New Tourism

Skatepark Builders Face Off in Montana

By Dylan Tucker, 4-05-06

	Local skateboarder Kim Peterson carves a steep corner in the newly opened Whitefish skatepark. Dreamland skateparks built the Whitefish park, and will finish two more in Montana by July.

The mountains, rivers and abundant wildlife in Montana’s national parks draw thousands of tourists to the Big Sky state every summer. But a less organic feature will soon bring a different kind of visitor: thousands of square feet of cement. By June, parks of a very different nature will be luring visitors.

By the time Yellowstone and Glacier are crowded with throngs of sightseers, western Montana will be home to six world-class skateparks, constructed by the best skatepark builders in the world. Local skateboarders believe the series of parks, in towns from Butte to Whitefish, will put Montana on the map for more than 9 million skateboarders across the country.

Dreamland and Grindline are widely regarded as the world’s premiere skatepark builders. The companies both have roots in the creation of a legendary skatepark under the Burnside Bridge in downtown Portland, Ore., in the 1990s. Since then, the companies have gained an avid following among skateboarders, many of whom travel long distances to enjoy their facilities. Oregon is home to more than 20 parks built by the companies, and recent parks in small towns across Idaho are boosting tourism for places like Sandpoint and Buhl. The documentary “Northwest,” released in 2003, tells the story of the unique place the companies' parks hold in skateboarding lore.

The designers are known for their precise work, and the unique features they build into each park. No two parks are the same, and many have features meant to accent their surroundings. With the beautiful scenery Montana provides, the builders have their work cut out for them, and designers at both companies say they are up for the challenge.

As old friends, Dreamland and Grindline builders have a healthy rivalry that has pushed skatepark design to a new level. And with both companies building in Montana, the scene is set for some of the most challenging and complex parks yet.

The companies often target small towns to build their world-class creations. Wolf Point, a small town in the Missouri River Valley with just 3,000 residents, has plans for a 6,000-square foot Grindline skatepark. By mid-summer, Whitefish, Kalispell, Polson, Missoula, Anaconda and Butte will all feature showcase Grindline and Dreamland parks.

In Missoula, construction is well underway on a 15,000-square-foot skatepark in McCormick Park. Grindline foreman Dave “Shaggy” Palmer is currently overseeing the project, where a nine-foot deep pool has already taken shape. The pool is built to challenge even expert skateboarders, with steep transitions leading to a vertical edge lined with authentic pool coping — much like the backyard pools where modern skateboarding began.

Palmer and Grindline have been looking forward to building a public park in Missoula for more than four years, since visiting the town to build a private project for a local skateboarder.

“This whole park is going to be sick,” Palmer says. “It has been a long time coming for this town, and we’re going to get the job done right. We’ve got some surprises up our sleeves.”

With the pool replica close to completion, Shaggy and his crew are concentrating on making the rest of the park as exciting as possible. Grindline and Dreamland are known for changing designs as they build, constantly refining and improving every detail. This has thrown more than one town into panic.

In 2002, while building a 16-foot tall fullpipe in Hailey, Idaho, the town’s mayor called a special meeting with park builders due to concerns over the impressive size of the structure. But Missoula’s Skatepark Association is excited about the creativity that Grindline offers.

“You just have to let them do their thing,” says Ross Peterson, treasurer for the association. “You trust them to do what they know how to do, and know that the end park will be awesome.”

Sage Bolyard is a member of Dreamland’s “Dream Team,” and is hard at work in Butte on their latest creation. Burly and good-natured, Bolyard has been making the rounds in the Montana skateboard community, making friends with locals and impressing them with his skills.

As amazing skateboarders and creative park builders, the Dream Team has a reputation for bringing incredible energy to the towns they work in, sparking local skateboarders’ passions with their enthusiasm for the sport.

“We’re out here in God’s country,” Bolyard says, “Looking out at the big old sky and getting it done. This one is going to bring ‘em to Montana and have them crawling home.”

In Whitefish, where the Dream Team recently finished a 15,000-square foot park, kids are experiencing skateboarding for the first time.

Brendan Rohan, a freelance photographer and president of the Whitefish Skateboard Association, was thrilled about the park’s effect on his community.

The Dave Olseth Memorial Skatepark in Whitefish is the result of more than a year of fundraising and planning by the Whitefish Skatepark Association. Construction was completed in October 2005, but early snowfall quickly filled the bowls and ramps. Kids anxious to skate the new park spent the winter visiting the park with sleds and shovels, hoping for an early spring.

“Kids were out here with everything,” Rohan said. “Sleds, snowboards, whatever. Sliding around this thing after school every day.”

These days, the park fills with dozens of kids enjoying skateboarding in the Montana outdoors.

“The kids are stoked,” Rohan said. “This park is just opening up skating to them.”

The Whitefish park is a source of great pride for the Dreamland team. Their Web site contains photos of the construction process, and the unique features the park contains. But Bolyard claims the best is yet to come with their Butte park, and another in Polson that will break ground in coming weeks.

“These parks are going to be better than anything anyone around here have ever seen,” says Bolyard.

The Butte park will feature the challenging cement bowls, rails and ramps that have made Dreamland famous. The friendly competition between Grindline and Dreamland is sure to push the Dream Team to building a one of a kind wonder for skaters — but Bolyard won’t tell you what the park will look like.

“It’s top secret,” he says with a grin.

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