News
By George Miller, 8-16-24
Happy Fernandina Beach and Nassau County residents renamed their FB skate park for and put on an impressive parade for returning Olympian skateboarder Poe Pinson on short notice- all on August 16.
The county really rolled out the red carpet Friday for returning Olympian & FB resident Poe Pinson.
It started at 1:30 PM with the dedication ceremony for the newly designated Poe Pinson Skate Park at Main Beach….
Poe Pinson Skate Park Dedication Ceremony
Mayor Bradley Bean, Mayor of The City of Fernandina Beach and Nassau Commissioner John Martin were both there to honor Olympic skateboarder Poe Pinson for her amazing 5th in the world finish achievement by dedicating the Main Beach Skateboard Park to her and presenting her with a key to the city. The latter was an honor accorded to only two others in the last two decades, he said, then added: “people hardly agree on anything here, but they all agree on this,” to hearty applause.
Beginning her skateboarding career at 4, the 19 year old Olympian garnered 5th place last month in an impressive performance in the very difficult women’s street skating event. You don’t know just how difficult it is until you have seen the event- the course, the complexity, the moves, strength, grace, balance, skill, the level of competition. I watched world class people falling all over the course during the competition. It probably seems even harder when you train for many years and then have to brave that course yourself, competing with the best the world has to offer- and they are very good. Yes, we know she looks like she’s just a little girl, but she must have internal steel and many years of rigorous training and discipline to have done that.
Commissioner Martin read of a long list of Poe’s accomplishments before presenting a proclamation honoring her and her Olympic performance. 150-200 people showed up to watch, support and cheer Poe on. far more were expected – and showed up at the 6 PM parade downtown She appears to be the soul of humility, gracefully and bashfully accepting all the acclaim with amazement and quiet gratitude. She was busily chewing on an apple while the plaudits were being read off, but ditched it in time to be photographed for the unveiling of the new sign and said a very brief acceptance and thank you.
WATCH:
https://www.nbcolympics.com/videos/pinson-delivers-stellar-street-skateboarding-performance
Olympic women’s street skating final (you will have to log onto your subscribing TV service)
https://www.nbcolympics.com/videos/teens-sweep-podium-womens-street-final
Poe’s Parade
Few have the honor of the city/county putting on a parade for them, but Ms. Pinson is the latest. The parade was a doozy- real grassroots: local businesses, schools and various organizations and individuals. It took about 20 minutes just to pass the Citizens Journal observation station at the corner of 3rd and Centre St., right where former Mayor Mike Lednovich was manning his security guard station.
Here are some pics ….
We kept watching and watching but never saw any sign of the guest of honor. No fancy floats with her standing on top. She wasn’t on the half pipe float either, but kids were going back and forth on it. Just about all of the parade had already passed. Finally, our Associate editor Carol spotted her flying by on a skateboard at street level, surrounded by a squad of kids also on boards. Totally appropriate for the youthful skateboarder of the People- perfect, actually, looking just like another kid, but twice as fast and agile…..
I had to run to catch up and get ahead of her to take these photos on the fly. At one point, she suddenly turned right into me to fist bump! I was holding my cell phone/camera in one hand and a pen in the other. As we bumped fists, we locked eyes, what got my attention is that I saw great intensity, determination, but also relaxation and pure joy! That would have been the best photo of the night, but it wasn’t to be. I took the fist bump instead!
Event announcement: https://www.citizensjournal.net/congratulations-poe-pinson/
Lots of good parade pics
George Miller is Publisher and Co-Founder of Citizens Journal Florida, based in Fernandina Beach. He is a “retired” operations management consultant, software and publishing executive (10 years) and manufacturing management professional.
