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Skaters psyched by proximity to pros as tour visits Portland

Battle Ground park abuzz as kids hope celebrities drop by

By Marissa Harshman, Columbian Health Reporter
Published: August 14, 2010, 12:00am

While professional skateboarders and BMX riders competed in Dew Tour events in Portland this week, dozens of Battle Ground kids were flocking to the local skate park.

Many wondered if some of the pros would take a break from the Rose Garden event and trek across the Columbia River to the city’s 25,000-square-foot park.

The tour arrived Thursday and will be around through Sunday. By noon Friday, a couple dozen local skateboarders and bicycle riders were taking turns dropping into the bowl at the Battle Ground park.

By early evening, when the temperatures began to drop, the place would be packed.

While many of the local skateboarders visit the park daily during the summer, even when there’s no professional event nearby, several said they would be excited to see a big name make an appearance.

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“It’d be cool. I’m not going to lie,” 18-year-old James Cooper said.

The park occasionally hosts events where professionals make guest appearances and sometimes, including Friday morning, professional skateboarders from Portland teams will practice at the park, Cooper said.

Cooper suspects the tour will attract more people to the park, even if pros don’t show up. The popular park is well-known throughout the region. As people travel to Portland to watch the Dew Tour, Cooper said he wouldn’t be surprised if they stopped at the Battle Ground park to check it out.

La Center resident Gabe Lindblon visits the park every morning. Recently, he said, the park has been buzzing with talk of the Dew Tour. Last weekend, more than 100 people were at the park one afternoon.

The 13-year-old said he’d like to meet Chaz Ortiz, who is competing in the skate park event. But, he said, if any professionals from the event made an appearance, local skateboarders would flood the park.

“There’ll be lots of people who want to learn from them,” he said.

Twelve-year-old Malik, who didn’t want to give his last name, was in Battle Ground for a family reunion. He spent Friday afternoon skateboarding at the park and said he thought it was “really cool to have the pros around.”

Events like the Dew Tour make many young skateboarders feel more confident in their own abilities, he said. When kids see pros executing tricks, they’re eager to try them too.

“I think it definitely makes more kids inspired,” Malik said.

Marissa Harshman: 360-735-4546 or marissa.harshman@columbian.com.

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Columbian Health Reporter