Homebase610 hosts second annual “Longest Ollie” competition in downtown Easton
EASTON, Pa. — Local skateboarder Izzy Gonzalez claimed victory Sunday at the second annual longest ollie competition, taking home more than $200 in prize money pooled by spectators.
The hour-long contest, hosted by skate shop Homebase610, began at 2:50 p.m. on Northampton Street near Easton’s center square. The event ran between heats of the annual Easton Criterium professional bike races, which have taken place in the city center since 2021.
Homebase610 founder Andy Po organized the competition, which drew six to eight skaters and hundreds of spectators who had gathered for the criterium’s finish line. The rough pavement on Northampton Street, which needs repaving, added an extra challenge for contestants skating up to the jump.
Po, a Lehigh Valley transplant who moved from San Diego in 1997, opened Homebase610 in Bethlehem in 2002 with a mission far beyond retail sales.
His commitment to community building led to the development of Bethlehem Skate Plaza after a decade of advocacy work with the city.
In 2015, Po expanded his impact by opening 2nd Base Vintage in Easton, drawn to the city’s supportive small business community and vibrant arts scene.
Through both locations, Po focuses on giving back to the community and nurturing young creatives, providing opportunities for aspiring photographers, designers, and entrepreneurs in the Lehigh Valley.
The competition began with skaters attempting to ollie over a single bicycle, then progressed to two and finally three bikes.
When the contest ran over its scheduled time, organizers switched to a sudden-death format, in which the first skater to successfully land the jump would win. Gonzalez secured the victory on that basis.
This is Gonzalez’s second consecutive win. At the inaugural competition last year, he shared first place with two other skaters.
Following the contest, Homebase610’s Push Ahead initiative offered beginner skateboarding lessons for youth interested in the sport.
Push Ahead is an after-school program created over 10 years ago that partners with local elementary schools to teach children social-emotional skills like resilience and empathy through skateboarding.
With the help of volunteers, the program has become a cornerstone of Po’s community outreach efforts, introducing countless kids to their first skateboarding experience.
The Easton Criterium continued throughout the day around the city center.
