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American Fork's new skate park is the first stop on a tour of skate events for amateur skaters in North America. The top seven in each division qualify for championships which will be held in Arizona this fall.
The Wild in the Parks contest will be Saturday at noon at Greenwood Skate Park at 400 South and 200 East. Other stops on the tour will be Houston, Costa Rica, Raleigh, N.C., Denver, Vancouver, British Columbia, Minneapolis, Portland, Ottawa Ontario, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Fla. and Calgary Canada. The championships are scheduled Oct. 18 in Peoria, Ariz.
American Fork's Recreation Director Derric Rykert said it was an honor to be selected as part of the tour.
"We are excited they selected us to host the event," he said. "There are only 16 stops across the nation. It will give us the chance to show off our park. I think it will be a fun day."
He paid tribute to the company, Volcom, which is sponsoring the tour.
"They are the big one for the whole skateboard industry and crowd," he said. "They are really big."
Jeff Arnold, spokesman for Volcom, said the park in American Fork was a good choice.
"One of the people that works in our skate department recommended it," he said in a phone interview. "He said it was a fairly new park and a great one."
Arnold said the competition would be good.
"It is going to be a lot of fun," he said. "The top seven in each division qualify for the championships in Arizona this fall."
"Wild in the Parks is for young up and coming skaters to come out and show their skills," he said. The skaters are judged on the tricks they pull in three separate park areas. The contest is free for competitors, including a free barbecue lunch. There are three age divisions -- 14 and under, 15 and over and Pro-Am (open).
Registration is done the morning of the contest outside the park beginning at 10 a.m. If a competitor is under 18, they need to have a parent or guardian sign a release waiver. Registration for up to half the spots is open online at volcom.com. Those who sign up online still need to have a parent sign the waiver if required. If someone signs up online and does not come by 11:30 a.m. that spot will be made available to someone else.
When competitors register, they get a free Volcom WITP T-shirt, sunglasses, stickers and other goodies. Depending on the event and division, prizes for the top five in each group will include cash (Open Division only), skateboards, wheels, bearings, grip tape, backpacks plus lots of Volcom clothing.
"We want to make sure every kid goes home with something," Arnold said. |
