Published September 4 2014
The Bellevue Skate Park will celebrate its 20th anniversary September 19-21 with a pro-am skateboarding competition featuring the Northwest's first super ramp and 10 of the best riders in the world.
The competitors will skate for $50,000 in prize money at the EZ Rocks Skate for the Cure event. The celebration, at the skate park (14224 Bel-Red Road), will also feature live music, including performances from the Thermals and School of Rock, free skate and disc jockey clinics, food trucks, carnival games, a silent auction and prize giveaways from over 30 sponsors. Highlights will include:
- The largest skating ramp (250-foot long/40-feet high) ever assembled in the state;
- Top-ranked Mega Ramp riders in the world, including Mitchie Brusco, PLG, Jake Brown, Jono Schwan, Trey Wood, Jaeger Eaton and Sky Siljeg;
- The first ever highest air and best lip trick contest on a super ramp;
- Five Division Street contests for all ages and abilities with a $7,500 purse; and
- A girls-only skate competition for a $2,500 purse.
The event will benefit the Zakes Foundation, created by Brad and Nancy Zakes in memory of their son, Ethan, a skateboarder who lost his life in 2011 to adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) at the age of 10. The Zakes Foundation is a non-profit, charitable corporation established for the purpose of funding newborn screening programs for rare childhood diseases and providing academic scholarships for at-need-youth.
The event will also celebrate the Bellevue Skate Park's 20-year anniversary. Built in 1994 as a project of Bellevue Youth Link, the facility was the first of four skate parks built in Bellevue.
The event is open to spectators and participants of all ages. Tickets are $10-$15. For more information, visit www.EZRocks.org or call the Bellevue Skate Park at 425-452-2722.