OREM — The anticipation for Orem's new skate park has been so great, skateboarders have been sneaking in for months, sometimes skating on concrete that is still wet.
Monday they skated legally, which is saying something for skateboarders, who are often stereotyped as a motley bunch who detest authority.
Orem's new skate park — which is also used by roller bladers and BMX bicyclists — is the largest in Utah County at 23,000 square feet. Orem city spent $580,000 on the project.
There are an estimated 11 million skaters nationally and more than 700 skate parks, half of which are publicly funded and operated.
"It keeps kids away from private and public walkways," said Jerry Otiz, Orem recreation director. "They have a place to skate now and I would hope they would respect public and private places they're not supposed to skate at."
That may not happen. Many skaters like skating in the street as much as the concrete parks, and some prefer the street.
Gabe Uribe, 16, says he would rather skate at a place like Maeser Elementary in Provo than at a skate park. Schools and churches often have more rails and stairs used for tricks than parks do, Uribe said.
The rails and stairs at the Orem Skate Park, 400 N. 1200 West, were some of the most popular features used by skaters at Monday's opening. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by more than 200 local skateboarders, roller bladers and bikers.
"We had a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new recreation center this morning, and the crowd there was nowhere near as enthusiastic as this one," Orem Mayor Jerry Washburn said.
Most of the skaters perched at the edge of the park weren't listening to the mayor; they were impatiently waiting for the ceremony to end. Jaron Grob, 21, an X-Games gold medalist in roller blading, was supposed to descend into the park first, but the moment the ribbon was cut, a wave of skaters crashed down upon the concrete park's humps and ramps.
Among them were skaters from the DP Sports Team. Adam Marquis, a sort of coach for the team, said some of his skaters had snuck into the park the day before to try it out.
If they were impressed, they didn't show it. When asked what he thought of the park, John Roon, 17, shrugged his shoulders and said: "It's crowded."
Roon, a high school dropout who wears a lip ring, is the best on the DP Team, and may have been the best skater in the park Monday.
Roon skated the park's bowls, slid the rails and then watched approvingly as other members of his team tried it out.
Marquis handpicked his team by visiting other skate parks in Utah County, like one in Springville and another in Pleasant Grove, called Proving Grounds. He said his team, which ranges in age from 11 to 19, includes some of the best skaters in the area.
He hopes team members can win amateur contests and sponsorships from major companies.
"It's the classic story. Many of these kids come from broken homes. This gives them something good to do," he said.
Brad Grob, father of X Games medalists Jaron Grob, agrees.
"We spend money on basketball courts and baseball diamonds, why shouldn't we spend money on this," he said. "This keeps kids occupied with something positive."
As he spoke, James Stott, a 16-year-old roller blader, flipped off a ledge about 10 feet high. He later described the move a Bio 540, or an inverted 540.
Stott said while learning the move he once smashed his face in the concrete. On another occasion he grabbed a chain link fence while sliding down a rail and the fence went through his hand.
"I think it's way fun," he said.
E-MAIL: jhyde@desnews.com