Drop in to the year-round skatepark at The Siouxer

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – While it’s not exactly skateboarding weather, that’s not stopping one indoor skatepark from tearing it up at The Siouxer.

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Grayves Hanson is 8 years old and didn’t know much about skating before taking lessons.

“I knew what a skateboard was. I might have rolled on it once, but now, besides that, I haven’t skated before,” Hanson said.

The skatepark and shop started out with a group of people who wanted a place to skate in the winter but has now turned into a family rec center that offers lessons to kids year-round.

“My favorite part is they come in not knowing anything. So all of a sudden they grow and they grow and they forget who they were when they first came in. And, you know, you show them like a video of like, look, you couldn’t do this a month ago, and look at the human now,” The Siouxer owner and operator, Dj Paronto said.

Jon Castle enrolled his son Oscar in lessons and says on top of skill building, it also offers community.

“It’s inclusive. They don’t shun anybody away. It’s a good opportunity to do it year-round. It’s something that is available to kids to do. They’re also encouraging of young kids doing that, learning and pushing themselves to do something that they might be scared to do otherwise,” Castle said.

As skaters wait for sunny days like these again at the Barb Iverson Skate Plaza downtown, they have somewhere to go in the meantime.

“We really teach the importance of skatepark etiquette and just cheering each other on,” The Siouxer co-owner, Laura Lutz said.

Lutz says she’s proud of the community they’ve cultivated, while also building confidence in the youth.

“Also to get kids comfortable enough to get out there and like get in the action where it’s really intimidating if you walk up there and really don’t have any experience at all, but you’re always going to see a familiar face, which is always really cool too,” Lutz said.”I love falling fast, I love it,” Hanson said.

Feb. 15 The Siouxer is hosting “Support your local skate shop day,” and will have limited edition skate decks for sale and a best trick contest.