. For more information, go to http://www.rideskateboards.com.