Joey Jett teaches young skateboarders new skills

Published 8/15/2022 6:00 a.m. EDT, Updated 8/15/2022 10:34 a.m. EDT

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Young skateboarders got tips from one of the best in the game at a skateboard workshop led by professional skateboarder and Baltimore native Joey Jett at Rash Field in Baltimore Saturday.

The event, called Boards and Breakfast, was a collaboration with the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore for kids aged 12 or younger. Some participants grasped Jett’s hands as they skated for the first time, while others learned new tricks from the pro skater.

Jett’s talents were discovered when he was a child and he has made it part of his mission to work with young people. He became a supporter of the skate park before its opening less than a year ago, helping to raise funds for its construction.

The park itself is named Jake’s Skatepark after one of Jett’s former friends, a young boy named Jake Owen, who was killed in a distracted driver accident. The park honors Owen’s legacy, and is designed to be kid-friendly.

Julia Reihs is a Baltimore-based visual storyteller.

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