Interview by Tedd Cookerly
What can you say about a man with a mission that has not already been said? How can I express what this man and his organization have done for the skaters of Ashville, Ohio? Oh yeah words like AMAZING come to mind or PROVAYERS of the DISENFRANCHISED rings true. Simple fact is, skateboarding is about to be huge and The Way Skatepark will be the epicenter of this soon to be well known fact. The Way Skatepark will have some amazing obstacles on the course this year and have even gone so far as to build one just for the Cow Town Showdown. We are honored to have these fine folks along for the ride and can not wait to see their own team leave the course in ashes. Get it? Ashville, Ashes? See funny stuff right? I am sure Perry Passen would think so. Read on and see what he had to say about The Cow Town Showdown.
What were you initial fist thoughts about skateboarding becoming an event for the Arnold Sports festival in 2010?
We were very excited to hear that skateboarding is being added as an event for the Arnold Sports Festival. Skateboarding has been around for decades, is experiencing a rebirth in popularity and appeals to a large segment of our country’s youth. Additionally, those who participate in skateboarding are indeed excellent athletes and this will be an excellent stage on which they can demonstrate their athleticism and dedication to the sport.
What are some of your goals in sponsoring this event and who would you like to meet while you are at Veterans memorial for the Cow Town Showdown?
Our primary goal is to create awareness for The Way Skatepark Ministry and to spread the message of hope through Jesus’ love to the skating community. Concerning who I would like to meet, quite honestly I just enjoy being around dedicated athletes and watching them compete at the highest levels.
Two days of skateboarding mayhem is about to go down…are you going to jump in there yourself and mix it up, watch as a spectator or just get crazy and throw down your 20 bucks and get the big prizes?
As an ancient baseball catcher with little or no balance, I would make a better grind rail than skater. I plan on being a supportive and enthusiastic spectator. The Way skateboard team, however, will be mixing it up with the best on the ramps and rails.
Skateboarding now more then ever seems to speak to many people on many levels, how is skateboarding speaking to you and your support of the event?
In our community, like many others, the skaters were being alienated. There was nowhere for this group to skate as they were constantly getting kicked off private and public property. Our pastor’s daughter was the first to recognize this desperate need in our community to reach out to our local skaters. From those humble, Spirit-led beginnings about one year ago, we are now one week away from opening The Way Skatepark — a 4,200 square foot indoor Christian skatepark for skateboarders, bikers and inline skaters. What this effort has shown us is that the skaters in our community are hard working, thoughtful and energetic young men and women who just need a chance and someone to believe in them. What was unexpected was while we thought we were doing great things for the skaters, it was the skaters who were doing great things for us. They have been, and continue to be, an incredible blessing to us, our church and God’s kingdom.
What should everyone know about The Way Skatepark and what should we expect to see from you at the Cow Town Showdown?
The first thing you will notice in our space is our skateboard cross. This is a large wooden cross made up of broken boards symbolizing the broken lives brought together and made whole at the foot of the cross. Additionally, people will meet outstanding skaters who are on fire for Christ and who genuinely want to reach out to help others find The Way. Attendees will also be able to view our video, take home tracks, purchase cool The Way apparel and donate to The Way Skatepark Ministry.
Sponsoring an event like The Cow Town Showdown is a big undertaking; we are all excited to find out about what kind of approach you will take towards being part of the event and what we can look forward to seeing at your booth?
Our excitement and commitment to seeing this event be successful can be exemplified through our efforts to provide a grind rail, small kicker ramp, possibly a larger quarter pipe and professional graphic design services at no charge. Our entire team is stoked about being involved.
Tell us about the last time that you were on a skateboard and how did it go. Be honest, skateboarders fall all the time and was there cussing?
I am 50 now and I think I was 10 when I was last on a skateboard. However, I did promise the skaters in our community that I would give it a shot as soon as The Way opens as long as I could wear my catcher’s equipment while I’m trying it. My time is growing short. Do they make skateboards the size of surfboards?
As always the Arnold Sports Festival places a heavy emphasis on fitness, what do you do in your daily routine that makes you a fit person?
I play tennis at least once a week, go through a resistance workout once a week, conduct private baseball lessons (hitting and catching) in which I work out with the players and, of course, stay very active at The Way Skatepark almost every night.
With so many events going on throughout the weekend, was there another event that you would like to attend and what about it attracts you?
As my son and have enjoyed very competitive ping pong matches for nearly 10 years and he and his friends are starting a club table tennis team at Miami University, I would love to see the table tennis tournament.
So Arnold himself comes up and asks you one question, what questions do you hope he asks and what will be your answer?
The best question he could ask would be, “Could you tell me more about The Way?” The answer that would be given by anyone in our booth would be, “The Way is through Jesus Christ. The Way is through the laying down of our broken lives at the foot of the cross and inviting Jesus into our lives to make them whole again. The Way is through the unlimited joy and love one experiences when they fully commit their life to Christ. There is only one way, and it is through The Way.”
Last modified: 2009-08-02 @ 12:00 am
