In this article, skateboarding expert, Ben Wixon, discusses various aspects of skatepark design and construction, as well as strategies for incorporating skateparks into the design of a community.…
Ben Wixon is a youth supervision and action sports expert with more than two decades of experience providing guidance, instruction, training, and support to school youth, facility operators and staff, recreation programs and recreation camps. As a certified teacher and recreation professional, he applies his expertise to forensic investigations involving youth supervision, camp and recreational programming, as well as skateboarding and action sports related incidents.
Ben Wixon is a published author and middle school teacher in Portland Oregon as well as a recreation leader with Portland Parks and Recreation. He has been a master trainer for Nike Skateboarding, a PSIA certified snowboarding instructor, as well as the Director of Development for Skaters for Public Skateparks. Ben earned his Master of Education at Arizona State University.
Ben’s forensic casework frequently involves incidents of bullying, abuse, neglect, or physical injuries within schools, camps, and other youth programs.
Ben earned his Master of Education degree in 2002 and has been working professionally as a public-school teacher since 1999. In addition to instruction, supervision, and program development, Ben has experience and training in a broad range of specialized topics, such as risk management, child abuse, sexual misconduct, bullying, and crisis management.
Ben has also worked extensively with afterschool programs and camps beginning in 1990 as a camp counselor for the YWCA USA. Since then, he has supervised, instructed, and managed recreational camps and programs in a variety of settings and formats including; afterschool programs, day camps, instructional camps, and traditional overnight camps.
During his work with camps, his responsibilities have included instructing and organizing sports activities, assessing and treating minor injuries, creating, and implementing programming, supervising and hiring staff, chaperoning field trips and offsite activities, and facilitating special events.
His background in skateboarding and snow sports, as well as supervision, makes him a uniquely qualified expert in the action sports industry for investigating disputes related to adventure sport programs, skateboarder actions, as well as skatepark design and management.
An avid skater and snowboarder for more than thirty years, Ben has competed in numerous World Cup events and qualified for the Van's World Amateur Skateboarding Championships in 2002. He has helped to design, plan, and build skateparks, maintained ski and snowboard terrain parks, taught and managed both public and private skateboarding camps, supervised training activities involving the use of trampolines and foam pits, as well as judged competitions.
Ben has developed skateboarding and action sports curricula and programs for numerous organizations including Nike Skateboarding; Skaters for Public Skateparks; Portland Parks and Recreation; the cities of Chandler, Tempe, and Phoenix, Arizona; YMCA of the USA; Portland Public Schools; Cartwright School District; Windell's Snowboard Camp; and Site Design Group Skateparks.
Associate
2013 to presentProvide technical investigations, analysis, reports, and testimony toward the resolution of commercial and personal injury litigation involving:
Certified Teacher, ESL/Social Studies
2003 to presentMaster Trainer
2011 to presentRecreation Leader and Skatepark Consultant
2003 to presentDirector of Development, Programming and Instruction
2010 to presentSkatepark Advisor
2011Skate Camp Manager and Head Coach (Summers)
2002 to 2004Skatepark Manager and Builder
2001 to 2003Public School Teacher
1999 to 2001Skate Camp Manager/Park Builder/Grounds Supervisor
1997 to 2000Snowboard Instructor/Terrain Park Crew
1996 to 1998Taught group and private snowboard lessons to all levels of ability. Maintained terrain park. Collaborated to hire staff and conduct staff training.
Governing Board of Trustees – Member
2024 to presentDuties Include:
M.A.ED, Curriculum and Instruction, Arizona State University, 2002
B.A., Secondary Education/History Ed., Northern Arizona University, 1998
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In this article, skateboarding expert, Ben Wixon, discusses various aspects of skatepark design and construction, as well as strategies for incorporating skateparks into the design of a community.…
Robson Forensic skateboarding expert, and master trainer for Nike Skateboarding, Ben Wixon authored one of the leading texts on skateboarding instruction. In Skateboarding: Instruction, Programming,…
A sound and comprehensive risk management plan is critical in the operation of overnight camps, special events, or outdoor activities like skiing, rafting, and other adventure sports. When…