The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

This last weekend the 10th annual was held at the Big Sandy Skate Park. There were around 200 people in attendance; the furthest away was Alex from Costa Rica. "Dan was coming from Brazil but couldn't because of COVID." They came from all over the United States to take part in the event.

Everyone knows Randy Katen, who was a professional in the 70's. They told me to talk to him because he knows everything about skateboarding. I went to where he had a chair in the shade and asked for an interview. He said, "Can we wait for 30 minutes." He was on his way to skate. At 61, he was still showing everyone how to do skate. I thanked him for working with my grandson, and he said, "This is something I've done my whole skateboard career. I take kids and teach them the basics. Your feet belong here; let's make the board turn, and let's do a kick turn front and back." He wears full protective gear and encourages kids to make sure they wear everything to protect themselves. He told me he had had a small stroke, and the doctor was wondering if he ever hit his head. "Ya, I had. You hit your head in sports. Anyway, there had been a small small blood clot that moved. You have to wear protective gear!"

Skate Boarding is a young sport compared to others. "I started skateboarding in 1974 when I was 14. I was too small football, basketball or baseball. When I was a freshman, I was 90 pounds. I didn't need to be a certain weight to skate. My brother gave me my first skateboard. Back then, it was like just carving--like skiing or surfing. Like in a year or two, we were building wooden ramps--you know, a piece of plywood leaning up a garbage can. Skate parks were starting to come out in 1976. Cement contractors were building them, and they were horrible. The best thing about the sport was when skateboarders got older and started building skate parks.

He was a pro for 8-10 years before Tony Hawk. "Back then, a pro would sell skateboards for food and gas."

"I am a friend of Jeff's. That's why I come to Big Sandy. What a generous guy Jeff is. He is up to 23 skate parks. And he gives away 100's and 100's of skateboards. You know he's just a kid from Big Sandy."

I promoted this in California, and this event has been going on long enough now; they just want to be a part of it.

Right then, Dorothea came up to me and wanted my attention. I introduced her to Randy and told him she was afraid of skating. He said, "Come here, Dorothea. I have something for you," and he went to his car and gave Thea a skateboard that would hold her feet in place safely. You should have seen her face, and she had such a huge smile.

A family that came from Lewistown to see old friends and the incredible skaters gathered here. The father said, "This is the healthiest environment I can bring my kids to!"