Skateplaza Hosting International Contest Saturday

The Bethlehem Skateplaza on Steel Avenue will be hosting an international skateboarding competition Saturday afternoon.

“Make It Count” is a series of amateur skateboarding contests hosted in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan and Brazil to “seek out new talent and promote the Element message of social awareness, environmental stewardship, and positivity,” according to a news release.

Element is a company that sells skateboards, accessories and apparel and is the presenter of the event. 

The entry fee is a donation of at least one canned food item, which in turn will be donated to the New Bethany Ministries food bank.

The format of the event is a “jam-style skate contest, which takes the pressure off younger competitors and allows more experienced skaters to shine,” the Element news release says.

Registration will begin at noon and the competition will begin at 1 p.m. Those attending are encouraged by the city to park in the lot on E. Third Street between Buchanan and Fillmore streets. A walk east on the South Bethlehem Greenway leads directly to the Skateplaza.

Professional skateboarder Evan Smith will be one of the guest judges. The overall winner will be chosen by a team of judges including an Element professional. This recipient will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the finals at the Element YMCA Skate Camp near Sequoia National Park in California.

Finalists also get to travel to Los Angeles for a day at The Berrics, a private skatepark frequented by top professionals in skateboarding.

“This prize of an experience rather than a traditional cash purse leaves the participants with unforgettable memories, a taste of cultures from around the world, and a new found vision for a career in skateboarding,” the news release said.

Ultimately, one amateur champion will be crowed at the international finals and will be given a one-year Element sponsorship.