The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

November 21, 2008

Skate contest Sunday

By Amelia A. Pridemore

A Beckley Freedom Park skate contest originally set for today has been moved to Sunday.

Mark Hitchcock, a Beckley resident and employee of X-Treme Sports, said the contest at the North Eisenhower Drive skate park will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday. He said the weather should be warmer and drier. The contest, featuring a game of “skate,” is free of charge and open to skateboarders and in-line skaters of all ages.

Hitchcock said the game is like the popular “horse” in basketball. One skater has to perform a trick, and the next must duplicate it. If a skater fails at the latter, he/she will receive a letter that will eventually spell “skate.” Once “skate” is spelled, the skater is out. However, the contest will be double-elimination, meaning skaters must lose twice before they are totally out of the game.

Winners will receive prizes that include several pieces of skate equipment.

Hitchcock also hopes to kick off more fundraising efforts for the park at the contest. The father of four sons said he would like to see young people take the lead in a fundraising committee that would raise money for additional ramps.

“For them to raise the money, it would give them a sense of responsibility at the park,” he said. “It would give them a sense of ownership and pride. ... That’s what we do over there. We’ll ask them to clean up. We’ll tell them, ‘Go clean your park up. Keep your park clean.’ That’s the goal we will always have.”

— E-mail: apridemore@register-herald.com

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