Creating an indoor skatepark and community hub for Central Oregon
There’s a skateboarding renaissance on the horizon. Caitlin and Tryg Bjornstad are the visionaries working to transform the seasonal Central Oregon skating scene into a year-round community. With the introduction of the Board House Society—an indoor skating initiative—the Bjornstads, along with their expanding team, are on the hunt for a 15,000-square-foot warehouse to anchor their growing community and house Bend’s only indoor skatepark. In its fundraising and community-growth phase, the Board House Society is rooted in an ethos of support, inclusion and stoke.
A Skating Community
Skaters in town share the woes of skateboarding in Central Oregon. Existing skate parks are exclusively outdoors, affected by weather conditions such as snow and smoke, and are limited to daylight hours.
A skate community begins when young people are given year-round access to parks, according to Trent Bowman, a community partner with Board House Society and a team member from Bend’s Tactics boardshop. Bowman, who grew up in Southern California, witnessed firsthand how access fostered a withstanding love for skateboarding. After moving to Bend, he noticed kids’ interest in the sport dropping off without a consistent connection to it. He also feels the absence.
“Me and my homies need a place to skate,” Bowman said. “We work at the shop until eight, and then we’re like, ‘Where do we go? It’s dark.’”
Wise to this frustration, the Bjornstads have dedicated themselves to creating a solution: an indoor hub where weather is not a barrier to getting on a board. The Bjornstads are keen on removing other barriers to skating, too. Board House will cater to every age and skill level, from little rippers to skate-moms in the making. The facility has plans for ramps and rails, along with coworking spaces, an art hub with graffiti walls and a space to relax and talk shop.
Skating for All
Accessibility is at the forefront of its mission, with systems for mentorships, affordable rentals and safety gear scholarships. “We want to make it clear that the moment you walk through the door, we’re super psyched that you’re here,” Caitlin said.
The decision to build a welcoming and consistent skate community was made in the summer of 2023, when Tryg was at a crossroads in his professional life. After 25 years of a leadership role in carpentry, where he was able to make positive impacts on company culture, a mandatory transition to remote work left him feeling isolated from the people he uplifted in his work. Plus, he sought a way to contribute to the community.
Tryg turned to his buddy, pro-surfer Garrett McNamara who set the record for surfing the world’s largest wave, and who knows a thing or two about chasing dreams. “He told me to make a list of the things I like to do and a list of the things I don’t like to do,” Tryg said.
He found himself staring at two lists he’d drawn up. The first was Tryg’s “good boards” list—snowboards, wakeboards and skateboards. His second list included less inspiration: being “bored.” Tryg chose the first list and from there, passion and purpose came together in the form of Board House Society. “If every day was wonderful, what would that look like?” Tryg said. “If you can create a place that looks like that, then you’ve just created a wonderful life.”
Follow their journey at boardhousesociety.org, and @boardhousebend. Learn more about Board House Society by listening to a conversation with Caitlin and Tryg Bjornstad on The Circling Podcast.
