For those seeking a more athletic alternative to this weekend’s Funhouse Fest, Skate Jam might scratch that itch at the James City County Skate Park Friday night.
Sarah O’Reilly, recreation program coordinator for the county’s Parks and Recreation Department, said the event brings together the area skateboarding scene and the larger community.
“They’re looking for things to do. They want to feel involved in the community,” she said. “I’m hoping it’s going to be a good, fun time, something different.”
The skateboarding and BMX bike competition marks a partnership between James City County Parks and Recreation and the Triangle Skateboard Alliance, a nonprofit group established in February to build and improve area skate parks while encouraging community service.
Founder Max Pfannebecker said that although he doesn’t skate himself, he uses the sport to help teach his son life lessons. It’s a spark of inspiration he hopes others might also find.
“I thought my kid would be a soccer player, and instead he’s a very determined and fearless human being at 9,” he said. “I love that it builds grit and perseverance.”
The competition features segments for beginner, intermediate and advanced athletes, with several people competing at once and facing elimination one-by-one. A best-trick competition encourages bolder tricks and more air, and a game of SKATE emulates the classic HORSE concept, in which one person performs a move and a second must emulate it to continue.
“There will be little bit of everything,” Pfannebecker said.
Competitors will battle it out for more than $1,000 in prizes.
O’Reilly said they expect 15-30 participants and a larger crowd of spectators surrounding the skate park.
For the parents and grandparents who might normally simply drop their skaters off and drive away, it’s a chance to experience what their loved ones find so fascinating.
“This gives them an opportunity to come out and watch and do something a little more formal,” O’Reilly said.
Beyond the spectacular sports, the event features other attractions, including like the Stuft food truck serving tacos and ambiance provided by the York County-based Colonial DJs.
Pfannebecker lauded the diversity found within the skateboarding community, as it fosters determination and attracts enthusiasts of all genders, all races, all walks of life.
“I think spectators can introduce themselves to a sport that maybe they haven’t seen up close or maybe they have a different idea about,” he said. “It’s a bit of everything and it’s a sport that everybody can do.”
Want to go? Infobox
Skate Jam runs 5-8:30 p.m. Friday at the James City County Skate Park, 5301 Longhill Road. Free to spectate, $10 to enter the competition; registration available onsite.
