Red bull skate competition lands in Lincoln

Red bull is having competitions across the Midwest, and Lincoln takes center stage in Nebraska for hosting its best amateur skaters at The Bay indoor skate park.

“Coming here and seeing all the skaters really inspires me to learn how to skate better and more often,” spectator and local skater Riley Ochsner said.

To get to a level to compete is tough and takes work. 

“A lot of practice, a lot of dedication. You gotta expect to fall, to hurt yourself, and then you get right back up and do it again,” competitor and local skater Travis Fowler said. 

The finalist of the event will be granted $1,500 dollars and move on to the next round. Finalists of the final will all compete for a grand prize of $9,000.

Lincoln has the only indoor skate park between Lincoln and Omaha, so skaters from all around the area came to compete.

“I’ve been coming to these contests in Lincoln for a while and i do it all for the fun. My home town needs to come out and skate and have fun,” Fowler said. 

And the prize is up for anyone that can make it. 

“Skateboarding is one of those things that even if you’re the best skater, it doesn’t mean that you’re going to compete the best on any given day, so it’s just awesome to have an event where anyone can win,” The Bay Collective Coordinator Kieran Wilson said. 

At The Bay skate park, they say skating culture can easily be overlooked.

“We still have that cool environment that invites kids to want to be a part of it. But, it also provides them with some foundational skills that they can possibly find careers later on and find passions that engage them and allow them to speak their voices,” Wilson said.

And they say it is accepting to everyone.

“It’s such a great community and it’s all positive influences and brigs kids off the streets, keeps them out of trouble, they’re under supervision,” Fowler said. 

Ochsner says her friend is competing for this one, and with his help, she will be able to take her skill to the next level.

“Hopefully I’ll be at one of these some day.”

Dozens of competitors showed up at the event today..