High-flying competition

Dear Editor:The Snowmass Recreation Department held its second annual SkateMASS skateboarding event on July 24 under hot sunny skies. Beginner through Advanced Division skate were held plus Best Trick in these categories, and the end of the day featured a Pool Jam session with the Advanced skaters. Eight kids competed in the Beginner category. Clare Mulvey won the female division, and Jack Coyne won the men’s. In the Intermediate, Craig DeFeo took the honors, and Derek Seurynk won the Advanced Division and $200 main prize from Red Bull. The Best Trick saw the competitors push the limits of the skate park and also their bodies. Jack Coyne again grabbed the honors for the Beginner Division, while Mathew Cunningham won the Intermediate Division with a 10-foot launch onto flat, to the relief of the crowd. Jeff Wexley took the hotly contested Advanced Division, and Derek Seurynk won the Bowl Jam and the $100 prize from Alpine Bank. Thank you to all the sponsors for the day: Without your generous prize donations this event would not be possible. Thank you to our long list of sponsors: Red Bull, Alpine Bank, Radio Boardshop, Polar Revolution, Snowmass Hospitality, the Viceroy Hotel, Casual Culture, Sidewinder Sports, Tasters Pizza, Aspen Snowmass, D & E Sports, Blazing Adventures, Goodfellows Pizza, Fuel, and the town of Snowmass Village. A huge thank-you to Travis McLain from Radio Boardshop, for his entertaining and professional emcee skills for the event. To the judges; Justin Whitney, Eric Angus and Alex Reyes, thank you for your skills and tabulations. Thank you to David O’Connell from Red Bull and also Pat Faurer for the event logistics during the day. Your help was much appreciated. Finally, thank you to all the competitors for attending and pushing the boundaries of your sport. We had a total of 25 competitors in the division skate and then 34 in the Best Trick and Bowl Jam; your passion and skill for the sport was appreciated by all spectators and fellow competitors. Cheers to another great year, and we will see you again next year for the third annual SkateMASS contest.Chris “Woodsie” Woodsrecreation specialist, Snowmass Village Parks & Recreation