DETROIT (AP) - A cross-cultural skating event is taking over an iconic Detroit landmark for four days.
The “Fisher Halfpipe” kicked off Monday night at the Fisher Building, where professional and semi-pro skateboarders, inline skaters and BMX bikers are riding four at a time on a 26-foot-long, 16-foot-wide ramp.
The half-pipe is surrounded by historic 1920s Detroit architecture in what’s widely considered the most ornamented gallery in the city.
“This is incredible,” Nick Mullins, 25, said after taking a run on a skateboard. “I was just continually asking: ’How did this come together?’ This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The half-pipe was built in metro Detroit, painted with bright colors and nature-inspired designs to reflect the building’s interior.
Everard Findlay, chief innovation officer of building co-owner The Platform, said the event celebrates both Detroit’s role in American innovation and the skateboard as an American invention.
He said the aim of the ramp is to spotlight a hobby that unites enthusiasts across race, class, culture and other barriers.
“We’re looking at what it takes to celebrate all aspects of Detroit,” Findlay said.
He added that skateboarding “has the ability to really tell a story about perseverance with each other. Socio-economics do not matter. What matters is that we work together.”
The ramp is part of the ongoing Fisher Beacon Project, a campaign aimed at drawing visitors to the historic site through exhibitions, performances and other functions.
Skaters and spectators are invited to attend from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. through Thursday.
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Information from: Detroit Free Press, https://www.freep.com
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