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Annual Skate Jam draws excited, young crowd

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POLSON – More than 30 skaters ages 9-26 came out to the Seventh Avenue Skate Park in Polson on Saturday, July 30 for the 14th Annual Skate Jam to compete for top of the line skate merchandise and to test their skills among their peers. Skate Jam coordinator, Dever Graham, said despite a late start, the event had a large crowd of spectators and was a big success overall.

“It went really well,” Graham said. “I saw a lot of new people from Mission and Missoula. It’s good to see new faces and people from the outside.”

The event is open to anyone and it is free to compete in all of the events throughout the day. A featured event this year included best ollie, where skaters ollied over stacked tires and trashcans until the pool of skaters was whittled down to only a select few.

Skaters also competed in a skate influenced version of the famed game “horse.” To win, skaters had to match their competitor’s tricks to avoid elimination.

All merchandise given away was donated from Adidas Skateboards, Edge of the World in Missoula, and Shaggy Boyz skate shop in Polson. The Montana Trial Lawyers Association also donated skateboard helmets.

Graham said despite the recession, the companies who have supported Skate Jam in years past really came through this year, offering high quality merchandise for the top skaters to take home.

According to Graham, the prizes given out were top quality items such as free shoe certificates, skateboard decks, t-shirts, hats, and skateboard wheels.

“I want to make sure to give them something that they can use,” Graham said.

A younger crowd than usual participated in this year’s event, but Graham says he likes having a new generation of skaters interested in the event.

“I do it for the younger kids, they get really excited,” Graham said. “I want people to realize we have a nice skate park and that companies are giving out good merchandise.”

“They (young skaters) see it as an individual sport,” he said. “It gives kids some excitement.”

A skater for life, Graham says he will continue to work towards keeping Skate Jam going for years to come, and appreciates the help and support from both Chris Bacon of Edge of the World, and George Cutright.

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