As the Athens Skate Park’s gates opened Saturday, a crowd of folks rushed inside, eager to enjoy the day’s skating festivities and live music from two stages overlooking the park.
The fifth annual Skate Jam took place on East State Street, and the park was teeming with skaters of all ages, wielding skateboards, roller skates and scooters. Attendees planning to enter one of the several competitions pinned their contestant numbers on their clothing and waited to drop into the bowl.
Starting with open skate and ending with an award ceremony, Skate Jam was an all-day bash. The park also had food trucks on site, featuring gourmet grilled cheeses, Thai food and hot dogs. Skate Jam volunteers could be seen pouring beers and serving other alcoholic beverages for attendees 21 and older.
“It’s just really easy going,” Sienna DeForest, a local and Athens High School alum, said about Skate Jam. “It is such a good atmosphere and the competitions are super fun.”
The event had merchandise for sale, with t-shirts and long sleeves ranging from $5 to $35 and featuring an Athens Skate Jam design. Some shirts also included the band lineup for the day, and there was also jewelry for sale, including earrings and necklaces.
All proceeds from tickets, clothing and alcoholic drink sales were donated to the non-profit organization Sojourners Care Network. Sojourners' youth programming services provide resources for homeless youth in Southeast Ohio.
Proceeds also help the skate park afford repairs and additions for future Skate Jams and locals. This year, the park was able to build a new skating area next to the large “Grindline” bowl.
Vic Stone, a Skate Jam volunteer, said Sojourners assisted him in a time of need with its homeless sheltering program. Stone said the skate park is home to him and his friends.
"I've been here on days where there isn't a contest happening, and you'll find a lot of great guys out there, genuinely just so nice,” he said. “Everyone around here is trying to work together.”
Stone said his favorite skating competition was the deep end bowl competition, held at the end of the night.
“You see a lot of real big players come out,” Stone said. “I know two years ago we had someone who actually got roughly 15 feet of height in the bowl.”
Alongside the thrilling competitions, Stone said the bands gave off a 90s and 2000s feel, creating a nostalgic environment for many attendees.
In between the skating competitions, the bands took turns playing their sets, keeping the crowd energized and entertained. The lineup featured nine bands, with a couple from Athens, including Swage and Dune.
A majority of the bands traveled from places across Ohio, but a few had a longer journey to make. Today’s Milk came from Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Cel Ray from Chicago.
DeForest, with her roller skates in hand, encouraged people who had not attended the jam to take the opportunity and explore the bowl.
“I love coming here every year,” she said. “I look forward to it more (than) the Pawpaw Festival, just because it's so small and localized.”
Lilly Claypool, a Columbus local, said she has attended Skate Jams before, but this was her first Jam experience in Athens. Claypool said she has been skateboarding for three or four years, and skateboard enthusiasts are comfortable and inclusive.
“Everyone is very nice, very welcoming,” she said. “Everyone, I can tell, is very excited. Be you, have fun, shred.”
Skate jammers interested in attending or competing in next year’s festivities can check out @skatejamathens for more information.
