Despite Saturday’s heat and the threat of skinned knees and elbows, dozens of skating enthusiasts turned out for Pembroke’s first-ever skateboard competition, the Country Town Throwdown, at the city’s skate park at the J. Dixie Harn Community Center.
Skaters came from Hinesville, Atlanta, Statesboro, Metter, Claxton, Bluffton, S.C., and more to show off their skills in hopes of winning prizes. The contest was hosted by the city of Pembroke and sponsored by several companies, including Awards South, Coca-Cola, Woody’s Halfpipe, Evidense and others.
Pembroke Recreation Activities Coordinator Lee Lawrence deemed the event a success.
“It’s going great,” Lawrence said Saturday. “If it wasn’t for all of our helpers, I don’t know how we would have done this.”
Recreation Director Carol Wilson said she thought the turnout for the event was great. She said she hopes to see more skateboarding contests in the future.
Pembroke Mayor Mary Warnell echoed both Lawrence and Wilson’s comments.
“This is my first experience with a skateboarding competition and I’m really pleased,” Warnell said. “I think the staff did an excellent job in getting everyone here today. Maybe this can become an annual event for Pembroke.”
Around 30 skaters participated in the competition, which offered skate times for beginner, intermediate and advanced skill levels. Will Boatwright, who helped judge and facilitate the competition, said he was impressed with the skaters.
“I’m always psyched to see the beginner (skaters) because they’re the future,” Boatwright said. “The intermediate is looking really good, and advanced looks really good, too —some skaters are on par with some professional-level skating I’ve seen.”
Read more in the Aug. 22 edition of the News.