Klamath Falls a Skateboard Mecca

Brian Cole (Klamath Falls Herald and News) -- 3/25/2004

He's a made man in the skateboard world.

Proof that Portland skateboarder Ben Krahn is one of the best was seen Wednesday afternoon in Klamath Falls when a young skateboarder asked for Krahn's autograph.

Krahn and three friends came to Klamath Falls this week to test what Skateboard Magazine recently called one of the "gnarliest skate parks" in the United States.

The word is out about the skateboard park in Klamath Falls.

Skateboarders from throughout the Northwest, Northern California and beyond flock to the 22,000-square-foot park within the Klamath County Youth Sports Complex along Foothills Boulevard.

This week - spring break for many young enthusiasts - brought avid skateboarders from Portland, Eugene and Spokane, Wash., to the $350,000 skate park that opened in February 2003.

The city of Klamath Falls donated $100,000 from money it took in from a five-year parks serial levy. The rest of the funding came from the Jeld-Wen Foundation and others.

The city agreed with sports complex officials to manage the facility as part of its parks system. City manager Jeff Ball said that helmets are strongly recommended for skateboarders, and are required for anyone under 18.

The facility is the creation of Dreamland Skate parks of Lincoln City. The company has built many skate parks, and has many more in the works, including Milton-Freewater, Bloomington, Ind., Bologna, Italy, and two parks in San Jose, Calif.

Dorris resident Howard Harmon, 28, who prefers to be called "Purple," said he helped build the Klamath Falls skate park and continues to work on other Dreamland projects.

"It's not just construction," he said. "There's a lot of art involved."

Steve Schooler, who runs a tree service and owns the Ride On Skate shop on East Main Street, said he urged Dreamland to build a skate park in Klamath Falls and helped construct the facility. Workers broke ground on the facility in September 2002.

Krahn said that if the Klamath Falls skate park is not the best, it's definitely one of the top 10 parks in the world.

Krahn and his friends stayed at the River's Inn at 11 Main St. The owner, Ernie DeLoe, has drained the hotel's pool and encourages overnight guests to skate the halfpipe.

"I've never seen a hotel with a pool to skate in," Krahn said. "I've sneaked into a lot of hotels before, but there it's encouraged."

Brandon Rose, 18, of Portland was also impressed with the city's skate park.

"This is a crazy park," Rose said. "The transitions are wicked. You can go through this park and never have to push."

Rose's 12-year-old cousin, Jacob Olden, also of Portland, said "it's pretty awesome."

Henley Middle School student Cody Hildebrant said he visits the skate park almost every day.

Eager to test the skate part, two young men couldn't make time to talk with a reporter Wednesday, they said, because "we just got here from Eugene."