Community celebrates National Go Skate Day
A community on wheels and off gathered Tuesday for camaraderie and competition to celebrate National Go Skate Day at Father Marinaro Park.
Skateboarders of all ages showed off their best tricks as a way to give back, win prizes and raise awareness, and a crowd gathered to support them.
Sean Carcaise, event organizer and owner of DirtyRamen Skate Shop on Main Street, said the day was a way to bring the skating community together.
“I’ve been skateboarding my whole life, I’ve had a passion for it forever. There’s a strong community but there’s no one fostering that community,” he said. “This is about getting kids on a board and raising awareness. This is our home.”
The day began at noon, with vendors such as Mixtape Street Eats of Slippery Rock and local bands like Subarctic Beach Party serving up food and tunes for attendees. Multiple skating competitions took place for skaters, age 17 and younger or 18 and older, where they could show off their skills for more than $750 worth of prizes.
Alex Chrzanowski, who helped Carcaise with the event, said skating is a way to improve children’s lives.
“Part of our mission is to keep kids out of trouble and drugs. If they’re skating, they’re not into those things,” he said. “This is for kids who don’t want to be on the football team. If they’re not comfortable, people can come here and be comfortable.”
He added that events like this show the community of the importance of parks like Father Marinaro.
“I hope people take away that we’re here, we’re a valid part of society,” he said. “We’re boarders, and places like this are important to us.”
Brandon Russell, of Butler, had just completed his turn in the one minute run competition, where skaters do their best trick in under a minute.
Russell said he decided to attend to support local entities.
“Butler was absent of a skate shop for the longest time, and there’s no other brotherhood like skating,” he said. “If you skate, we support you, there’s no judgment.”
Jordan Hyatt said he’d been skating for 14 years, and attended to support his friends.
“(Skating) is my outlet,” he said. “I like to say it’s like my church. It’s a way of life, people are brought together by it.”
“We’re all here and we’re having fun,” Russell said. “There’s nothing bad about today. The food is good and the competition is good.”
