The Annual Golden Stompdown is drawing near once again.
This 12th-annual event is held on Saturday, Sept. 8 at the Golden Freeride Park next to Mount 7 Rec Plex on 9th Avenue N.
The skateboard and bike competition is entirely run by volunteers from the community, and is funded by donations from businesses to help promote active lifestyles in Golden.
The event is youth based, and is open to any age or skill level. Riders will be able to register at noon on September 8, and the event will begin at 2 p.m.
“The main goal of the event is to inspire the youth of Golden to keep progressing in their sports alongside their friends,” said organizer Jessie Oatway. “This event is important to me because I grew up with a junkie skatepark that was eventually condemned and destroyed. For years we had nowhere to play and were frowned upon by others for riding the streets.”
The event aims to bring the community together to celebrate the use of the Golden Freeride Park and to raise awareness that phase two of the skatepark should begin, creating a flatland section for beginners.
In the past, there have been up to 40 competitors, made up of 80 per cent children, and more than 300 spectators.
There will be prizes for the top three competitors in each category, and there should be at least seven categories.
The event will be marketed throughout social media sites, websites, local radio stations, and posters will be put up throughout the community and neighboring communities.
Columbia River Catering will provide food truck services throughout the day of the event and there will be music playing all day. It is free to enter the competitions and there will be many activities on the sidelines, like piggyback races and timed pump track races.
“By hosting this event and bringing the masses to our municipal freeride park it helps raise awareness as to how important this facility is for our community and how many people, kids and adults, use it,” Oatway said. “It is my goal to have our facility completed as it was not. We desperately need a flat section of park so it is easier for beginners and is more likely to have continued support for years and years to come.”
