Des Moines bands Ramona and the Sometimes and Greg Wheeler and the Poly Mall Cops inaugurated Skate South (10494 County Line Rd, Des Moines)’s first rock show on Saturday, May 18. Bands performed from the center of the rink while skaters circled around them, dodging inflatable clouds and disco balls. Be on the lookout for […]
skating
Iowa City roller derby athletes show new batch of beginners how to roll (and fall)
It’s the second day of 101 Bootcamp. There are seven new recruits for the Old Capitol City Roller Derby (OCCRD) team. Tart of Darkness #323, Cara Delaney, straps on her knee pads and elbow pads, her wrist guards and mouth guards, followed by her skates and helmet. She glides around Scanlon Gymnasium comfortably, easy as […]
As Iowa skate culture swells, Skate DSM is giving away 500 skateboards and helmets to local kids
Students pre-K through 8th grade can nab a free, brand-new skateboard and helmet through a new initiative from Skate DSM. “One of the biggest goals of Skate DSM is to really get more kids on skateboards,” said organization president Norm Sterzenbach. “The Get on Board Project is literally getting more kids on skateboards.” The Get […]
Amid a flourishing Iowa skate culture, locals look to improve the Iowa City skatepark
Jeff Keyser fondly remembers he and his friends riding their skateboards past the Iowa City skatepark as it was being built back in 2002. Keyser was in middle school at the time and had already been skateboarding for a few years. He got into skating in the late ’90s after he and his brother got […]

