Alaska Skateboarders Finally Have a Place of Their Own

Twelve years ago everyone was frustrated. The police, city council, parents and the skateboarders. However, tensions are starting to ease.

It has taken a long time, but the skateboarders of Kodiak, Alaska finally have a place of their own. For several months the group used the lot across from Ardingers' owned by Norman Sutliff, but they now have an area just for them in the Baranof Park expansion.

"I was always seeing guys being run out of downtown," Sutliff said. "I always thought it was a nice sport and was amazed at what those kids could do."

Sutliff decided that the skateboarders needed some place they could go to while they waited for the Baranof project to be completed.

"I'm for anything that keeps the younger kids out of trouble," Sutliff said. "That's the important thing."

The skateboarders and BMX riders who have made the lot their new home are thankful for Sutliff's support.

"Everyone thinks he's really cool, letting us use his lot," Patrick Rauwolf said.

"Norman is great," Ty Anderson said. "It's surprising when you meet people that are really nice like him and are not prejudging us."

While the skateboarders enjoy running the ramps and sliding across the rails at Sutliff's lot, they are also looking forward to their new home at Baranof Park.

"The new skateboarding area will be on one of the tennis courts," officials at the Parks and Recreation department said. "We are also purchasing the ramps and equipment for the area."

The skateboarders are currently using homemade ramps and rails on Sutliff's lot.

The cost of the new equipment was divided among the city, borough and the parent group SK8 Board. The borough and SK8 Board each paid $3,725 and the city paid $7,500 for a total of $15,000.

SK8 Board has pushed for an area in the redevelopment of Baranof Park since the first advisory board meeting on the subject.

"The reason we organized was to help break down the negative image the skateboarders have," SK8 Board co-founder Eileen Probasco said. "So, we pushed for the guys to have their own place in town as opposed to being downtown or out at Safeway."