At one time, Kevin Ice needed an outlet.

So the Moniteau High graduate packed up his car and drove across the country to California to make his snowboarding dreams come true.

Now a professional in the sport, Ice wants to give others an outlet.

Ice has organized a skateboarding competition, which will be held Friday at Father Marinaro Skate Park beginning at 11:30 a.m.

"I know a lot of skateboarders and they don't have anything like this," Ice said. "They need an outlet to improve."

Ice decided to provide one for them.

The Butler Progression Session was born.

In a whirlwind three weeks he put the event together, getting help from the city of Butler and a lot of interest.

Ice said 35 skateboarders have sent in RSVPs for the event and he knows of 15 to 20 more who will compete.

The event will also feature performances from live bands Wasted Talent, For the Record and Ten Count Fall.

There will also be a best trick contest.

"This is about pushing the envelope of skateboarding in Butler," Ice said. "There are some great kids doing some great things on a skateboard and no one knows about them. I just felt like I had to do this."

Skateboarding has become a popular sport, thanks in large part to the X-Games.

A recent poll conducted by American Sports Data said there are more than 18.5 million skateboarders in the world and 85 percent of them are under the age of 18.

Skateboarders who are not 18 must have their parents sign a waiver form to compete in the Progression Session.

Ice was a skateboarding enthusiast as well. But a broken ankle suffered while on a skateboard interrupted his snowboarding season.

"Ever since then, I've been concentrating on snowboarding," Ice said.

Ice is spending his offseason taking classes at Butler County Community College to get his degree.

One day he wants to start his own company, either selling clothing for action sports or becoming an agent for snowboarders and skateboarders.

He's starting with the Progression Session.

"Basically, while I'm here, I want to give some kids a venue," Ice said.

Grant Grdunac is one of them.

The Moniteau graduate who now lives in East McKeesport, competes in events when he can.

But for him, skateboarding is less about winning and losing and more about the thrill of competition.

"In my mind, it's not about if you win or not," Grdunac said. "It's about going out there, thinking about what you want to do that would be cool and doing it. It's all about expression."