Great Falls Montana skatepark Grand Opening

Words: Adam Longnecker

Photos: skate-ramps.com

It was Friday night in Great Falls, Montana, and I was on my way
to pick up Josh Evin and Ben Krahn at the airport. Josh and Ben
had come to skate under the Big Sky at the new 25,000 square
foot park designed by Grindline (fine tuning by Shaggy in below
zero temperatures earlier this year) and Tim Altec. First order
of business was a session. Ben and Josh were loving the park and
drawing lines instantly. As the sun set Josh stomped an ollie
air over the hole of the full pipe funnel tunnel. In the
interest of keeping my friends entertained with a bit of Montana
night life we headed down to the “Sip n’Dip” to watch the girls
in mermaid outfits swim behind glass and have a couple of
drinks.

Mermaids at the bar? The Sip N’ Dip in Great Falls providing
quality entertainment to go with your rum punch.

Ben Krahn enjoying the Sip n’ Dip and a Fish Bowl of Rum Punch
On Saturday, Great Falls celebrated their new skatepark with a
Grand Opening festival featuring three demos with Ben Krahn,
Josh Evin, Ryan Simonetti, and Whitefish, Montana native Aaron
Robinson. The demo crew slogged through two demos in the heat of
the day with temperatures soaring to 107 degrees. Approximately
four hundred spectators lined the decks as Josh Evin nailed
ollie gaps all over the park. Ben Krahn worked lines for miles
with his usual casual style and smoothness. Ryan Simonetti
originally from Great Falls blasted stale-fish nose bones,
frigid airs, and tail grab nose grinds on the death box wall and
threw down a couple stale-fish airs over the funnel tunnel gap.
Krahn nailed the funnel tunnel gap with a big frontside ollie on
his second attempt, and Josh worked the same gap over the
opposite direction with method airs. Josh entertained the crowds
at the flat end of the park with some classic freestylin’ like
some Primo to Primo impossible flips, no-comply impossibles, and
a variety of hand varial variations. Seventeen year old Aaron
Robinson from Whitefish, Montana blasted backside ollies and
backside airs over hips and transfers all over the park at
110mph, smiling the entire time.

Ben Krahn Lien to Tail at Great Falls

Ben Krahn bean plant to fakie at Great Falls

Ben Krahn floating the funnel tunnel gap with ease. Second
attempt ollie at Great Falls.

Josh Evin Alley Oops over a hip at Great Falls

Josh Evin Methodically Methods the funnel tunnel gap

Josh Evin Frontside hip air at Great Falls

Great Falls looks on as Josh Evin pops a frontside tuck knee air

Josh Evin gap ollie over the funnel tunnel at Great Falls

Josh Evin gap ollie over the funnel tunnel at Great Falls

Ryan Simonetti, originally of Great Falls Montana, comes home
with a method

Great Falls hometown hero now livin’ large in L.A. Ryan
Simonetti stale fish nosebone

On Sunday morning it was time to move on. For Josh Evin it was
time to fly to Denver Colorado for a seven parks over seven days
adventure travel camp with the Skatepark Sessions crew
(skateparksessions.com). For Ben Krahn, Aaron Robinson,
photographer Brendan Rohan, and myself it was time to head down
the road a few hours to our friend Jeff’s house for a pool
session at the Treasure Bowl with Steve Schneer. Montana’s Big
Sky was filled with clouds keeping the heat at bay. A morning of
drizzle had chased Steve and his crew away, but once the rain
stopped we dropped in for a fun filled session. Krahn utilized
the new tree quarter-pipe for a tree ride to fakie then back
into the bowl switch with a switch hip air and on into a switch
line. Good times at a surreal location.