x
  1. Home
  2.  News
  3.  Sports

GWL Skatepark hosts first annual skate contest

| 03 May 2018 | 05:58
    Vinny Carrozza performs a back flip on his way to winning the BMX Open Jam Session at the Do It For Dale Skate Contest.
    Vinny Carrozza performs a back flip on his way to winning the BMX Open Jam Session at the Do It For Dale Skate Contest.
    Spencer Griffler grinds on the rails in the 11-17 Skateboard Competition at the Do It For Dale Skate Contest.
    Spencer Griffler grinds on the rails in the 11-17 Skateboard Competition at the Do It For Dale Skate Contest.
    Gavin Donaldson celebrates after winning the scooter Open Jam Session for competitors 10 and Under at the Do It For Dale Skate Contest.
    Gavin Donaldson celebrates after winning the scooter Open Jam Session for competitors 10 and Under at the Do It For Dale Skate Contest.
    Photos by A.J. Arias Russell Hansen flies above the crowd at the Do It For Dale Skate Contest in the 18 and over skateboard open jam session competition.
    Photos by A.J. Arias Russell Hansen flies above the crowd at the Do It For Dale Skate Contest in the 18 and over skateboard open jam session competition.
    Competitors and members of GWL Skatepark assemble for a group picture at the Do It For Dale Skate Contest.
    Competitors and members of GWL Skatepark assemble for a group picture at the Do It For Dale Skate Contest.

By A.J. Arias
GREENWOOD LAKE — The GWL Skate park Corp. held its first annual Do It For Dale skate contest on Sunday, April 29, in the parking lot of the Greenwood Lake Police Department.
The contest was another fund raiser in non-profit’s continued efforts to construct a skate park just off Windermere Avenue across from Chase Bank.
The contest was held a day shy of the two-year anniversary of the passing Dale Hirrel. It had multiple components, including an open jam session for BMX, skateboarding,and scooters for three different age groups; 10 and under, 11-17, and 18 and older.
The competitors competed on ramps, boxes and rails that were donated by George Berger of Junior’s Skate and Sport.
Junior’s, which is located in Hewitt, N.J., served as a sponsor for the event and main tool in reaching out to the competitors.
Winners of the competition received prizes from the events other sponsors, including a season pass to Mountain Creek, skateboards from Nimbus Skateboards, as well as other items such as T-shirts, skateboard stickers and wheels from Vans, Burton, Stimulus Skateboards and Junior’s Skate and Sport.
Notable victories from the event included Gavin Donaldson, who won the first event of the day, the scooter open jam session for kids under 10.
Vinny Carrozza later wowed the crowd by performing a back flip on a BMX bike during the BMX open jam session for competitors 18 and older.
Finally, Russell Hansen amazed the crowd by reaching heights around 10 feet in the air, flying well above the crowd’s heads in winning the open jam session for skateboarder’s 18 and older.
The skate park in Greenwood Lake was something of interest for the competitors. Spencer Griffler, who competed in the skateboard competition for competitors 11-17, said he currently has to travel as far as Ringwood, N.J., or Peekskill to practice his skateboarding.
Coming from Tuxedo, a skate park in Greenwood Lake would be, according to Griffler, something he’d be very interested in.
The GWL Skate park group has collected nearly $10,000 on its way to the goal of $300,000, according to their website, GWLSkatepark.com.
The group will next host a Do It for Dale Blood Drive on Saturday, May 5, at 9:30 a.m. at the Elks Lodge. On June 17 to 23, the group will host a DoughRai$er at Uno’s Pizzeria.