Tony Hawk event sparking a desire to skate

SALT LAKE CITY — Tony Hawk’s Vert Alert skating competition is coming back for the third time. The event is showcasing how big skating is getting in Utah.

Owner of Boards of Provo, John Hales said events like Van’s Pro-tour and Vert Alert are boosting the popularity of transition skating in Utah.

“The cool thing about this event is it brings more exposure, specifically to vert skating, and just transition skating in general,” Hales said.

Vert skating happens in larger deeper bowls and on bigger ramps. Hales said more skate parks are being built in Utah, which gives more people opportunities to learn to skate.

“The new Lehi skate park is absolutely amazing,” Hales said. “It has been on the Utah Amateur Skateboard League circuit, as far as competition circuit, and that’s definitely been a great spot.”

Hales said the Tony Hawk event and pro-tour stops are giving the sport more exposure. In return, the events are getting more girls and younger skaters to participate in various types of skating.

“In turn I definitely think it involves (a) different demographic as far as people and it exposed it to a wider audience,” he said.

The Tony Hawk Vert Alert event is happening on Friday and Saturday. According to the event’s website, it is free, and Tony Hawk is expected to be there.

The website says the event will start at 2 p.m. and end at 8 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, it will start at 2 p.m. and end at 6 p.m., with awards.

The Hawk Vert Alert event is taking place in the Jon. M Huntsman Center at the University of Utah. 

Related:

• New bike trails and equestrian opportunities coming soon to Salt Lake County
• New speed limits at the U for scooters, bikes and skateboards