Skate Jam ramp will transform into community art piece once X Games have ended.
“Working with local student talent to help celebrate the X Games coming to Ventura stemmed from the overwhelming success and electric energy of last year’s Skate Jam,” according to Marlyss Auster, President & CEO of Visit Ventura. “Involving local students in the project where they can have a lasting legacy in X Games Ventura 2024 is what the games are all about.”
“It’s been awesome to see the students build something of this caliber that professional skateboarders could potentially skate on,” said Visit Ventura Director of Marketing and Buena High School alumni Mike Laan, who led the project with Communications & PR Manager Julie Madsen. “The ramp is gnarly — we can’t wait to see all their hard work showcased at the Skate Jam.”
Mr. Scott Manninen, Woodshop Teacher at Buena High School, expressed his enthusiasm about the project. “I was thrilled when Visit Ventura asked if our students would be interested in designing a skateboard ramp for the Ventura Skate Jam,” Manninen said. The ramp will be showcased downtown before being moved to the Fairgrounds for the X Games.
Manninen collaborated with a team of eight students, some experienced skaters, to design and refine the ramp. Tickets to the X Games will be given to the students involved. One main feature was split in two to become the bow and stern of a boat, turning the ramp into a boat sculpture complete with a bench for photos. The team started with sketches, built a model, proposed a budget, and involved Ms. Nicole Rapattoni and her art class to finalize the design.
Mason Carter, a key student in the project who designed the quarter pipe curve, shared his excitement. “I grew up skating; it’s super cool to be a part of something that beginners and insane skaters will use. It gives me chills to think that a pro may skate something I helped build.”
The project provided valuable lessons beyond skating. Logan Torres, aspiring to be an engineer, found it a great introduction to his future field. John Maida highlighted the teamwork and problem-solving involved, stating, “We learned that some tasks are very difficult, and we had to be precise. We needed to find creative ways to solve issues as they came up and fix them together as a team.”
For more information about Buena High School’s involvement in this project or to request interviews with students or staff, please reach out to Marieanne Quiroz, VUSD PIO at Marieanne.quiroz@venturausd.org. For more information about community events and X Games Ventura, please reach out to Julie Madsen, Visit Ventura Communications & PR Manager at Julie@visitventuraca.com.
About the Ventura Unified School District
The Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) is located in Southern California, in the coastal city of Ventura, approximately 70 miles north of Los Angeles. The District is made up of an early childhood education program, 26 elementary, middle, and high schools, with more than 16,000 school-age students, an adult education center, 2,000 staff, and a wealth of parents and community members who all strive to help our children find their passion—academically and personally. For more information, visit www.venturausd.org or call 805-641-5000.
About Visit Ventura
Visit Ventura is a non-profit organization designed to increase visitor expenditures, tourism revenues, and local employment opportunities through the promotion of Ventura as a travel destination. For travel and accommodation information, or a free copy of the Ventura Inspiration Guide, the public can write to the Ventura Visitors Center (101 S. California Street, Ventura, CA 93001), call (805) 641-1400, visit www.visitventuraca.com, or email info@visitventuraca.com. Follow VVCB on Instagram @VisitVentura or become a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/visitventura.
About X Games
Since its inception in 1995, X Games became the leading action sports competition and lifestyle brand, spotlighting the world’s best action sports athletes against the backdrop of each individual host city. Over the past 29 years, X Games has organized the world’s premiere action sports events around the globe, complemented by top musical performances, year-round content and fan experiences.
