Skate Jam to open with new concrete at Polson Skatepark
Kristi Niemeyer
Loni Havlovick and Jesse Vargas stand on the north edge of Polson Skatepark as the Dreamland Skatepark crew completes the most recent addition, just in time for this Saturday’s Skate Jam.
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When skateboarders convene Saturday, Aug. 7, for the Polson Skatepark’s annual Skate Jam, they’ll spin their wheels on the smooth concrete of an all-new 6,100-square-foot addition, completed Aug. 3 by Dreamland Skateparks.
“You’ve got the best street section in Montana,” one of the workers told Jesse Vargas, who’s been spearheading the project with his partner, Loni Havlovick. He was referring to the origins of the sport, which began in southern California with skaters plying the pavement, curbs, stairs and handrails of urban streets.
Vargas is confident the addition to the north and west sides of the park will help novice riders improve their skills and more advanced boarders up their game.
Since the skatepark closed to the public June 23, the Dreamland crew has built a number of new features that make it more accessible. With a lower height on the platform, stairs and rails, “this whole side is geared toward beginners to intermediate riders,” Vargas says, walking along the north rim of the park.
It also gives more advanced riders an opportunity to refine their skills. “It’s going to be a really fun area for everybody. I know I’m really excited about it,” he says.
The main features are dedicated to major donors and skateboarders. A sloped wall in the northeast corner pays homage to Rogue Brewery, in Oregon, a longtime supporter of skate parks; a low, rectangular platform is named for Polson native George Cutright, who built the community’s first skatepark on the corner of 7th St. E. and 7th Ave. E. and founded the skate jam; and Polson Rotary earned a plaque for financing the A-Frame, a feature where two sides converge in a peak, creating a more advanced and versatile component.
A bench perched in the northwest corner commemorates Cameron Roullier, who fell from a cliff above Mud Lake Falls in the Mission Mountains in 2018, just a few weeks before his high school graduation.
“Cameron started coming to the park when he was 5 or 6 years old with his brother and dad and was just a really great kid, so we decided to dedicate part of the skatepark to him,” says Vargas. Dreamland donated a concrete bench, which perches in Cameron’s Corner, shaded by one of the park’s few trees. His father placed the plaque last Friday.
In order to cut costs, Havlovick and Vargas housed the eight-person crew at their house during most of the construction while the couple was on an extended road trip. Some slept inside, and others set up tents on the deck.
“They’re a great group of people,” says Havlovick of the Dreamland workers. “They’ve gone above and beyond to make this thing happen.”
The jam, which starts at noon and marks the grand opening of the new section, includes contests, prizes, giveaways, live music by Hellcat Maggie, two food trucks, and a beer garden featuring libations from Rogue Brewery. The event wraps up near dusk with a “product toss” of skateboard gear. “We get everyone in the bowl and just throw stuff,” says Vargas.
“Spectators are encouraged,” adds Havlovick. “Even if you’re not a skater, come hang out.” The city sets up benches, and people bring blankets and sit in the shade. A large tent also offers a break from the sun.
Proceeds from beer and merchandise sales go toward the final phase of the skatepark, slated for completion next summer. That portion fills out the south and east sides of the park.
“We’ll be pushing each edge out 20 feet, creating a circuit where all features seamlessly blend,” says Vargas.
Although it took nearly seven years to come up with the funds for this summer’s project, Vargas is confident that final phase will be finished a year from now. That leg will cost $150,000 to $200,000, depending upon the cost of materials.
Potential contributors are lining up, and donations are welcome, he says. The finished product “has the potential to help people’s skills grow exponentially,” he adds.
Who knows? With skateboarding just added to the Olympic roster, a rising star just might get his or her start in Polson.
For more information on Polson Skatepark and Saturday’s jam, email polsonskatepark@gmail.com or check out the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/polsonskatepark.
