Extreme sports event comes to town

By: Michael C. Butz, Staff
07/20/2007

Jim and Sue Bratton of Kirtland were in downtown Cleveland Thursday watching a skateboarder roll down and jump over ramps while attempting some daredevil tricks.But they weren't watching one the dozens of skaters in town this weekend to compete in this year's Right Guard Open. They were watching their 7-year-old son, Ty, navigate the miniature half pipes at the skatepark in place for youngsters to practice their moves."He's been skating for about three years," Jim said. "He goes to the skatepark in Willoughby."It was a common theme Thursday, as families from all around the country filled North Coast Harbor for this year's event, which runs through Sunday.

It offered kids a fan-friendly environment to see and emulate their favorite extreme sports stars, while it offered parents a family-friendly atmosphere to share in and support their children's aspirations."We're going to come back Saturday," Jim said.The Anderson family, originally from Solon, made the trip all the way from West Palm Beach, Fla., to attend the Right Guard Open.For Zach Anderson, 13, the long trip was worth it to get the autograph of his favorite skater, Ryan Sheckler. Sheckler's autograph was in the middle of a skateboard, surrounding by several other autographs Zach had received throughout the day."This is our first time (to this event in Cleveland), but I've been to another one before," Zach said.

"I like how they do it - all the tricks and the people."The importance of interacting with their young fans certainly isn't lost on the athletes."It definitely lets the viewers, like little kids, see what we're doing and how much work it takes to do this," said Jorge Joval, a BMX competitor from the Bronx, N.Y. "And you get to interact with the riders and the skateboard guys instead of just watching on TV."But Joval also has a very important piece of advice for young riders and skaters."Always wear safety gear - elbow pads, knee pads.

I have two torn ACLs in my knees right now from not wearing knee pads seven years ago," said Joval, 27.Kurtis Colamonico, a 22-year-old skateboard competitor from Long Beach, Calif., also knows first-hand how important safety is."I popped my shoulder out (Wednesday), and I hope I didn't rebreak my wrist (Thursday) because I already had surgery (on the wrist)," said Colamonico, whose wrist was wrapped in a bandage.

"But I'm still going to go out there and compete."Parents hope that before their kids try their own "Superman seat grab and bar spin," or any other complicated trick, they heed the advice of the experienced extreme sports stars."He wears his pads and his helmet," Zach's mother, Lisa, said. "He's wiped out a couple of times, but that's part of the sport.""As long as he has his protective gear on, I'm fine with it," Sue Bratton said of Ty. "The helmet is the main thing.

"In addition to mingling with athletes, those who braved Thursday's humidity and threatening clouds were treated to a festival-like atmosphere.In between competitions and practices, fans could visit Festival Village, where several vendors had some sort of free game to play.Kids ran about with red, yellow, blue and green hair, played video games, jumped into a pool of foam blocks, received Mohawk haircuts to benefit charity and viewed what was claimed to be the world's largest plasma TV.

The Cleveland Cavaliers' Eastern Conference championship trophy was even on display for all to see.Bill Walters of Cleveland visited the House of Dew with his family, where his 8- and 11-year-old kids, Donovan and Kyle, enjoyed receiving fake tattoos. He had a hard time determining what the best part of their visit to the Right Guard Open was.

"All of it, really. The music, the events," Walters said. "The kids are having a blast."For more information on the Right Guard Open, which is the second of five stops on the 2007 AST Dew Tour, visit www.astdewtour.com.