While spring and summer months provide adequate weather to skateboard outdoors, the winter months prove otherwise. But Menomonie resident Christian Peterson works to make skateboarding during the snowy, cold months a possibility.

In 2013, Eau Claire witnessed the local YMCA close its private outdoor skatepark. Peterson purchased the skate ramps for the new facility from the recently closed YMCA skatepark for a good deal, he said.

“With the opportunity to purchase the YMCA ramps, it gives us more ramps and the ability to open up a public facility,” Peterson said.

Expressing the relatively low funding needed after the low-cost ramps, Peterson said he will have to fund the first few months of rent and similar expenses until the necessary financials are produced after opening.

Peterson, the sole owner and operator, plans to hire a few employees to help run operations for the park he’s imagined building for a long time.

“I’ve always been involved in skating and always dreamt of building a skate park,” Peterson said.

Set to open before Christmas, Peterson wants to open doors as winter weather rolls in and as indoor skatepark options in the area become harder to find.

The skatepark’s location is 3110 Louis Avenue, the north side of Eau Claire.

Peterson hasn’t released the costs associated with skating at the facility, as costs may alter before the skatepark opens in the next few months. Cost options are still being explored, with the possibility of monthly and yearly memberships as well.

A satellite location for Passion Board Shop, a locally family-owned skate shop, is located inside of the skatepark. The shop will provide clothing, skateboards and more for purchase.

Food and beverage options are provided within the indoor park as well, Peterson said.

As a fellow skater himself, Peterson said they don’t have a specific target of skater because they expect a large age range in hopes of drawing both community members and university students.

“I’m 38, so there is a whole group of us that still skate and bike at a pretty high level and so it’s a pretty wide range… college kids fall right in the middle there and hopefully they’ll enjoy it,” Peterson said.

Junior social studies education student Ben Cole has been an avid boarder after being introduced to the activity at a young age. Cole uses boarding to travel to campus each day and enjoys downhill racing on weekends with friends in other areas of the state.

Cole said the activity is challenging and risky during the winter, but still possible to regardless of snowy, icy conditions.

“The wheels, when it’s wet, they hydroplane on the concrete,” Cole said. “so you basically kind of fishtail here and there.”

Cole said he prefers to use winter as a time to recoup his body after getting banged up during the months of devoted boarding in the spring and summer.

The new indoor skatepark not only provides indoor skating, but also a place where local kids can go.

“It’s good because it kind of keeps kids out of trouble, kids will have a place to go,” Cole said.

“Skateboarding is blast… it gives you the opportunity to skate in the winter more often.”