MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Station residents found their way to the Station’s skate park, Aug. 28, to watch more than 15 skaters battle it out for the Invitational Skate Competition.
The Marine Corps Community Services and Take 4 skating company-sponsored event was open both to residents from on and off the Station.
“It’s great to get people from off the Station to participate in the event,” said Alex Perkins, MCCS special events coordinator.
“Events like this are very important in building good community relations. The skaters have a common ground; a common love. There is no language barrier in skating. All the kids could relate and communicate with each other,” he said.
The competition was divided into two categories: beginners and advanced categories, and comprised of competitors aged 9 to 20 years old.
The gala kicked off at 1 p.m. with a skating demonstration from Shuji Umeki and Kyouske Fuji, professional skaters from Hiroshima’s World Tribe (a skating company).
Once the demonstration concluded, the battle commenced with a three-minute run.
The beginners started first.
After every competitor had a three-minute run, they continued with a second one-minute run.
A brief intermission, during which the judges calculated scores, the advanced category commenced with their runs.
Again, the skaters each performed one three-minute run followed by a one-minute run.
According to Perkins, the skaters displayed a lot of creativity. The skaters utilized the many ramps and railings that the park is equipped with.
After all the runs were done, the crowd cheered for the effort that was put forth by all the competitors.
The winners of the beginners category was Bennie Parker; 3rd place winner, Dean Mastria; 2nd place winner, and Nick Forti; 1st place winner.
The winners of the advanced category were Tsubasa Yuasa; 3rd place winner, Yoshei Fujimoto; 2nd place winner, and Brandon Fung; 1st place winner.
The winners were awarded with skate decks, trunks, wheels and other skating products. The awards were given by Take 4.
Jon Hipolito, winner of last year’s best-skate trick contest joined in on this year’s festivities as a spectator and lover of the sport.
“It’s great that everyone from the community can come together and celebrate this sport. I hope one day more people can come and join,” said Hipolito.