TEXARKANA, Texas -- The local skateboarding community is planning to roll a pair of festivals into downtown.
Lucas Chambers and Kam West are bringing their respective competitions to the city's Skatetopia skate park later this year.
Skatefest
Chambers, 23, and friend Matt Dillard are bringing the annual Skatefest back to Skatetopia for the third year in a row.
After COVID made last year's Skatefest difficult to put together because of scheduling and pandemic constraints, Chambers and Dillard are determined to give skateboarders something to call their own.
Chambers has been skateboarding since the second grade and is still finding freedom on wheels.
"It's just one of those things that you can do and not think about anything else," he said.
Chambers and Dillard grew up skating at what locals called Dave's Skatepark, a spot downtown where teenagers would skate indoors.
"I grew up there and was always around the community-based stuff, like their competitions and events," Chambers said.
Through his passion, Chambers developed a sense of community with other skateboarders, in particular Dillard. Both came together with the idea of creating a skate festival for locals.
Chambers said having friends with children made him want to bring back family-friendly events as a way for everyone to hang out and enjoy themselves while still connecting with one another through a common interest.
Skatefest is open to all ages and has three competition categories: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Registration is held the day of the event at Skatetopia.
There is also a category for best costume. In the past two years, costumes have ranged from Mario and Luigi to printed tuxedos and Michael Myers.
Berridge Bikes has donated skateboards and supplies for winners in the past, but this year Chambers and Dillard are seeking sponsors to cover overhead costs and help develop the festival.
"The money will go towards putting on the skate festival next year," Chambers said.
The event is free to the public and competitors, and donations are accepted. Organizers will release scheduling and other information as plans for Skatefest develop.
We Outside Festival
DJ Kam West, 21, is hosting his own skate festival at Skatetopia later this year. The We Outside Festival will be from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. July 3, presented by Spacekid X DTR.
Although West isn't a skater, he grew up hanging around the skate park with his friends.
"Skating has always been something I've wanted to learn but never could get the hang of," he said.
Still, Skatetopia left its mark on West. It was a place where he often rode his bike and could sate his curiosities. Since almost all of West's friends skateboard, he thought his first festival should be centered around the sport.
The festival is family-friendly and open to people of all ages and skill levels. Cyclists are also welcome to compete.
"It's important for other kids to be exposed to skateboarding too," he said.
The festival isn't just for fun. Winners will receive cash prizes for first through third places, $200, $100 and $50, respectively.
Categories will be broken down into various skill levels for freestyle and time trials. A complete list of competition rules will be available prior to the event. Registration is $10.
Live performances by IV Dreams Skate Group, a collective founded by Lucas Chambers, will take place at the competition, and food, drinks, games and merchandise will be available for purchase.
"I would like to have a few sponsors, if possible," West said.
So far, he has a team of graphic artists, individuals with a background in construction, and someone over marketing to assist with planning and development.
"The city of Texarkana, Texas, is helping tremendously with security and marketing the event," West said.
His friend, Jaylan Washingon, made the flier.
West said he understands the importance of allowing other people to help if he wants to grow his event.
"We hope to raise enough money together that we can fund next year's event to be even bigger," he said.
(For more information about Skatefest, contact Lucas Chambers on Instagram at @etxchambers. For information about We Outside Festival, contact DJ Kam West on Instagram at @djkamwest.)