Jeff Moran

the new wild west

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They call him Rock and Roll Vertone.

WORDS: JEFF MORAN

PHOTOS: JEFF BUYDOS

It’s about time!” “We’ve needed this!” “I can’t wait!” These are just a few of the comments heard over and over. We couldn’t have agreed more.

After years of chatter within the Jackson skateboard community about how we needed some type of skate contest, the stars finally aligned in June 2013 when Claire Johnson, Lauri Aittola, and I joined forces with Teton County/Jackson Parks and Recreation to give the skaters of Jackson what they’ve been craving. Although our motivations varied slightly, our initial goal was the same: create a fun event that showcased our local skatepark and skaters while drawing attention to the amazing talent, camaraderie and culture that exists in our skateboard community. After getting the green light and dedicated support from Mike Estes and Jill Russell at Parks and Rec, we realized we had our work cut out for us.

We needed a name. We needed dates. We needed sponsors.

How were we going to market? Could this really work? Would anyone show up?

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Arrow Bupp travels great lengths for a better view. As Claire, Lauri, and I met regularly to hash out the details and create a plan of attack, we realized we had the opportunity to create something so much bigger than simply a couple skateboard contests. With rumors floating around that the Jackson skatepark was going to be torn out,* and the realization that communities with their own thriving skate scenes surround Jackson Hole, we set out to create an event series with a more profound impact than simply stoking out a few skaters with free T-shirts.

“Holy shit, we were creating a ‘real’ community event!”

In the words of my dear friend Chris Hessler, our skate series started to suffer from “scope creep.” What was initially a local contest series started to grow into many different and bigger ideas: let’s make this a regional event with skaters from all over the Northern Rockies; let’s involve artists, vendors and musicians; let’s show everyone in the community how dedicated and hard working the skaters in Jackson really are. Our local skate series was quickly transforming into a platform for us to not only stoke out our family of skaters, but also a way to present skateboarding to a larger audience. Our series displayed to the general public the talent, passion and camaraderie that exists in a subculture they don’t know much more about other than what they’ve learned from the X Games. Holy shit, we were creating a “real” community event!

We went back and forth on a name and then one beautiful July night, the amazing Amy Glenn nonchalantly suggested, “What about the ‘Wild West’ series?” And so the Wild West Skateboard Contest Series (WWSCS) was born! Claire, Lauri, and I then hit up everyone we knew in (and out of) the skateboard industry for sponsorship. Before we knew it we had amassed more than 30 sponsors and more than $10,000 in cash and prizes. That’s when I realized this was actually going to happen. If nothing else, at least we had some swag to give away.

Our first series in the summer of 2013 was immensely more successful than any of us had expected. We produced two events, both at the Jackson Hole Skatepark, which saw more than 500 spectators ranging from babies to grandparents who came out to watch more than 50 female and male skaters of all ages and abilities. Skaters came from all over Wyoming, Idaho and Montana to compete in both bowl and street contests. Thanks to Jeremy Tofte of Melvin Brewing we were able to give away $1,000 in cash prizes to our open class competitors and series champions. We had DJs, a band, artists, and food and gear vendors for everyone to enjoy. Jackson’s Mayor Mark Barron and his wife, Wyoming State Representative Ruth Ann Petroff, even made an appearance.

For the summer of 2014, Claire, Lauri, and I decided to expand the WWSCS in hopes of reaching a broader audience and creating more of a regional feel for the series. We added a third event at the 5th Street Skatepark in Driggs, ID, and tied in an already existing skate contest in Ketchum, ID. As with the 2013 series, all our events had street and bowl contests for competitors of all ages. With our generous sponsors we were able to amass around $12,000 in cash and prizes to give out, including three oneof-a-kind artworks by artist Amy Dowell (check her work on the front cover), for our series champions: street, bowl and overall.

Ultimately, 2014 saw more skaters, more spectators and an elevated level of skating than our first season. We were again able to raise money for two Jackson nonprofits: the Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club and Teton County/Jackson Parks and Recreation. For me, the biggest rewards were that the WWSCS highlighted the insane talent that exists in our local and

Driscoll Larrow ruins his base graphic. regional skate community and it created a gathering for skaters of all abilities, ages and backgrounds to come together and shred. We all made new friends and contacts. We all smiled, high fived and cheered each other on. And we all went home thinking, “It’s about time,” “we’ve needed this,” and “I can’t wait… for next year!” jm

*At this time, the Jackson Skatepark is NOT in jeopardy of being torn out.

For more information, photos and videos of the Wild West Skateboard Contest Series visit WildWestSkateboarding.com or check out the contest on Instagram: @WildWestSkateboarding

#WildWestSkateboarding

#WWSCS 25

2013 SERIES CHAMPIONS

STREET: JAKE JOHNSON, JACKSON, WY BOWL: ANDY SKINNER, JACKSON, WY OVERALL: ANDY SKINNER, JACKSON, WY

EVENT PRODUCERS

CLAIRE JOHNSON, LAURI AITTOLA, BOARDROOM OF JACKSON HOLE, JEFF MORAN, JACKSON HOLE SKI & SNOWBOARD CLUB’S FREERIDE PROGRAM, MIKE ESTES, TETON COUNTY/JACKSON PARKS & RECREATION

THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS:

AION MFG, AMY DOWELL / THE PAINTED LADY, ASYMBOL, AVALON7, BERN, BLUEBIRD WAX, BRAINFARM, DRINK WATER, DVS, EXPOSURE SIGNS, FOUR4 PRODUCTIONS / FULL CIRCLE FRAMEWORKS, GOPRO, JACKSON TREEHOUSE, JH WEEKLY / JH SNOWBOARDER MAGAZINE, JACKSON HOLE SKI & SNOWBOARD CLUB, LAKAI, MIZU WATER BOTTLES, PEAK PHYSICAL THERAPY, PINKY G’S, REMIND INSOLES, THE SKATEBOARD MAG, SMITH OPTICS, SNAKE RIVER BREWERY, STANLEY-PMI, TETON CREATIVE VISUALS, TETON CUTTING BOARDS, THAI ME UP / MELVIN BREWING, TORMACK CUSTOM SCREEN PRINTING, TRANSWORLD SKATEBOARDING, WHISKEY BARBERS, WYPY/ WRKSHRT DIGITAL