Lauridsen Skatepark is 15 years in the making and opening this May on the northern edge of the Principal Riverwalk, just east of Wells Fargo Arena. It is now the largest skatepark in the United States, with 88,000 feet of skate-able surface and a design for all levels. Casual. We wanted to get all the details, so we slid into some DMs to get our questions answered.
Thanks to Norm Sterzenbach, President of Skate DSM, and Kami Rankin, Community Outreach Coordinator of Polk County Conversation, for answering these questions! If you haven’t yet, go read our sister Dew Tour article to get even more background on how the park came to be and what it’s up to between now and its opening.
Who is Skate DSM and how were they involved with the park’s creation?
Skate DSM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in 2018 to support skateboarding in the Des Moines metro area. Skate DSM has a formal partnership with the Polk County Conservation Department to provide and assist with programming for the skatepark. In 2021 and beyond, we are looking to host skate clinics, skate camps, contests, demos, and other community events at the new park. The current owner of skate-scene-staple Subsect, Kevin Jones, has been fighting for the new skatepark for over 15 years. He was an integral member of the fundraising committee and now serves on the board of Skate DSM.
When will the park be open to the public?
Construction is still ongoing at the skatepark and expected to conclude around May 9th. We are hoping to allow some public skating prior to the Dew Tour, along with some free, ticketed skating opportunities during the Dew Tour. Once the Dew Tour vacates the facility, it will be open for public skate by May 28th. https://www.instagram.com/p/CJv70etjPQh/
What would you say is the ratio of female-to-male skaters in the Des Moines area and nationwide?
Its estimated that a quarter of all skateboarders nationwide are female, and I would guess the ratio is slightly lower here in Des Moines. With the new world-class skatepark opening up and female skateboarding joining the Olympics, I expect that to change rapidly. As more young girls and women are exposed to the sport, and particularly female pro skaters taking the world stage, excitement and enthusiasm will grow.
What sort of programming will be available to the public?
In the first year, we plan to offer a variety of types of programming at the new park – but primarily skate clinics. We hope to teach hundreds of new and intermediate skaters how to skate and progress safely. We also plan to offer an annual contest in the fall for skaters throughout the region to show off their skills.
What is the most unique feature of the skatepark?
Aside from it being the biggest in the country, the most unique feature is the skateable WOW art piece. The massive art piece is constructed of steel, painted a vibrant color, and spells out the word “wow.” Skateboarders will be able to skate on the curves of each letter. “WOW” was created by renowned artists Roberto Behar and Rosario Marquardt of R&R Studios in Miami. It is 80 feet long, 12 feet high and 4 feet wide. The artists wanted to create something that would mimic the waves of the river and be attractive to skaters and non-skaters alike. Also, the sculpture itself embraces the idea of skating. Because that is the excitement of skating that you say ‘wow!’ when you skate the sculpture. 
Do you have to be born with the ability to skate, or can it be learned after 20 or 30 years of life?
Skateboarding has never been about how many tricks you can do, it’s always been about the freedom and creativity that skateboarding unleashes in a person. Most people who skate just enjoy the feeling of being on a skateboard, spending time with other skaters, developing friendships, and expressing themselves through skating. So yes, its definitely something you could pick up later in life. And we would encourage people to try it!
In life you rarely succeed on the first try; the drive to keep trying until you succeed is essential to skateboarding, but also to advancing in life.
– Norm Sterzenbach, President of Skate DSM
What’s your #1 tip for someone like us that thinks they would be terrible at trying it?
Take it slow, don’t try to do something you aren’t ready for. Learn to stand and balance on the board, then learn to roll and push, then stop, then turn. Skateboarding is about progression, learning the first step, then the next, and the next. And most importantly: perseverance. Rarely will you learn anything on the first try, and sometimes you will fall. The point is to get back up and try again until you get it.
What’s the biggest lesson that skateboarding has taught you?
Perseverance. It’s a lesson that I have carried throughout my entire life. If you go to any skatepark in the world, you inevitably watch a skater try to land a trick over, and over, and over. Falling repeatedly, but every time, they get back up and try again. In life, you rarely succeed on the first try; the drive to keep trying until you succeed is essential to skateboarding but also to advancing in life.
Want to stay up to date? Follow along with Skate DSM at @skatedsm and @dsmskatepark!
