Thanks to CSKT for welcoming us to the Flathead Reservation with new parks in Arlee, Ronan and Pablo, MT. These spaces are empowering local youth to find their strength, make lasting friendships, and to take pride in their unique version of riding. Skateboarding doesn’t require a membership, or fees or rules and referees…just a board and the courage to drop in. These parks are more than concrete; they’re places for young people to thrive, learn, and grow as a vibrant part of their community.
Check out this mini documentary from the opening celebrations in Arlee and Ronan this year. Thanks to @evergreenskateparks and @dreamlandskateparks for the creative builds. More to come!
Skateboarding is more than a sport for these young people; it’s a means of self-expression, and a way to build community in places where opportunities can be limited.
This mini-documentary celebrates the opening of two new skateparks on the Flathead Reservation in Arlee and Ronan, Montana—home to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (Séliš, Q'lispé, and Ksanka). Built by Montana Pool Service and Dreamland Skateparks, these parks bring world-class skateboarding facilities to rural and isolated communities, connecting small towns to the larger skateboarding world. They provide a space for youth to come together, forge friendships, and discover their strength. With a board, kids can find their power and thrive in a safe, inclusive environment.
Montana Pool Service and its partners are dedicated to fostering community growth and vitality through skateboarding. Watch to see how youth in these spaces are making these parks their own and building a stronger sense of connection in these beautiful Montana towns.
Very cool. I can vouch for these parks getting lots of use as there’s not a lot of free things to do for kids here and many of these kids have bad home environments . My mom works for the middle school in Ronan and these kids really can use a good recreational outlet. Thanks Jeff for making it happen.
1996 Charlotte 1998 Raleigh 2000 Virginia Beach 2003 Raleigh 2016 RaleighThanks HB2 2016 Columbia 2020 BaltimoreThanks COVID 2022 BaltimoreThe only original COVID venue not rescheduled (due to construction) :( 2022 Denver 2024 Baltimore 2025 Raleigh 1 and 2
Those are some odd tattoos. He waits 60 years and gets that?.
For sure. Should've got some tribal.
1996 Charlotte 1998 Raleigh 2000 Virginia Beach 2003 Raleigh 2016 RaleighThanks HB2 2016 Columbia 2020 BaltimoreThanks COVID 2022 BaltimoreThe only original COVID venue not rescheduled (due to construction) :( 2022 Denver 2024 Baltimore 2025 Raleigh 1 and 2
The in-person fundraiser hosted by Missoula’s @girlsonshred features this Jeff Ament-signed, Montana Pool Service board. Bid in person at @westerncider and see all the cool things available. Online bidding, which will include more items, starts in February.
They look legit but not 100% sure, as there's no mention of whether the proceeds go to the MPS charity. Does anyone else know more?
Cheers,
Lloyd
Hey Lloyd,
They’re legit in that they’re real shirts, but so far as I can tell it is not affiliated and there are no notes that the funds go to MPS. There’s also Pearl Jam specific merch on the site and I don’t think the band sees that money.
Thanks Loujoe for the reminder. I should have checked, but with 8 pages of replies to the topic I got lazy.
Having scrolled up, it answers the question I had. To summarise what others have said above: The webpage offering the shirts is by the artist who created the logo for MPS. Money goes to them, not MPS. I find this a weird thing for them to do, but each to their own.
It also partially answers another question I had about why MPS doesn't sell merchandise on their site. Presumably it's because Tom “Wally” Inouye owns the the rights to the original 'IPS' design which MPS copied as a tribute. If MPS were to start selling merchandise with their current logo, they have enough exposure that IPS might (legitimately) have a thing or two to say about it and it would be a 'bad look' for a skateboarding charity to be seen to be ripping off someone from the skateboarding community.
Presumably the website currently selling the t-shirts is (or the owners regard it as) a small enough operation that they won't attract attention from IPS and/or Tom “Wally” Inouye.
I still don't understand why MPS don't create some original merchandise, which I expect would be a pretty lucrative fundraiser for their cause 🧐
You prob know they sold a knit hat with logo and still have socks on tsurt website. Socks are great! Quality and comfortable. Seems like JA likes to keep stuff exclusive to his skate crew for now. Who knows?
Someone "What is MPS?" Me: "cool organization raises money for skateparks and more" Someone: "That's awesome! Do you skate?" Me: "no but I have 3 skatedecks, stickers, hats, socks & shirts. When I'm ready to learn!"
Someone "What is MPS?" Me: "cool organization raises money for skateparks and more" Someone: "That's awesome! Do you skate?" Me: "no but I have 3 skatedecks, stickers, hats, socks & shirts. When I'm ready to learn!"
This is my Pho face for lunch break… After my drum student asked what the letters on my hat meant. I asked what do you think?… his guess: Music Police Station. I laughed out loud!…. Told him it stands for Montana Pool Service… an old friend’s passion for building skateboard parks, bass playing and art:)…. Life is still good!!!
Comments
'This boats not safe
And we're drowning.'
Thanks to CSKT for welcoming us to the Flathead Reservation with new parks in Arlee, Ronan and Pablo, MT. These spaces are empowering local youth to find their strength, make lasting friendships, and to take pride in their unique version of riding. Skateboarding doesn’t require a membership, or fees or rules and referees…just a board and the courage to drop in. These parks are more than concrete; they’re places for young people to thrive, learn, and grow as a vibrant part of their community.
Check out this mini documentary from the opening celebrations in Arlee and Ronan this year. Thanks to @evergreenskateparks and @dreamlandskateparks for the creative builds.
More to come!
-JA
This mini-documentary celebrates the opening of two new skateparks on the Flathead Reservation in Arlee and Ronan, Montana—home to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (Séliš, Q'lispé, and Ksanka). Built by Montana Pool Service and Dreamland Skateparks, these parks bring world-class skateboarding facilities to rural and isolated communities, connecting small towns to the larger skateboarding world. They provide a space for youth to come together, forge friendships, and discover their strength. With a board, kids can find their power and thrive in a safe, inclusive environment.
Montana Pool Service and its partners are dedicated to fostering community growth and vitality through skateboarding. Watch to see how youth in these spaces are making these parks their own and building a stronger sense of connection in these beautiful Montana towns.
1998 Raleigh
2000 Virginia Beach
2003 Raleigh
2016 Raleigh Thanks HB2
2016 Columbia
2020 Baltimore Thanks COVID
2022 Baltimore The only original COVID venue not rescheduled (due to construction) :(
2022 Denver
2024 Baltimore
2025 Raleigh 1 and 2
1998 Raleigh
2000 Virginia Beach
2003 Raleigh
2016 Raleigh Thanks HB2
2016 Columbia
2020 Baltimore Thanks COVID
2022 Baltimore The only original COVID venue not rescheduled (due to construction) :(
2022 Denver
2024 Baltimore
2025 Raleigh 1 and 2
Check this out
https://boardofmissoula.com/collections/msa-and-madness-in-the-mountains
It's official. He designed the logo. The funds don't go to MPS but to the artist.
'This boats not safe
And we're drowning.'
The in-person fundraiser hosted by Missoula’s @girlsonshred features this Jeff Ament-signed, Montana Pool Service board. Bid in person at @westerncider and see all the cool things available.
Online bidding, which will include more items, starts in February.
Seems like JA likes to keep stuff exclusive to his skate crew for now. Who knows?
Me: "cool organization raises money for skateparks and more"
Someone: "That's awesome! Do you skate?"
Me: "no but I have 3 skatedecks, stickers, hats, socks & shirts. When I'm ready to learn!"
This is my Pho face for lunch break…
After my drum student asked what the letters on my hat meant.
I asked what do you think?… his guess:
Music Police Station.
I laughed out loud!…. Told him it stands for Montana Pool Service… an old friend’s passion for building skateboard parks, bass playing and art:)…. Life is still good!!!
Love you all