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Skate Jam brings attention to Polson Skatepark

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POLSON — Though the gray skies threatened, the clouds parted and left Polson Skatepark dry and cool — perfect conditions for skaters from Polson, Missoula, Kalispell and everywhere in between to come together on Saturday and show off their best tricks.

Event organizers and hosts Jayson Pichler and Eddie Woodcock were pleased with the turnout of the roughly 50 skaters that came to compete, ranging from ages 8 to adult. 

“It definitely exceeded my expectations,” Pichler said. “Especially with the forecasted weather.”

Skate Jam is a completely free event that includes competition, free skate, music, and prizes. All prizes were donated by various national and local businesses including skateboarding stores and restaurants. 

Competitions included “best trick” in different parts of the park, such as “best ride in one of the bowls” or “best trick landed off the stairs,” games of S.K.A.T.E. played like horse at the basketball hoop, and a 13-and-under children’s competition. Prizes included skateboards, skateboarding gear, clothing, restaurant gift certificates and much more. Along with the competitions, there was a “product toss” where participants stood in one of the big bowls while prizes were randomly tossed down to the lucky persons catching the gifts.

Mission skater Jordan Armijo took top honors in two of the best trick competitions, winning a pair of skateboard decks. For Armijo it’s not just the prizes that brought him to Skate Jam — skateboarding is his passion.

“There’s just a lot of reasons why I love to skate,” Armijo said. “It’s kind of like a getaway, and it’s fun. This has been amazing. I didn’t expect to come out here and win. There are a lot of good people out here, I’m just so thankful.”

Armijo has been skating for only five years yet is know by the other skaters around the valley for having a natural talent. Armijo gives credit to role-model skaters that he has spent the last five years around that have taught him different things along the way.

“I’ve had a bunch of older people helping me out, basically showing me what to do,” he said. Yet Armijo attributes most of his skating success to his parents.

“My mom and dad are my heroes,” he said. “They have supported me through all of it.”

Woodcock believes positive influence plays into the very basics behind the importance of an event such as Skate Jam for small communities and the local skaters of Polson want to prove that skaters are athletes; for some kids, it’s also a positive outlet that involves them getting off the couch and burning energy. 

“There may be some bad figures associated with skating but we are not like them,” Woodcock said. “We want to show everybody that this can be positive in people’s lives if used the right way.”

Both Pichler and Woodcock agree they would like to get more kids out to their park, and hosting events such as Skate Jam is a way to bring recognition to Polson’s park and to the sport. Pichler believes skateboarding in Polson has lost some popularity, and hopes that local competitions might bring some of the excitement and drive back in the younger generation that is thinking about starting out.

“It’s fun for everybody and it’s cool to get other skaters from other towns to come here and have fun,” Pichler said. “We just want to make everybody aware and interested.”

With the success of this year’s Skate Jam, next year’s event is already being planned out. Although Woodcock found that the use of social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, and word of mouth among valley skaters helped get their event out into the public, he plans to use his experience of this last event and include even more advertising next year.

“I’m excited,” Woodcock said. “It’s going to be amazing.”

Pichler and Woodcock are a humble duo, both giving credit to each other for the success of Skate Jam, but also both want to give “high fives” to their sponsors, stating “we couldn’t have done this without them.” 

Sponsors included local businesses Shaggy Boyzzz Skate Shop, Edge of the World, Bomb Skateboards, Mexpress and corporate businesses including Vans, Skull Candy, and LRG.

Results

Best tricks

Hip Transfer – Jordan Armijo

Pool – Jake Spencer

Slant Sections – Jordan Armijo

13 and Under – James Charboneau

 

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