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What: Skateboard competition
Where: Beasly Park & Turner Park - Hamilton, ON
When: August 15th & 16th
Written by: Samantha Payne

Hamilton is no stranger to hundreds of skateboarders showing off their tricks and abilities at the many skate parks around the city. On August 15^th and 16^th the Annual Hamilton Sk8 Jam is back to allow some local skaters a chance to prove themselves.

"It's the longest running skateboard competition of it's nature," said skateboard shop owner and member of Hamilton Skateboard Assembly (HAS) Conrad Hotrum. 

The competition was first established when Hotrum, and a group of local skateboarders, that used to ride Beasley Park, got together with a local skateboard shop at the time and put the whole competition together. This year will mark 17 years since the competition started.

"The whole point behind the competition is to showcase the talent of local skaters. You have big bragging rights amongst other skaters if you win Beasley.  We created it for the fact of showing off who has been skating the best that year," said Hotrum. "It's a big thing to win at Beasley. If you can surpass all your nerves and you are on your game, it's a big thing."

While the competition draws a couple hundred spectators every year, the Hamilton Skateboard Assembly are worried about the park's current condition.

Beasley was the first skate park in Southern Ontario. It was built back in 1991 and it was renowned for what it offered to skaters. "Tricks are a little difficult there. The park is very dated now. The tricks you can do there are timeless but again very dated," said Hotrum.

The HAS is currently in negotiations with the city of Hamilton to take control of the Beasley Community Centre. Their hopes are to create a fundraising plan for resurfacing the park and restoring the bowl to its former self.

This year, the second half of the competition will take place at the new skate area in Turner Park on Hamilton Mountain. "We're really curious to see how the park will be this year," said Hotrum.

This two-day weekend packed with events will showcase the talent of skateboarders in such events as Highest Ollie on Flat, Best Trick out of the Bowl, Best Trick on the Quarter and more. "Best trick on the quarter pipe and Best trick out of the bowl are the more exciting events for spectators. If you aren't a skateboarder, some of the other things won't be overly exciting. So I definitely recommend the best tricks events," said Hotrum.

Entrance to the contest is five dollars a day for each rider regardless of whether they ride for a shop or not. Hotrum believes that whether you are a rider in the competition or just coming out to watch, it's a good way to get involved.

"It's a good way to support your community and the local skaters. It's entertaining to watch. It's not like paying for a band at a club and then you don't like their style of music. It's a spectator sport, a very positive sport and it's just a good time had by everyone."

August 15^th - 16^th
Saturday at Beasley Park
Sunday at Turner Park
Noon-5pm
$5 entrance Fee to compete

 

 

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