A digital rendering of the Lauridsen Skatepark, the site of the 2021 Dew Tour competition and Olympic trials. Image provided by Dew Tour.

The new Lauridsen Skatepark on the downtown Des Moines riverfront will host the 2021 Dew Tour competition and festival when it opens in May, organizers announced today.

The event, scheduled for May 20-23, will include World Skate sanctioned men’s and women’s skateboarding street and park competitions, serving as the only U.S.-based global Olympic skateboard qualifying events for the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer.

Skateboarding is scheduled to make its debut at the Tokyo games, and the Lauridsen Skatepark’s street and park courses have been approved as a Olympic-level competition venue.

The park also includes two skate bowls, a skate promenade, a skate sculpture, stairs, ledges and more.

The skatepark is the result of a partnership among Polk County, Catch Des Moines, Skate DSM and the local skateboard shop Subset. It was built by California Skateparks, the skatepark architects of the Dew Tour since 2014.

At 88,000 square feet, the Lauridsen Skatepark is the largest in the country. The Dew Tour will be the first event to be held there and is scheduled as part of its grand opening kickoff, the announcement stated.

The event is expected to draw more than 300 of the world’s top male and female skateboarders.
Polk County manages the skatepark, and Angela Connolly, Polk County supervisor, said it’s an understatement to say that county officials are excited about the Dew Tour coming to Des Moines.

“This event is exactly why we made sure that the Lauridsen Skatepark was going to be the biggest in the country,” she said. “Having the Dew Tour as a partner in opening our brand new skatepark is a true honor and we look forward to them bringing professional skaters and fans to Des Moines to not only help showcase our park but to engage the youth in our community who are so excited to get out there and skate.”

Courtney Gresik, Dew Tour vice president and general manager, said the 2021 Dew Tour kicks off the journey for competitors on their way to the Olympics.

“Being able to produce the Dew Tour in 2021 and have it continue to serve as an Olympic qualifying event, in a brand new home with a world-class venue, is a dream come true,” Gresik said. “There are no words to express what we all have globally battled in the past year. We couldn’t be more proud to be in this space today. Our teams and partners are poised and ready to put forth a safe, successful event for all involved.”

The Dew Tour is sponsored by Mountain Dew and Accelerate360’s ASN: The Adventure Sports Network Group.

Greg Edwards, president and CEO of Catch Des Moines, promised that the 2021 Dew Tour would bring the “wow factor” to downtown Des Moines.

“To host an Olympic qualifying event is an awesome showcase for both this new facility and the city of Des Moines,” he said. “Given the circumstances, this isn’t just an event, but a celebration.”