Proceeds Will Go Toward Finishing Skate Park

RIDGWAY – Skaters of all abilities and age groups, get ready next weekend’s skateboarding competition to be held at Ridgway Skate Park on Sept. 19 at noon. Funds raised at the competition will be used to build more skating features at the park.

According to event organizer and 10th grade Ridgway High School student Sam Middleton, the competition is open to skaters of all abilities and many skaters are coming from across the Western Slope to compete.

“We have three different classes: beginner, which is pretty much for those aged 10 and below; intermediate; and advanced,” Middleton said. “There will be skaters attending from Telluride, Ouray, Montrose, and Grand Junction.”

Middleton said this is the third fundraising competition that has been held in Ridgway to raise funds for the park, which is located across the street from the Chipeta Sun Lodge in Solar Ranches. A few years ago, when the first portion of the skate park was built, Middleton and fellow organizer Katie Ferris realized that the skate park wasn’t being used much by the region’s skateboarders because it wasn’t completely finished.

While the fate of the final portion of the skate park – which will include street skating obstacles like stair sets and handrails if built – was in limbo for some time, Middleton was happy to report that the town has OK’d the needed space for the addition, so now all that is needed are the funds to build it.

“The town gave us some more space to add on and so now we are trying to finally finish the skate park,” Middleton said. “What we have been pushing for a long time is the addition of a stair set and handrails. Because street skating is a different type skating it will bring skaters a different outlet instead of going up and down, back and forth all the time.”

The skate comp on Sept. 19 will have food and drinks for sale along with great contestant and raffle prizes that include skateboard decks, T-shirts, hats, stickers, sweatshirts, and gift certificates.

“A lot of cool stuff goes on at these competitions,” Middleton added. “The advanced skaters get technical and really big. It is really fun to watch.

Anyone interested in participating in the competition can call Middleton at 626-3720 and leave their name, phone number, email, age, and what class they want to participate in.