Rapid City S.D. – The Lakota Nation Invitational is known for basketball and other sports. But in its second year was the skateboarding event earlier today. At the Lakota Nation Invitational was the second annual skateboarding competition called “Shred Nation 2”. The event brings skaters from around the region to compete in 2 different categories. […]
Rapid City S.D. – The Lakota Nation Invitational is known for basketball and other sports. But in its second year was the skateboarding event earlier today. At the Lakota Nation Invitational was the second annual skateboarding competition called “Shred Nation 2”.
The event brings skaters from around the region to compete in 2 different categories. Kyle Mesteth, the coordinator of the skateboarding event and founder and CEO of Ground Control in Pine Ridge said, “We have the best trick, and the skaters will get out here and they will do the best trick on an obstacle that we choose. And we have heat. We have 3-minute heats with 3 skaters grouped up.” Heats are where skaters are given a certain amount of time to do as many tricks as they want. Their final score is based on everything they did in those 3 minutes.
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Mesteth said that many were surprised to see this competition, as it’s not like any of the other events happening at LNI. “Just the look and how the experience is just seeing these skaters shred and hearing some good tunes. I just think having something like this is important because it’s just a way to release.” He added.
Having a skating event at LNI helps show the deep community that skating brings to the area. Mesteth went on to say, “It’s very important to the local community to have something like this that represents who we are as skaters. You know, not too long ago, we were outcasts. And now we have one of the biggest stages at the Lakota Nation Invitational right here in Rapid City, and it’s just amazing.
The competition was made possible by the Pine Ridge skate park’s “Ground Control.” This competition is bringing what ground control is like to L-N-I.
Aaron grew up in Farmington Minnesota, just south of the Twin Cities. He went to college in Orlando Florida at Full Sail University studying sports broadcasting.