Lisa Ezra, Nederland. They say sometimes it takes a good fall to really know where you stand, and while Robbie Knab probably wouldn’t have chosen to take the fall that shattered his spine and altered his life forever, he has been powerfully uplifted in the way his friends and fellow skateboarders have rallied around both him and the sport that they love.  Nederland’s Teens, Inc. had the opportunity to host a fundraiser for Knab on Saturday, September 14, bringing out skaters of all ages in love and support.  

Knab suffered a serious spinal cord injury while riding at an event for Hovland Snowskates in Washington this past May and is now paralyzed from the waist down.  Doctors performed surgery of the mid-lower cervical vertebrae (C5), and he currently faces a long and arduous recovery at Craig Hospital.  

Aside from treatment expenses, travel expenses for the family have begun to mount. The fundraiser, termed “Pushing with Purpose,” brought the skateboarding community out in full force. Riders were separated by age and judged on skill and performance, with the winners taking home coveted prizes like autographed Tony Hawk boards, 303 decks, wax, shirts, and wheels, Snowskates from Hovland Snowskate, decks, grip tape, and miscellaneous gear from Mountain Side Skate Shop, as well as gift cards to local businesses like Backcountry Pizza, New Moon Bakery, Mountain Man, and Alpine Botanicals.  

A DJ provided a booty-shaking soundtrack of funk, hip-hop, dance party, and soul. Gift bags were awarded to all skaters and higher-end items were auctioned off in a raffle, with all proceeds benefitting Knab and his family during this incredibly difficult time. Skateboarders showing up for one another- simply living to ride, and riding to live.

(Originally published in the September 26, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)