27/05/2026
California STATE Senior Games will be Sept 26th at the Cove in Santa Monica. Starts 4 pm to 9pm
Bart Saric wrote the recap from Last year at Vans in HB.
Senior Games Oct 11 2025
Produced by Grave RattlerZ; Heidi Lemmon, Lonny Hiramoto, Lance Lemond, Kimi Kallman, Bart Saric, Bennett Harada
Recap by MC Bart Saric “on the mic”
"What a pleasant surprise and beautiful day of skateboarding mixed with community, for the first official “Grave Rattlerz” competition/event in partnership with the Senior Games of S.D., this past October 11th. Kicking off the fall season with positive vibes and radical skating from a melting pot of people and gamut of age groups. Didn’t matter if you were representing the 40s, 50s, or 60 year olds, everyone who participated was a youngster riding the ‘fountain of youth’, on their skateboards.
There were South Americans, North Americans, Locals, Women, Men in a multi-cultural pot of talent, mixing all styles of skate personalities and bringing their special ‘samba’ of ride to the transitioned concrete walls of the Huntington Beach’s Vans skate park. It was one of those fine days that continued to gain momentum from one run to another. From one category to the next.
Some of the highlights were Leandro Silva and his technical power lines, Cheryl Milstien & Sonja Deans full course runs, Kelsey ‘Beans’ Nye and Jim Gray’s skateboard madness improvisational concrete dance, Tracie Garacochea’s bravery in her custom wheelchair, the 50 year old men handling the course plus. Jerome Calleja had stylish runs and 60 + year old George Gumbrecht laid down back Bert’s at end of his runs. Bennett Harada had double duties mixing as a DJ and winning the 50 year old division with power lines, alongside Lonny Hiramoto who judged and tore up the course as a legendary in the winning 60+ division.
In our specialty categories conducted in the Cab’ Combi-Bowl, Richard Sanchez and Bennett Harada took high air honors. Followed by a marathon, die hard, most consecutive grinds contest. Ryan Unmuck set the bar with 14 grinds in a row throughout both bowls. Soon after it became a two man duel between Kevin Sandoval who put together 21 consecutive grinds in the round section. To be topped on Bennett’s next run with 23 consecutive grinds in the round. To then, on rebuttal, be outdone with 25 consecutive grinds in a row by Kevin Sandoval to take final honors.
Don’t know who one would call old, because these seniors of skate outlasted most of the youngsters on this fine day of skateboarding culture, community and stoke!
Big thanks and love to all of the sponsors, volunteers, competitors and supporters there! Until next time .. stay stoked for life."
Bart Saric
***Thank you to Kirsten Cummings, the executive Director of SD Senior Games. Kirsten is also the Basketball Commissioner and we were honored to have her come out and spend the day with us. She brought the official tees shirts and medals. If you know us , you know we like cool medals and Senior Games had amazing medals and neck ribbons!
Turnout was great, better than we expected for a 1st time event for skaters over 40! Many thanks to Steve Van Doren & Kristy Van Doren Batsen
Below snap of the team that rock S1 photos Chris Hooten
