Alvin skate contest to be annual event
ALVIN — The inaugural Alvin Skate Fest brought out more than 60 local skateboarders eager to show off their skills.
The Nov. 20 event at Alvin Skate Park, in National Oak Park, 118 S. Magnolia, offered various levels for competitors in street skating.
The event drew about 200 spectators and prompted organizers to plan it as an annual event.
“It was absolutely crazy,” said Michael Gundling, who organized the event along with Carter Rangel. “They came from Houston, Dallas, Orange, everywhere.”
The festival was dotted with big names from the skate world. Brian Sumner, who used to skate with Tony Hawk, was one of the judges, as was Jordan Santana, a member of the U.S. National Team who cameclose to skating at the Tokyo Olympics this past summer. Noted North Texas skateboarders Austin McKillip and Isaiah Hooten were also judges.
Edinburg’s Eddie Gonzalez took first place in the advanced division, which was something of a surprise.
“(He) didn’t even know (the event) was going on,” Gundling said. “He just showed up at the park to skate. When he found out what was going on and heard about the prizes, he signed up and won.”
Gundling and Rangel head up Alvin Skate Crew, a faith-based outreach group that strives to connect with youths through skateboarding. They liked the way things turned out and want to make Alvin Skate Fest an annual event.
They’re already thinking of adding some new aspects.
“We’re thinking about adding a video wall so that we can project what is happening,” Gundling said.
Cary Perrin, president of the Alvin-Manvel Area Chamber of Commerce, was one of the spectators.
“I went out there with my kids and was totally blown away,” he said. “It had a nice, fun vibe.”
Part of that vibe, Perrin said, was the number of things going on at the same time. Aside from the skaters, the festival featured several food trucks, kiosks from assorted businesses and a stage manned by DJ Overflow.
One of the aspects that appealed to Perrin was the fact that spectators could get close to the athletes.
“What was so fun about it was that they didn’t rope off where you could sit,” he said. “You could sit as close as you wanted. So you could be six feet away and see these dudes doing epic stuff.”
Placing second in the advanced division was Jay Richards of Spring and third was Houston’s Jordan Miles.
Local talent ascended the podium in the intermediate division. Margarito Fernandez of Alvin took first, Atticus Wood, also of Alvin, claimed second, and Ricardo Pena of Manvel took third.
Rounding things out, Lorgan Garza of Houston topped the beginner division. Julian Asevedo of Orange was runner-up and Port Neches’ Devin Castille was third.
Gundling said he was told Skate Fest was the first youth-centric event held in Alvin in eight years.
“It was a really cool atmosphere where a whole bunch of people were there to support teenagers,” Perrin said. “It was very much, ‘Hey, let’s watch these teens do some really cool stuff that they really worked hard on. Let’s cheer them on.’ ”