Organizers for the first-ever Hay City BMX and Skate Competition say it was an overwhelming success and are enthusiastically predicting it will be an annual event.
The competition, a youth-initiated event that was hosted by the Town of Olds in partnership with 360 Snow & Skate, was held July 28 and 29 at the Olds Skatepark in Centennial Park.
“Things went extremely well. People were coming in as far away as Edmonton and Calgary,” said Karen Strocher, co-organizer of the event. “There were people who came who honestly said they had never before been at a skatepark, nor seen the calibre of competitors. It was pretty amazing.”
She said between 150 and 250 people came to see the first-ever local competition which featured 29 BMX and 16 skateboard competitors. The event attracted participants from throughout Mountain View County, Calgary, Edmonton, Airdrie, Innisfail, Blackfalds, Drumheller and Lacombe.
“Competitors said it was a really well run event and they were impressed on how friendly the people were,” said Strocher, adding $485 was raised during the weekend for the Olds and District Hospice Society.
“When people see all the things they (competitors) can do on a BMX and skateboard it might interest other people to get involved. Anybody can do it.”
Both Strocher and Michelle Turnbull, the town's community facilitator, said the success of the event has given them every reason to believe it should be an annual affair, particularly because it was inspired by youth.
“A lot of them got involved, and it was great to see them excited and use the facilities,” said Turnbull. “It is also a great way to showcase the skatepark and Centennial Park.”
For the competition, there were three classes for both BMX and skate: Young Guns, for competitors up to 12 years old; Amateur, for riders 13 and up; and Open, a competition for elite competitors 13 years old and older. Each competitor ran two heats. Each heat was one minute in length. Three judges evaluated each ride on the use of the park, style, flow, creativity and difficulty.
The top three participants for both Skateboard and BMX competitions were:
Skateboarding
Young guns, 12 and under
1st: Darcy Trad - Calgary 2nd: Brandon Wall - Sundre 3rd: Chris Campkin - Sundre 3rd: Jaxon Harvey - Innisfail Amateur - 13 and up 1st: Trevor Martin - Lacombe 2nd: Colton Popow - Lacombe 3rd: Kevin Rowan - Olds
Open – 13 and up elite 1st: Sonny Netterfield - Drumheller 2nd: Brandan Lachance - Innisfail 3rd: Winston Campkin - Sundre
BMX Young Guns, 12 and under 1st: Kurtis Donovan - Airdrie 2nd: Carson Donovan - Airdrie 3rd: Kolby Hall – Olds
Amateur – 13 and up 1st: Eric Fahlman - Olds 2nd: Colton Halwa - Edmonton 3rd: Anthony Zinck - Blackfalds
Open – 13 and up elite 1st: Darcy Peters - Calgary 2nd: Brian Baert - Edmonton 3rd: Scott Vollmin - Calgary
