Skate movement aims to trick up opportunities

The Skate Movement is a new philanthropic organization developed to promote youth opportunities through skateboarding, said Allyson Harris, one of the 501 C(3) non-profits creators.

Harris said she and her husband Brian wanted to provide opportunities for youth who skateboard in facilities that match the “other world class facilities like Redding Soccer Park, Big League Dreams and Redding Aquatic Center.”

Harris said she and her husband feel that the area youth deserve the same opportunities as children who participate in more main stream sports, such as football, baseball and basketball.

“Skateboarding has tremendous physical benefits, as well as being a mode of transportation and an individual, life-long sport,” Harris stated. “With childhood obesity rates skyrocketing and physical activity amongst youth declining, we as a community have an obligation to foster opportunities for youth that encourage them to get moving and stay active.”

According to Harris, Skate Movement will bring sponsors and coordinate community events that will promote skateboarding. She added that Skate Movement and its founders are the producers of the North State Skate Series, which is an annual skateboard competition, put on by Anderson Parks and Recreation. It recently wrapped up its fifth year.

Harris said the Skate Movement and the North State Skate Series helps the community by building relationships in each of the host cities with local community members and businesses in Redding, Anderson, Red Bluff and Mount Shasta.

Harris also talked about a new partnership with the City of Shasta Lake that Skate Movement will be a part of.

“A new partnership with the City of Shasta Lake will bring a new opportunity for youth May 2012 when the Skate Movement presents the Free Your Mind Youth Skateboarding and Arts Festival on May 19, at Claire Engle Park in Shasta Lake City,” said Harris. “The free, community event will feature a skateboard competition, art show and demonstration, as well as a music and dance performances.”

Harris added, “The Skate Movement will continue to empower youth in the North State to express themselves by engaging in positive, drug-free activities that demonstrate their passion.”

Harris said it is the hope of Skate Movement that skateboarding youth will have equal opportunities “to engage in physical activity in state of the art facilities in the North State.”