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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (July 20, 2016)
Polk County Sports QUICK HITS Central High to host conference INDEPENDENCE — The Oregon Coaches Associa- tion and the OSAA have chosen Central High School to host the Spirit of Champions Conference on Aug. 26. The event, sponsored by BiMart, will see schools from around the valley and the Oregon Coast come together. More details will be re- leased later. Fun run seeks volunteers DALLAS — The Dallas Booster Club is seeking volunteers for the Sum- merfest Fun Run on July 30. The run will need vol- unteers beginning at 7 a.m. This year, the run will feature a 5-kilometer race at 8:30 a.m. and a kid’s run at 9 a.m. Volunteers are needed for registration, directing runners along the course, help at the water stations and handing out water, food and gifts at the finish line, as well as cleanup after the event. For more information: admin@dhsboosterclub.or g. Online registration for the fun run is available at www.runsignup.com/Race /Register/?raceId=8490. Day of registration will also be available. Cross Creek men’s club results DALLAS — Cross Creek’s men’s club results for July 12: Two man best ball low gross/low net Gross: 1, Roy Speelman- Wayne Baughman, 34; Lee Gamaney-Jim Schroeder, 35. Net: 1, Mike Largent- Allan Hadley, 26; 2 (tie), Steve Altman-Ken Dankenbring, Larry Burg- er-John Hopkins and Bob Bennet-Denney Klassen, 31. Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 20, 2016 9A LongBoard Larry finds a home Larry Peterson opens first storefront for handmade boards By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — If not for a decision long ago by his older brother, Larry Pe- terson’s life would look a lot different than it does now. Peterson graduated from Western Oregon University with a biology degree and had his sights set on a par- ticular field. “The plan was to go to dental school,” Peterson said. He never made it to den- tal school. But Peterson, bet- ter known as LongBoard Larry, found something bet- ter. Now, he’s ready to share his passion with even more people with the opening of his store, LongBoard Larry, located at 599 S. Third St. in Independence. — Peterson’s love of building longboards was born out of necessity. “My brother in high school built a longboard out of an old ski press,” Peterson said. “He lost interest, so I rode that for a while until he decided he wanted it back. I figured I have to figure out how to make these things.” His first board, made from a flat piece of wood that he soaked in a kid’s pool to try and bend it, was less than successful. LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer LongBoard Larry features handmade longboards and skate boards, clothing and supplies. “It didn’t work very well,” Peterson said. “I think it cracked on the second day.” But he was intrigued by LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer the process and began ex- perimenting with different molds and techniques, learning how different de- signs led to different riding styles. “I kept working at it and found different ways to build boards and bend wood,” he said. “… I like fig- uring out ways to make cool stuff.” Before long, others took notice of his skills. “It got to the point where people asked me to build them boards,” Peterson said. “That was back in the 1999- 2000 time frame. I was going to Western at the time.” The decision was made to start LongBoard Larry. He hired two high school stu- dents to work with him and they were off and running — Board building • LongBoard Larry, located at 599 S. Third St., in Independence is open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and weekends by appointment. • LongBoard Larry makes handmade longboard skateboards and also sells clothing and supplies. • Peterson’s business began in a 200-square foot shed. He has spent the last five years in its manufacturing facility in Independ- ence. • This is the company’s first official storefront. • The company has shipped longboards around the world. • For more information: 971-209-5135. though not with the grand- est of beginnings. “I started in a shed that was 200-square feet,” Pe- terson said. “I did every- thing from pressing to cut- ting and painting in that shed for a long time. Then, we had a car tent, that’s w h e re w e s a n d e d t h e boards and then added a third shed because we were keeping busy.” In the decade and a half since then, they’ve expand- ed into bigger locations and sent custom-made boards around the world, but one thing was missing. See LARRY, Page 10A Registration for kids triathlon open Different designs are made to suit different styles of rid- ing. Each board takes two to three days to finish. DALLAS — Registration for the 10th annual Sum- merfest Kids Triathlon at the Dallas Aquatic Center is now open. The event is open to kids ages 5 to 12 and will be held on July 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Check-in be- gins at 9:45 a.m. Cost is $20 for Dallas Aquatic Center members and $25 for nonmembers. Register before Friday to receive a $5 discount. Day of registration will also be available prior to the start of the event. Age groups and dis- tances are as follows: 5-6 (25-yard swim, 165-yard bike, 75-yard run); 7-8 (25- yard swim, 280-yard bike ride, 175-yard run); 9-10 (50-yard swim, 545-yard bike ride, 300-yard run); 11-12 (100-yard swim, 1,090-yard bike ride, 600- yard run). For more information: www.ci.dallas.or.us/83/Dal las-Aquatic-Center. Injury complicates Curtis’ summer Dallas High senior uses setback as fuel to take her game to new levels By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer Online Visit www.polkio.com for more sports stories, photos and more. www.polkio.com LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer file Dallas’ Kailee Curtis took 14th at state in 2016. An injury forced her to miss a junior golf tournament in June. DALLAS — Kailee Curtis was ready for a big summer of golf. Fresh off placing 14th at the OSAA 5A girls golf state championships last spring, the Dallas High incom- ing senior was ready to make a splash on a national scale. Curtis did undergo some impor- tant lessons — but not the ones she was expecting. Curtis was preparing for a tourna- ment in mid-June to qualify for a Junior Open event in New Jersey when she suffered a critical setback. “I was playing a practice round and broke a blood vessel in my fin- ger,” she said. She was forced to take two weeks off, causing her to miss the tourna- ment. “It was really upsetting for me,” Curtis said. She was able to play in a tourna- ment June 21-22 in Corvallis — this www.facebook.com/pages/Polk-County-Itemizer-Observer/205062686252209 one to qualify for the World Champi- onships. “I was still slightly injured and I hadn’t played very much before it,” Curtis said. “I played really badly. It was hard going into that not play- ing my best, but it was a learning experience that you can’t just walk into these things without practic- ing. “Not being able to play then going to the next tournament and doing so awful was definitely hard, but it was a wakeup call.” She’ll get another chance to get her golf game back on track when she plays in a special tournament on July 24. She’ll compete alongside her dad — the one who taught her how to play just before her freshman year of high school. “One day we were sitting there watching golf,” Curtis said. “I said, ‘this is really boring, dad.’ He told me I was wrong.” See CURTIS, Page 10A www.twitter.com/PolkIOSports BG 50 Handheld Blower NEW! $139.95 MS 170 Chain Saw with 16” bar MS 250 Chain Saw FS 38 String Trimmer $129.95 $159.95 with 18” bar $359.95 SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY & OUR LOCAL SPORTS 130 Main St., Rickreall • 503-623-2365 • www.rickfarm.com
