Making public access punk: Greenfield Skateboard Clip Day encourages skaters to show off their stuff for the camera

There’s nothing more punk than skateboarding, according to Greenfield Community Television Station Manager Bella Levavi. So when the station was looking for ways to engage with the community and make public access more punk, they turned to skateboarders.

That philosophy took center stage this past Sunday, June 7, when GCTV welcomed skateboarders, bicyclists and rollerbladers to show off their skills at the Greenfield Skate Park for the second annual Skateboard Clip Day. Despite a little rain, the event — held in collaboration with the Greenfield Recreation Department and Theory Skate Shop — saw dozens of participants demonstrate different tricks for the GCTV cameras.

“I’m always amazed by the creativity and balance,” said Recreation Director Christy Moore. “What they can do with a skateboard, moving and flipping at the same time, is incredible … essentially they’re just showing off their skills and tricks on different elements of the park and prizes are awarded.”

Moore said the department was happy to support GCTV and Theory Skate Shop with Clip Day and that it was nice to see the park being used and appreciated, particularly through the intergenerational event that saw skaters from their teens to their thirties.

“We’re happy to see so many people using the park,” Moore said.

Levavi said the event was inspired by her love of roller skating and of filming her skating adventures.

“After work I’d go to GCTV and check out a 360 camera and attach it to my helmet, and I would film myself skating around,” Levavi said. “I started working at GCTV and thought we needed more events. We wanted more people involved and we want more people to think public access is punk, and nothing is more punk than skateboarding.”

By collaborating with Greenfield Recreation and Theory Skate Shop, which provides prizes for skaters who particularly impress with their skills, Levavi said she hopes Clip Day helps people understand what gear is available for them to use at GCTV. The station has a number of different cameras, microphones, lights and other tools, Levavi said, that people can use to bring their visions to life.

“GCTV is ripping with free gear, free training, and free space,” Levavi said. “We believe art will save the world, we just gotta show them how to use the tools.”

The video clips collected by GCTV will be compiled into a community skate video and premiered at the Movies in the Park night on Aug. 14. The video will be screened at 8:15 p.m. at Beacon Field, prior to the showing of Disney’s animated sci-fi comedy film, “Hoppers.”