All photos courtesy of SPAI
When the information on the San Diego Senior Games became available, one event raised eyebrows: Senior Skateboarding Games.
But according to Heidi Lemmon, founder of the Skate Park Association International, it’s a natural progression; after all, the kids who skateboarded in the 1970s and 80s are now not only adults but adults whose ages fall squarely into the senior games demographic.
The event will be held on October 11 at the Vans Park Series Flow Bowl at the Vans Huntington Beach skatepark. SDM sat down with Heidi Lemmon to talk about the new competition.
Sports Destination Management: Is this a new event?
Heidi Lemmon: For us, it is. I’d been working with the San Diego Senior Games a few years back but then COVID hit. Now, it’s all finally coming together again.
SDM: Where did you get the idea?
Lemmon: We have been producing the OG Jam series for 10 years for seniors and it’s been a good group. We passed that event over to younger people during COVID and then started working on this.
SDM: Are you looking to the future?
Lemmon: Yes, we are. Next year, this will be in the State Games and in 2027, the nationals take place. I am trying to get enough other states involved so that we can grow this opportunity.
SDM: What age group are you seeing take part?
Lemmon: There are both men’s and women’s divisions for ages 40, 50 and 60+
SDM: What gave you the idea of putting this on?
Lemmon: Well, we’re all getting older! Our organization produces free events for all ages but the older group are our peers and fiends so it’s extra fun! It’s like a family reunion, but without the drama.
SDM: What else would you like people to know?
Lemmon: We decided that since we produce this, and since we also produce kids’ events, it seemed weird just to say it was a skatepark association event so Kimi Kallman, one of our volunteers, came up with the name of Grave RattlerZ! It is under our nonprofit but the group has its own name.
SDM: What other details can you release? You’re obviously going to make this a fun event for everyone.
Bart Saric is our announcer and artist; he did our logos and other graphics for stickers, tee-shirts, etc. Lonny Hiramoto is our head judge and is in the skateboard hall of fame. Cindy Whitehead rounds up the ladies and does public relations and she is also in the skateboard hall of fame.
Kimi, whom I’ve mentioned before, handles product and also skates. Lance Lemond is a judge and organizer and works for rec and parks in Vencie, also our IT guy. Chris Hooten and Steve Christensen are our photographers, and I am one of those as well.
Bennet Harada is our DJ and pro for SMA. Howard Hood and Eric Dressen are two of our judges also in our skateboard hall of fame. And of course, Steve Van Doren and Kristy Van Doren Batson have opened their park to us, free of charge.
SDM: That’s quite a crew!
Lemmon: There are so many amazing people and skaters and they are all volunteering to make this happen.
SDM: Sounds like you have a lot of people who want to keep on skateboarding, despite not fitting into the younger demographic.
Lemmon: We are not going to the grave quietly.
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