Mo Brown, competing in the 11 to 17 year old age group, rides the rail as the crowd watches at the First Annual T-Town SK8 Throwdown on Saturday, May 22. Brown finished in seventh place in his age group. Photo by Emily Hanson
TONASKET – The First Annual T-Town SK8 Throwdown was a huge success, exceeding all expectations of event organizers and sponsors and raising over $450 for the B3 Skatepark, as of press time.
A total of 19 skaters competed in the event, including nine skaters from Tonasket, two from Okanogan, three from Omak and five others who traveled from as far as Nespelem, Mansfield, Leavenworth and Bellingham. Over 200 spectators crowded the edges of the B3 Skatepark in Tonasket’s Chief Tonasket Park to witness the spectacle. The best skateboarders from Okanogan County and beyond hurled themselves through the air to the amazement of onlookers as DJ Sticky of Sick Donkey Records spun conscious hip hop, reggae and dancehall music. The sound system was powered by a solar panel and battery bank system provided by Mikkel Gredvig of the Solar Shop.
On hand to host and judge the competition was the Lib Tech Skate Team, of Squim, Wash. Team Manager Kevin “Shag” Pugh announced the event and provided running commentary, while sponsored riders BJ Strait, Kevin Vanausdale, Scott Schoeneman and Anthony Tuan judged the runs. Competitors were scored based on the style and difficulty of their maneuvers and points were only awarded for tricks that were successfully landed. Also on hand to represent Lib Tech were new riders Caleb and Tron (no last names given). The Lib Tech team rode and talked with local riders both during warm ups before the competition and afterward.
“Tonasket has a good thing going with the B3 park,” Pugh said. “The park design offers challenges for all skill levels, which means it will still be fun for the kids as they grow up and get better at skating.”
Once the competition was concluded, Sick Donkey Records conscious reggae and hip hop artist Essential I entertained the crowd while the judges tallied their scores and assigned the skaters their respective prizes. Over $1500 in prizes were awarded thanks to the overwhelming generosity of local businesses. Lib tech donated a snowboard deck, two skateboard decks and numerous hats and t-shirts. Nowls Skate Shop of Omak supplied a skateboard deck, a backpack and an I-path hoodie. Revolution Snow & Skate of Wenatchee provided two skateboard decks and a pair of DC shoes. Other prizes included Subway sandwiches, pizza, cds, t-shirts, beverages and stuffed ponies, among other prizes.
At the conclusion of the T-Town SK8 Throwdown, contestants and spectators moved to the Community Cultural Center of Tonasket for a cheese enchilada dinner prepared by Cyndi Benitez. During the meal, Andy Sirokman of GearBoxFilms showed his original short film of the Skidmark Terrain Park Rail Jam and debuted his snowskate documentary “Skate the Snow”, which was filmed in part at Sitzmark Ski Hall. Ingredients for the dinner were donated by the Tonasket Natural Foods Co-Op, Grant’s Market and Al’s IGA. Beverages were provided by The Junction and Tonasket Exxon. Use of the facilities was donated by the CCC.
All in all, more than 30 local businesses donated money, resources and prizes to make the event happen.
“The T-Town SK8 Throwdown was an event to be proud of,” Pugh enthused. “I’ve never seen an entire community give support to a skate contest before and I’ve been doing them for years. What’s going on out here is amazing.”
Every entrant received a free T-Town SK8 Throwdown t-shirt of an original design by Ras Scott Mosher of Ites Design. A limited number of remaining T-shirts were available for purchase at Allen’s Auto Parts. T-shirts cost $15 apiece and 100 percent of the proceeds go toward further improvements of the B3 Skatepark. T-shirt sales are expected to raise another $285 for B3.
Two special awards were given to riders who showed extraordinary heart and fortitude. Ama Hartman was given the “Only Woman Man Enough” award for being the only female rider to “man up” and enter the competition. The “A Little Pain Never Hurt Anyone” award was presented to Josh Thompson for competing in the event despite having broken his nose during the warm ups.
The First Annual T-Town SK8 Throwdown was sponsored by Revolution Snow & Skate, Lib Tech, GearBoxFilms, Solar Shop, Tonasket Police Association, Community Cultural Center of Tonasket, Sunstar Computer Services, Sick Donkey Records, Ites Design, Nowls Skate Shop, Allen’s Auto Parts, Subway, City of Tonasket, Tonasket Natural Foods Co-Op, Su Ianniello Massage Therapy, Grant’s Market, One Drop Coffee Shop, PumpCo, Tonasket EMS, Havillah Shake/Kris & Phil, Tonasket Exxon, Whistler’s Family Restaurant, Aspen Body Works, Tonasket Pizza Company, Tonasket Interiors, II Sisters Home Video, Wild Rose Floral Design, Papa Murphy’s Pizza, Wells Fargo Bank, Steve’s Discount Stereo, The Junction, Shannon’s Café & Deli, Al’s IGA, Rancho Chico and Kathy Vaughan Sensaria Body Care.
The complete results are as follows:
10-years-old and under age group – 1, Tyler Jobes. 2, Isaiah Askew.
11-years-old to 17-years-old – 1, Tyler Fife. 2, Odin Barnett. 3, Shaun Sadino. 4, Bodhi Barnett. 5, Sean Waters. 6, John Blath. 7, Mo Brown. 8, Josh Thompson. 9, Ama Hartman.
18-years-old and over – 1, Shawn Pare. 2, Jimbo McKinney. 3, Guy Rao. 4, Johnny Berg. 5, Emmet Douke’. 6, Russell Douke’. 7, Andrew Miller. 8, Michael Minkes.
