Music and the sound of wheels on concrete filled the air at the Riverdale Skateboard Park. A group of skaters, ranging from experienced to beginner, hung around the perimeter of the park, watching as one of their peers would begin their run in the Skate Comp 2019 last weekend. The competition has been running for 22 years, according to organizer Joe Zucchiatti.

The sport said Zucchiatti continues to see more people taking it up.

"It is continuing to grow here," said Zucchiatti. "It wasn't reflected in the competition, but there has been a surge of teens from F.H. (Collins Secondary School), and they are bringing a new, interesting flavour from snowboarding and breakdancing."

The skaters on the day competed first in two runs. They were given a minute and had the full skate park at their disposal to show off their best tricks in a minute time frame.

Zucchiatti said it was a tight competition with a lot of good tricks being shown.

"Everyone went full-out, beyond the limits," said Zucchiatti. "Sometimes, at skate competitions, the outcome can seem pre-determined but all bets were off. Things were neck-and-neck.

"Even the guy who won was pleasantly surprised."

The winner of the advanced category was Vincent Meynard from Switzerland, who is here for the summer on a work visa. Meynard had a friend visiting from his home country who also competed.

"It was the first time I met them both," said Zucchiatti. "They got on their boards and just ripped. They were really good skaters and showed us a thing or two."

The closeness of the competition was apparent when Thor Stewart and Max Melvin-McNutt had to do an extra run to determine their placing behind Meynard.

Both threw down impressive runs and it was Stewart who won the tie-breaker in a run that Zucchiatti said could have won the whole thing if he had done it earlier.

The beginner category was won by Clement Potoroka from Dawson City.

"He was really cool and enthusiastic about the competition," said Zucchiatti.

Brothers Luke and Ben Keizer had skated to the second and third positions after their two runs.

Stian Langbakk was the winner of the intermediate class. Lucas Robinson followed and Jeremy Robert came third.

Zucchiatti said the older skaters enjoy seeing the young kids coming to the park.

"It's evident people get stoked to see the kids," said Zucchiatti. "You get to know the younger skaters and see them progress.

"They look up to the older guys and I find it interesting to interact with them on a peer-level."

Once the awards were handed out the skate competition moved to the best trick event. A timer was set and all the competitors lined up at the ramp nearest the parking lot to make their attempts.

A skater could do as many tricks as long as it was inside the timeframe.

Zucchiatti said like the early event the best trick was neck-and-neck.

"Some people go for something huge; it's high-risk high-reward," said Zucchiatti.

The skater who landed the best trick in the judges' eyes was Melvin McNutt who won with a "Crooked Grind across and down the Funbox."

By JOHN TONIN Sports Editor