By Cortney L. Hill, Salisbury Post LANDIS-- A local high school student and entrepreneur has organized a skateboard competition for area teens to show off their skills. Skate Fest 2003 will take off this Saturday at the South Rowan YMCA, 950 Kimball Road. "I'm looking forward to the competition on Saturday and hope many people will come out," said Johnny Woodie, a South Rowan High School sophomore. Skate Fest 2003 will be the South Y's third competition since the Y opened its new skate park last October. "We're excited about it," said Alan Lambert, director of the South Y. "The skate park has been a big hit for us, and we're glad the teens will have a chance to show their skills. Plus, it's fun to watch." The competition is open to all ages. To compete, participants must register Saturday morning between 9 and 11 a.m. The competition begins at 11:30 a.m. "The competition will go until everyone has completed their (routines) ... and that will last for most of the afternoon," Lambert said. Skateboarders can compete in two divisions: the mini ramp course and street course. Competitors must pay $10 to compete in one division and $15 for both. "Judges will look for ... style, technique and how well the skaters use the course,"Lambert said. "They will have a minute and a half to do everything they need to do." Organizers also have divided competitors into three age groups: 17 and older, 13 to 16 and 12 and younger. Woodie, 16, hopes Skate Fest will be a big success. "Well, they (the park) needed to have one all summer long, so I took upon myself to organize it," he said. Woodie works at the South Y as one of the skate park guards. What started out as a hobby four years ago has now been turned into a small business for Woodie through his Web site. "Johnny is one of the best skaters around,"Lambert said. "He has his own Web site about skating and aspires to have his own skate shop company. "He updates his page periodically with various footage, and interviews different kids each week," Lambert said. "He's the one who really got the Skate Fest up and going. He passed out fliers and everything." Woodie said he bought an Internet domain in February and made it into Rowan County news about skateboarding. "I've gotten some sponsors in the past, and Iplan to look into it more in the future," he said. "As word gets around, I have a feeling the business will grow more in the future." To make sure Skate Fest is a hit, Woodie has put the majority of his paychecks into the event. "I've put about $500 into this,"Woodie said. "I also plan to give out trophies to the winners and put them on my Web site." Woodie knows he could be spending his money on other things, "but this is something I truly want to do,"he said. "However, I do plan to go to college. I want to major in computer science." Information about Saturday's Skate Fest and other local information can be seen on Woodie's Web site, www.rowanskate.com. For more information, call the South Y at 704-857-7011. Contact Cortney L. Hill at 704-797-4249 or chill@salisburypost.com
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