Yeti Snowskate Jam to be bigger, better
By DAVID ERICKSON
Whitefish Pilot
The fifth annual Whitefish Carnival Yeti Snowskate Jam will be held in Katie Patterson Memorial Park (Kiddie Park) on Central Avenue on Saturday, Feb. 7, before and after the Whitefish Winter Carnival Grand Parade.
The schedule is different from previous years, with the under-10 and beginners competing before the parade. Warm-ups for all others start at 4 p.m., with the competition running from 4:30-7:15 p.m. An open snowskate jam for all competitors will run from 7:15-8 p.m.
The event is organized and planned by local teens Travis Adams, Willie Hobbs, Tanner Hosek, Dylan Parr and high school teacher Matt Holloway.
“Last year was insane,” Hobbs said. “It blew me away with the tricks kids are pulling. We are going to spend all day that Friday before setting it up, and it will be the same format as last year. It’s a perfect place to do it, nice and open.”
The event was started and organized by former Whitefish High School student Bjorn Ryan-Gorman with support from his stepfather Paul Coats and many of his snowskating friends.
There are two basic designs for snowskates. Single-deck snowskates, similar to a skateboard without wheels and used primarily for doing tricks, are the boards that will be used at the Yet Snowskate Jam. Bi-deck models have a ski on the bottom and are used like a snowboard, without bindings, to carve down a hill.
A total of 55 competitors from 6-21 years old competed last year. This year, organizers are planning for 60-75 competitors. Riders of all ages and abilities are encouraged to compete in five categories — under-10, beginner, intermediate, advanced and expert divisions.
Prizes include snowskates from Premier and Ambition, gift certificates from Sportsman Ski Haus, and a variety of gear from Stumptown Snowboards in Whitefish and Spirit Skate Shop in Kalispell.
Registration forms are available at Whitefish public schools, Sportsman Ski Haus, Stumptown Snowboards, the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce and Spirit Skate Shop in Kalispell. Cost is $15 for riders who register before Jan. 30 and $25 after that. Registration will close at 11:30 a.m. the day of the event.
Organizers will limit the number of competitors this year to 15 in each category on a first come, first-entered basis. Registrations may be dropped off or mailed to the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce.
T-shirts, pizza and hot chocolate are included in the cost of registration. The Snowskate Yeti will be on hand with prizes for the crowd. Glacier Bank is the lead sponsor of this event.
Call Hobbs at 253-8823 for more information.