Big news for Michigan Longboarders and downhill racers. Press release follows.
June 21, 2014 2-6pm
http://www.stategamesofmichigan.com/grdh
https://www.facebook.com/events/612178548817408/
Grand Rapids, Michigan is scheduled to host the State Games of Michigan Urban Downhill Skateboard Competition – June 21, 2014 presented by Kendall College of Art & Design, Bustin Boards Custom Longboards & Rey Trucks. Parent Sponsor Organization, Meijer State Games of Michigan inducted the Grand Rapids Urban Downhill Skateboard event as the 36th sport addition to the 2014 Summer State Games, an effort to diversify the Summer Games Sports line-up.
The urban downhill is hosted on internationally recognized Go Skateboarding Day, reinforcing a greater motion to legalize Skateboarding for commuters in Downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2014. The Grand Rapids Urban Downhill Skateboard event, socially-dubbed #GRDH, has attracted more than One-Hundred registered event participants to compete in the State of Michigan Summer Games Urban Downhill, plus an expected 2,500+ spectators.
Downtown Grand Rapids issued downhill skateboard event organizers a permit to allow skateboarders to navigate one, half-mile of Grand Rapids urban terrain boasting 6% grade slope, right & left 90 degree off-camber turns and competitive bracket 4-person racing heats. The event is 4-8pm on June 21 during the Summer Solstice. The course starts on Lyon east of Lafayette, skathletes will turn left on Ransom & right on Fountain Street finishing before Division.
Longboard-Skateboarding is recognized as fastest growing segment of the Action Sports Industry, worldwide since 2009. State Games of Michigan Urban Downhill Skateboard event organizer Mike Dallas is a Partner of New York City based Bustin Boards Longboard Company and is a local Graduate of Rockford High School & Aquinas College, also attended Calvin College. Throughout school, Mike enjoyed participating in action sports during all 4 seasons of the year. Now, Dallas is focused on product development, materials sourcing, and marketing with Bustin Boards Longboard Company. Since 2013, Dallas is back in Grand Rapids, focused on skateboard production, sales and event promotion in Midwest.