At Southfield Park on Thursday evening, Dean Weaver’s voice echoed across the skatepark. It was the Wasatch County Health Department’s annual skate park competition, and Hanz Lundskog, 16, was dropping in.  “OK, he’s off,” Weaver announced. “Keeping up his speed.” Lundskog, hop ing for a win, did not hold back. Dropping into the second-deepest bowl in the park, he looped around the walls and kept up enough speed to get air out of the bowl. He grabbed his board with one hand and dropped down on four wheels, heading straight into the next portion of his round.  It was ollie after kickflip, manual after riding the rails at the back of the park. Lundskog landed every trick he pulled.  His 45 seconds were up, and Lundskog pulled one last aerial out of the bowl, securing a win in the skateboarder’s advanced division.  The 16 year old’s successful run was a long time coming. That’s according to Mitch Nelson, who helps the health department with the competition each year. He follows boarders, scooter riders and BMX bikers around the park, scoring tricks and jumps as competitors go.  Hanz Lundskog, 16, took first place in the advanced division during Heber City Skatepark’s contest on Thursday. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordHanz Lundskog, 16, took first place in the advanced division during Heber City Skatepark’s contest on Thursday. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park RecordHanz Lundskog, 16, took first place in the advanced division during Heber City Skatepark’s contest on Thursday. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record “He had done so well in all the other years past, but for some reason hadn’t landed tricks, and so he just didn’t place well,” Nelson said. “Now he’s so good and so consistent and done so well.” Lundskog said he enjoys participating in the skate competition each year — it’s a way to challenge himself and push the limits of his skills. Usually, Lundskog makes up each round (a skateboard run around the park) as he goes. Before the contest each year, though, Lundskog dedicates time to practicing.  The skateboarder said there’s nothing he likes best about skateboarding but just loves the sport in general. “I just skate,” he said.  And he does it well.  Mitch’s daughter, Paige Nelson, 13, was another strong competitor in the intermediate skateboarder’s division. Both father and daughter said they have been skating for as long as they can remember. It’s a family activity, one where they share in the challenge of trying new tricks, exploring new areas to skate and having fun rolling around the skatepark.  Paige said she has participated in years of skateboarding competitions during Wasatch County Fair Days. “It’s really fun,” Paige said.  Paige Nelson blasts out of a skatepark bowl at the annual Wasatch County Health Department skate contest on Thursday. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record She’s proud of her efforts and even won second place in her division last year. During her round of the competition, Paige started in the deepest bowl in the park.  “You know the rules,” Weaver announced. “If you drop in it, you have to get out of it.” That was not an issue for Paige, who looped around the walls of the bowl until she picked up enough speed to pop out at the top edge. She skated over to a second bowl, dropping in only to get air on her way out.  Paige made her way around the entire park. She dropped in at what’s called the tombstone as well — a wall with rails on either side that skateboarders can descend into flatter areas of the skatepark.  She landed her tricks with style. Paige pursued manuals and conquered steep sections with ease.  Paige Nelson navigates big bowls with ease as she competes in the intermediate skateboard division of the Wasatch County Health Department skate contest on Thursday. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record Mitch said the Nelson family is not competitive, but that didn’t stop Paige from being a strong competitor in the contest.  “We just do it for fun,” Mitch said. Paige said she enjoys putting together a round she’ll eventually pull at the skatepark competition each year. She practices a few weeks ahead of time.  “I just think of the moves I like to do, and then I put them together,” Paige said.  But some riders skate without a plan. Ashley Spellman said that’s the case for her son, Noble, who rode in the beginner’s scooter division.  “And Noble is off,” Weaver announced. “That’s him picking up speed, keeping it going, moving really fast around that far side.” What’s remarkable about Noble is his age. The 2-year-old boy has been scootering for months and, according to Ashley, took quickly to the sport.  At just 2 years old, Noble Spellman can pull one-footed tricks on his scooter. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record “There’s the one-footer we’ve been looking for!” Weaver said into the microphone.  Noble scootered with confidence and kept up his speed around the flatter sections of the park but dropped down rolling descents as well.  “And that is time,” Weaver said. “Two years old everybody.” For BMX biker Bridger Mapp, 10, the skatepark competition was a way to push himself on his bike.  “It’s harder to drop in,” Mapp said about biking. Mapp said he started biking because he wanted a new sport to do with his friends. That’s why he signed up for the competition, too.  Mapp said his favorite trick to pull is a whip, where the whole bike is kicked sideways in the air. It’s a challenging move that Mapp has worked hard at perfecting.  For Mitch, that’s the reason he likes the skatepark competition — because it challenges kids, keeps them dedicated to practicing and keeps them healthy. It’s also a community affair.  “This year was really one of my favorite years because we had maybe a couple people from out of the county, but mostly it was people within our community,” Mitch said. “They can just kind of push each other and have fun.” He said most competitors are nervous, even if it’s “not a big deal.” “But they push themselves, and even if they don’t win, they succeed just by participating and getting through their runs and having fun,” Mitch said. “They do something hard, and they have fun doing it. That’s my favorite thing.” The post Skaters, riders succeed at annual Southfield Park skatepark competition  appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less