Wheels in Motion! 2014 PFSP Skateboard Marathon.

Debbie Little-Volunteer

The Portage Family Skate Park held their 2nd annual marathon on September 6th what a blast! Each entry got a tee shirt. This tee shirt had each sponsor name on it. The tee shirts came from Design 1 apparel. They did a great job.

The skaters, skated down Edgewater street to the levee, where many of the skaters, skated the levee also. They all came back to the where the north begins. There they listen a band and got into a drawing. 4 skaters won boards from Dubs longboards and new designs from the Revolutionary skateboards.

One of the main sponsors this year was Healthsource of Portage. They rock taped many of the skaters. Before the event and after. It was just a great day for skaters and the Portage Family Skate Park Board. We will be holding the marathon next year again. So see you in 2015 in September.

Andrew Tamminga-Art Director

2014 Portage Family Skate Park Marathon
On Saturday September 6, 2014 a small group of Skateboarding and Long Boarding enthusiasts set out from the far end of E Cook St. in Portage. They rode their boards west along E Edgewater St. then shifted to the Canal bike path and followed it over to where it exits onto W Edgewater and after one short block entered the bike path for the levee. They were cheered on as they passed Riverside Park, where some stopped for refreshments before continuing the full length of the levee and returning to the park.

After a somewhat disappointing first Marathon, it was great to see that the number of participants had more than doubled from that of last year. This year all participants received a commemorative T-shirt, donated to the PFSP by Design One, and were treated to a fantastic show, put on by Sound works. Other sponsors of the marathon showed up with a wonderful variety of items for the PFSP to raffle, tents and displays, and even an opportunity to get rock taped to prevent sore muscles and swelling. Four lucky individuals left with new long boards of their own to ride in next year’s marathon.
We at the Portage Family Skate Park believe that the 2014 Marathon was only a taste of what this event will become in future years. Portage’s annual marathon embodies all the benefits that we at the PFSP believe a skate park in Portage will bring to the community. The Marathon promotes physical activity in the community, promotes the development of new businesses, and business connections, promotes the use of existing but underutilized infrastructure in the community, and promotes safety first when participating.

The Marathon allows us to demonstrate all these benefits before the skate park has been built and the benefits will only multiply with a new park with new opportunities for similar events in the Portage area.
The Portage Family Skate Park Project is extremely thankful for all of our sponsors, and volunteers who helped make this year’s Marathon a success. PFSP Thanks Revolutionary Skateboards, Dubs Longboards, and State Line Skate Design, for attending the event and informing people about your products and businesses. Thank you Heath Source, New Life, and American Family Insurance, of Portage for your support of Skateboarding as a legitimate recreational sport. Thank you Push for Peace for your efforts to promote our event.

Thank you to Elements of Wisconsin Dells for your continued support of everything we do. Thank you
Design One for the donation of T-shirts for all our participants and volunteers. Last but not least, thank you volunteers for keeping our participants safe while traveling on Portage’s busy streets. This event wouldn’t be possible without your time and efforts.
Plans are already being discussed for next year’s marathon. Visit our website and search marathon to keep up on the latest news, find links to preregister for next year’s marathon, offer a sponsorship, leave us feedback on your experience this year, or give us suggestions to improve our event next year.

Todd miller-Vice President

The second annual Skate Park Marathon was full of new attractions! The first being the awesome staff from HealthSource Chiropractic was at the start to rock tape anyone that wanted, they were a lot of fun to work with. Dubs Longboards from Baraboo skated with us, and brought Coda the skateboarding dog, as well as donating two of their custom decks for the raffle, thanks guys!! As always the Portage police and volunteers were great, thanks to them and the city for allowing us to have this event! At the finish there was a small festival; Revolutionary Skateboards had a tent set up with a sampling of their custom decks and worked the crowd with discussion, skate demonstrations, they donated two decks for the raffle, too. Roll on Revolutionary! Portage Soundworks sent the A-Team, their band Apt Pupils, and provided an excellent show which included involving the audience. You guys Rock! The festival was rounded out with comradery; everyone talked, learned, taught, and had fun.
We would also like to thank other sponsors: New Life Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, Sheila Link-American Family Insurance, State Line Skate Design, Push for Peace.

We couldn’t have done it without you!!!