Polson Skatepark hosts another successful Skate Jam

Skater Adrian Garcia is in his third year of skating and already beginning to hone his craft.

Garcia, among several other Polson and regional skaters, participated in the annual Skate Jam Saturday at the Polson Skate Park.

Garcia, who got into skating after becoming envious of his older brother who skated, said he eventually developed a passion after he acquired his first-ever skateboard.

“Skating is my get away,” Garcia said. “It’s all me and it’s not just a sport. I just do it for fun.”

Garcia’s brother, Angelo Garcia, who recently moved California a couple of weeks ago, said he also likes the competitive aspect of skating.

“Every time I skate, it’s a lot of fun and I really like competing and learning new tricks with other skaters,” Adrian Garcia said.

Skater Bryce Jordan said he fell in love with the sport instantly.

“I’ve been skating since I was 12 and I just fell in love with skating right away,” Jordan said. “I don’t plan on not skating until all my limbs fall off.”

Event organizer Jesse Vargas is currently working with the Lake County community development corporation to try to expand the 7th Avenue Polson Skate Park.

“They are getting us on track and leading us down the trail,” Vargas said. “They are trying to figure things out. We are going to expand it to 12,200 square feet and probably double the size of the park. Our goal is to accommodate more of the youth and younger people. The people are getting into it and the way we see it now, people know how to ride.”

Because of the complexity of some of the tricks there are many young skaters that have trouble cultivating their skills with the current layout.

“The same group that initially designed the park is the group we are working with now,” Vargas said. “(When they designed the park), it was a difficult park to learn. Our goal is to have smaller features so less experienced skaters can learn and start on something.”

With several competitions all over the Pacific Northwest, offering more remedial courses for younger skaters will allow skaters to expand their horizons as they progress in their skating, Vargas said.

“(Skate parks) offer a place for kids to listen to music, they can get a bunch of free gear and that is kind of the tradition that we are carrying from the old skate park,” Vargas said. “Skate parks gives us something to work towards. They don’t have time to get in trouble. They can focus on getting better at skateboarding and biking. A lot of people and a lot of kids share that same thought and same process.”

Vargas said skating is a healthy alternative for kids that may not fit into the school-sanctioned events such as football, cross country and volleyball.

“I feel like there are a lot of kids and they may not necessarily like team sports,” Vargas said. “That is what is really beneficial about the skate park is that it gives them something constructive to do and they may not be get involved in less desirable activities.”

The following is the results from various competitions the 2017 Skate Jam at the Polson Skate Park:

Hip Best Trick

17-and-under

1st Adrian Garcia

2nd River Kasper

3rd Tucker Capell

18-and-over

1st Jordan Rodriguez

2nd Drew Payne

3rd Nathaniel Jordan

Street Best Trick

17-and-under

1st Adrian Garcia

2nd Tucker Capell

3rd Daquan

18-and-over

1st Isaac Knudsen

2nd Nathaniel Jordan

3rd Drew Payne

Game of S.K.A.T.E.

All ages

1st Joe Doane

2nd Jesse Vargas

3rd Jordan Rodriguez