The feel-good groove of skateboarding was alive and well at the sixth annual Ketchum Skateboard Contest at the Guy Coles Skatepark in Ketchum Saturday.
"Oh man, it was fun. There was a lot of good energy and I think people had a good time," organizer Andy Gilbert said.
The event attracted 32 riders, ranging in age from five to dinosaur—when you factor in Gilbert's remark when summoning the 16-18 year old class. "All the old guys can start warming up."
Riders weathered a storm that blew through the area, and then proceeded to blow away the 100 or so spectators who lined the bowls.
Jens Peterson was overall champion, tallying the highest score of the day with an 89.
"Jens last run was awesome. It was so clean. It was like he was skipping through the park," Gilbert said.
Nick Cvetich was second overall and Mal Prior third.
Riders in eight different divisions competed in a two-run format with the winners from each division going head-to-head in the finals. All class champions received a trophy and competitors are now sporting cool new T-shirts, designed by Chatham Baker.
Jim Slanetz of the Board Bin, the event's title sponsor said, "Everyone was pretty stoked about the way it turned out." Adding to the atmosphere was DJ Press Play spinning his rocking party tunes.
Six-year-old Cora Schneider, the lone girl in the event, had the crowd on her side as she rocked the ramps.
"I have been practicing a lot," she said after her run. "I am happy I did it."
Skateboard results
Girls 6-Under
1—Cora Schneider.
Boys 5-8
1—Jett Erickson. 2—Jedson Waters. 3—Miles Jones. Also: Clyde Montgomery. Jake Albright, Canyon MacDonald, Elk Spencer and Matthew Cooper.
Boys 9-10
1—River Dreyer. 2—Gavin Shipley. 3—Luke Robertson. Also: Brendon Reilly, Yuri McClure, Mikey Levy, Zach Brown and Nicholas Cooper.
Boys 11-12
1—Ben Parker. 2—Wyatt Caccia. 3—Shane Reilly. 4—Erik Pierce.
Boys 13-15
1—Mal Prior. 2—C.J. Cooper. 3—Stewart Byerly. Also: Michael Nero and Erin Ricker.
Boys 16-18
1—Evan Pierce.
Boys 19-25
1—Jens Peterson. 2—Luke Strong. 3—Grant Godard. Also: Mark Oliver and Tal Roherts.
26-Over
1—Zeb Stroebel-Haft. 2—Justin Pigeon. 3—Will Duval. Also: Benji Charles, Ben Verge, Nick Scutich, Zach Venzon, Chris Mattias, Andy Gilbert and Andrew Church.
Will Duval gets air in Saturday?s skateboard contest. Photo by Willy Cook
