Today is national Go Skateboarding Day, encouraging everyone who has a skateboard to get out and do just that. Now in its 20th year, the national day usually coincides with a local event here in Twentynine Palms for hi-desert shredders, but this year it almost didn’t happen…
Laurel: “To be honest, we didn’t even know if this event was even going to happen this year… because Paul left and it’s just us two on our own to get this thing going…”
Down one team member – Paul moved out of the hi desert this year but is still active on the Facebook page called “Aaron and Paul’s GO SKATE event” which is now – unofficially – Aaron and Laurel’s Go Skate Day, put on by husband and wife team Aaron and Laurel Arismendi, who you may have spotted around the skatepark in Twentynine Palms.
Laurel: “Aaron skates… I can ride the board and stay on it and do pretty good with that. I can do the world’s lowest ollie.”
Her husband, Aaron, has been the other half of the event for the past 6 years, and he’s been skating in Twentynine for a little bit longer.
Aaron: “Since about 2005, 2006 I started. Yeah, I’ve been skating for a long time.”
Before the skatepark opened, Aaron and other skaters in Twentynine Palms had to find spots around town at a time when the “no skateboarding” sign was common to see on streets everywhere.
Laurel: They used to skate up around all the different businesses, and they’d get kicked out and there was no park…”
Thankfully, the fear of kids shredding sidewalks has subsided, and now it’s common to see kids and adults skateboarding on sidewalks, streets, backyard half pipes and of course one of the many skateparks we have in the Morongo Basin, like Luckie Park Skatepark where tonight there will be something for everybody.
Aaron: “Even if you don’t have a lot of skateboarding skills we’ve got a couple events for you there. In the bowl area, we’re just going to ride around the bowl, ‘last man standing’ on their board so anyone can participate in that. At the end, we’ve got a death race… we’re going to build a track around that park and see who can race the fastest.”
Laurel: “Best trick in the bowl… best trick on the stairset…best trick on the funbox. We’re gonna have different sections where you can try your tricks on.”
Aaron: “We’ve got a couple younger kids who are going to jump down the big stairs and the handrail.”
Laurel: “Families can show up!”
Aaron: “Last year there was a kid and his dad who signed up for the competition. That was pretty rad.
The event may have come together a little later this year than it has in the past, but it had a ton of community support from local businesses.
White Label Vinyl has donated prizes, GRND SQRL is providing water and Gatorade to keep everyone hydrated. I Fall to Pizzas is slinging slices for contestants, the High Desert Times is donating Thrasher magazines for winners in each contest, Keep A Breast is donating gift baskets, Good Vibes Dyes will have tie-dye clothing and skateboard accessories available for purchase and the Happy Cooker food truck will be posted up alongside local bands Tragic Knight and Astro Cactus who will be providing the soundtrack to shred to.
Laurel and Aaron said that this year, the community really stepped up to make the event happen. When the $800 insurance fee for the event came up earlier this week, it only took a Facebook post and a few hours for the skateboard community to help pick up the tab.
Laurel: “On the first day of me making a post on Facebook.. ‘Help out so we can get the insurance covered so this event doesn’t have to be canceled. The skateboard community was phenomenal, people stepped up. That first day it’s all completely paid off.”
You can come on out to Luckie Park tonight to skate, compete in an event or just hang out with friends and the community. Sign-ups start at 6 p.m. as it cools down, and skating goes until dark.
Bring a helmet if you are under 18, and the entire night is FREE.
Aaron: “If you got skills, please come out and participate, compete. If you don’t, come out and be part of the crowd. We’ll give you a show to watch and you’ll be entertained!”
Laurel: “People of all ages!”
Aaron: “Yeah, a lot of people seem to be entertained by that death race…”
Laurel: “It’s good entertainment!”
Check out the videos below for some edits from previous year’s events, and head to Luckie Park Skatepark tonight to see some skating in person.
“Less dread, more shred!” -Laurel Arismendi
Reel edit on the group’s Facebook page.
