"Open Soar" Fundraiser for new skate park.

Our competition in June.

It started with an idea to promote my music here in Mtn. Home. My wife and I have thrown all age hip-hop shows with break dance competitions in Spokane, WA. I thought I could just do the same type of thing around the sport of skate boarding and found that the youth, parents, and business owners are desperate for a more professional skate park.

For the youth, they found they couldn't always make it to Boise for a competition or even to practice on the ramps they have there enough to compete well. The parents want their kids to have a positive place to learn and practice. The business owners want their stairs and concrete to not get destroyed or to be safe for customers. Not to mention they get tired of having to kick them off their property!

We have taken it upon ourselves to raise funds to get the professional park built. We threw the largest skate competition in June of 2010 and plan to make it an annual event called "Open Soar". The skaters and BMX riders have given input on the design of the park and the wheels are beginning to turn. Our first official fundraiser is scheduled for Oct 8th. It's a Friday night starting at 6pm at Bobbie Joe's Hangout by Radio Shack across from Albertsons. The challenge has been to let our city know about this cause and help support us. Help give the youth a place to learn without damaging property and relationships with local businesses. Help support these kids as they learn to EARN what they want instead of waiting for the city to pay for it.

The Mtn. Home Parks and Rec have donated around 40,000 sq.ft. at Legacy Park and we will be proud to raise the funds needed to build a park that can attract attention from the skate culture from neighboring cities. My dream is that we can support a culture that can sustain a skate shop and competitions to help our youth reach for THEIR dreams and discover their potential.

If you go to www.facebook.com/opensoar, you can see photos of the last event and get updates about the skate park project. Come out to Bobbie Joe's Friday Oct. 8th. It's $5 to get in, half of which is being donated to this project, and there will be contests, live music and break dancing and plenty for the kids to do!