Ah, summer! When a young man's (or woman's) fancy lightly turns to thoughts of ... shredding! At least, it does if he or she is a skateboarder.

If ollies, nollies, caballerials and grinds are your idea of a good time, and getting air leaves you feeling stoked, then you're going to want to circle Saturday, June 20, on your calendar.

Beginning at noon, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, in partnership with Rhythm Skate Shop (located at the Lewis Main Mini-Mall, 2202 Liggett Ave.), will sponsor the first Freedom Park Skate Jam in honor of National Go Skateboarding Day.

This will be an amateur-only, jam-style skateboard competition open to all ages and all skill levels, from beginners to experts.

Even if skateboarding isn't your thing, there will be live music from Harvest States, interactive games like gladiator jousting, bungee runs and even a climbing wall. Arby's will be on hand with snacks to purchase, and the Red Bull Wings Team and deejay will be there, too, with lots of free swag and giveaways.

Onsite registration at the Freedom Park Skatepark, located at the corner of Liggitt and 41st Division Drive at Lewis Main Gate, opens at noon, and the event is free to the public.

The jam sessions will commence promptly at 1 p.m. and will include multiple heats. Four to five skaters per heat will compete, with the top two skaters advancing to the next round. At 5 p.m., the final winners will be announced. Three grand prizes will be awarded, including an X-box One, a Dell tablet and a Dell laptop.

"This is a great way to showcase Freedom Park and the adjacent skatepark," said Colin Brooks, the marketing director for Morale, Welfare and Recreation at JBLM. The event is also designed to encourage JBLM youth to get out and get active during the summer months.

So grease up those bearings, and get ready to celebrate summer with some sick backsides and kickflips, top guns and pop shove-its.  It's going to be off the hook!

For more information, check out Rhythm Skate Shop's website at rhythmskateshop.com or call 253.237.6225. You can also contact Brooks, who is the JBLM MWR special events coordinator as well, at 253.967.5776.