Even though the concrete has been tested already, Skate Ignatius

celebrated its official grand opening

ST. IGNATIUS — The clatter of skateboards and a huge crowd milling around proved to Kristie Nerby that all her hard work had not been in vain.

“This is being called one of the greatest skate parks in Montana,” Nerby said. “You can’t prove a negative, but I’m positive that we are saving some of these young men’s lives. This shows there’s life outside Lake County, there’s life off the reservation.”

Saturday marked the official grand opening of the Phase II of Nerby’s “Skate Ignatius” project, an undertaking that began with Phase I five years ago and took thousands of dollars and an equal amount of hours of work. But Saturday, with people of all ages enjoying the park, including professional snowboarder and avid skater Marc Frank Montoya, Nerby’s work was validated.

“It’s off the hook, just the perfect park,” Montoya, of Salt Lake City, Utah, said. “It’s such a blessing to have something like this. It’s made so well. These kids are so lucky and they don’t even know it.”

Montoya, a pro snowboarder since 1992, grew up in a tough environment in Denver, Colo., and saw a parallel between some of his struggles and what kids on the Flathead Reservation go through as young adults.

“Skateboarding saved my life, otherwise I’d be in jail or in a gang,” he said. “I think, what else would these kids be doing? Who knows what pro skater is going to come out of this town. Skating can open their lives.”

With the amount of kids at the park Saturday afternoon, it seems the sport is taking a firm hold in the area. From a four-year-old boy scooting along on his board to middle-aged men giving the sport a try, the day proved a success for veterans and newbies alike.

Part of the draw of the event, officially dubbed a grand opening skate jam, were give-aways and raffles with items like an iPod Nano up for grabs. Montoya, who is sponsored by several well-known international skate and snowboard companies, had attendees crowd into the skate bowls while he threw products into the swarm of bodies. Missoula Skatepark Association president and manager of Edge of the World Skateshop Chris Bacon emceed the event and had plenty of giveaways for the kids as well.

The real attraction, though, was skating. While everyone tried to do their own thing and try different tricks, everyone was more than happy to lend a hand to another attendee if they had fallen, something that pleased Nerby. And seeing many of the same faces day after day has only made her realize what a worthwhile endeavor the project has been.

“It’s more than just a pastime, it’s a culture, it’s a way of life,” Nerby said. “The kids spend hours and hours working on their skating and there is just so much local talent.”