Skating in The 562

It is no secret that the Long Beach youth love to skate. There are a few skate parks here and there, but on Satuday, July 23rd, Freedom to Ride; Skate Jam BBQ brought out some of the city's skate life to Bixby Park (which is nowhere near Bixby Knolls).

With a live DJ, Long Beach Skate, free hotdogs, and the summer sun in the LBC, how could this not be a fun event?

There was a "best trick" competition open throughout the five hour event along with a "high ollie," "most beat up board," and even a very intense game of dodge-ball. The small skate park had no less than fifty skaters rolling through at any given time and they made sure to take full advantage of the great weather and free food. The high ollie competition went all the way up to 36" which was a world record about ten years ago. This event was also the break out of our 562 City Life sticker!

This Skate Jam BBQ was put together by ASK Long Beach, Long Beach Skate, and Suja Lowenthal along with a few other sponsors throughout the community.

"They should have more stuff like this, I'm out here on the daily but its dope to see how many people are out here doing their thing," said Marcus who only paused briefly to have a quick drink of water.

Many parents had their young children on the grind and inter weaving amongst skaters three times their size. When a little one would fall, a more experienced skater would help them up, give them a few words of encouragement and ride away. This vision reminds many that no matter how skaters are seen in the public eye, they support eachother. All of those at the event, reguardless of whether they were on a board or not, knew that this was a safe environment and everyone was just trying to have fun; this is the Long Beach that everyone needs to see. Hopefully there are many more events like this and maybe we might see more citylifers out there.

Where do you think some other good spots to have a skate event would be? Did you ever consider yourself a "skater?" Do you know other people who would have liked to know about this going on?

Find more photos like this on 562 City Life

562CityLife is in part funded by a Long Beach Community Foundation Connected Corridor grant supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation's Transformation Initiative.

This blog is in part sponsored by the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra

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Comment by alex D. on July 30, 2011 at 5:36pm: SK8 or DIE!!!

Comment by Jane Tipton on July 25, 2011 at 6:34pm: thanks Terry, I will let you know of the next event!

Comment by terry ward on July 25, 2011 at 3:58pm: jesus, i have seen several trash cans nearly flattened by them laying them on their sides to bonk off of them. the rocks that used to be by the fountain area between b'way and 2nd have been removed. was it because of the damage they suffered at the hands...i mean the boards of the skaters or just to keep the skaters on the other side of the street? the benches there have been recently repainted, it will be interesting to see how long before they strip them of their new coat. so dont tell me there aint damage being done. i see it everyday. and if one of them gets near me n my dog flying off those stairs, well, he'll meet that cement he's riding on up close and personal. and jane, i will stop by. i like those events a lot. dont get me wrong, they're a great group for the most part and i support city funds going to parks for them, but no one, including the police seem to care about the damage being done.

Comment by Jane Tipton on July 25, 2011 at 3:19pm: Mos Def Jesus! I will have a booth at the HP event too!

Comment by Jesus Hernandez on July 25, 2011 at 2:04pm: Please let me know next time you have an event Jane!

Comment by Jane Tipton on July 25, 2011 at 11:27am: Every group has troublemakers but we can't pin a few of them on all Skateboarders. Hey Terry... hope you stop by one of our Autism Events at the Park. It would be great to meet another neighbor that cares about our community!

Comment by Jane Tipton on July 25, 2011 at 11:17am: I too live across the street from the park so I know what you are saying. But, to make it clear. Those are not all the same kids that are the daily skaters at the park. ASK Long Beach is run by a very respectable man in our Community, Mike Donelon, who would never allow his group to behave in such a way. He teaches them respect and they also do community service for my group Autism in Long Beach. The skaters that day were from LB Skate, On the Grind, and ASK Long Beach. Different than the hang out kids that are there all day. Now a few of them come and go to various parks in the city, but please don't confuse them with the troublemakers. They are all great kids with bright futures.

Comment by Jesus Hernandez on July 25, 2011 at 11:10am: How do they destroy public property? I'm sure they do, just not sure how. I'm glad you stopped by and enjoyed it!

Comment by terry ward on July 25, 2011 at 10:50am: i live a few blocks from the park and walk my dog there daily. it's a shame that i see many skaters destroying public property (trash cans, benches, etc) or endangering one's safety, especially the stairs at the bathrooms, caring only abut themslelves. I FULLY SUPPORT THE PARK AND STOPPED AND WATCHED SOME OF THE EVENT ON SATURDAY. IT WAS GREAT. but, they gotta realize there's a time and place for everything.

Comment by JulsnMatt1028 on July 24, 2011 at 11:48pm: I'm down - For real...

Skating in The 562

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