SARASOTA (WSNN) – On his way to the Olympics, professional skateboarder, Jake Ilardi, makes a stop in his hometown to celebrate Payne Park’s newest upgrade.
Jake Ilardi is a local hero. The Sarasota Parks and Recreation District honored Ilardi at the Quarter-Pipe Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Monday morning. He’s a Sarasota native who is going to Tokyo to skateboard in the Summer Olympics.
“To make it to that level man, is to be applauded,” Sarasota City Commissioner Kyle Battie said. “We the city of Sarasota thank you.”
Ilardi has been skating at Payne Park since he was 10 years old.
“Without this skate park, I don’t think I’d be as versatile as a skateboarder as I am today because we have the big bowl and the big street course,” Ilardi said. “The park is 20 years old and it’s done me a lot of justice.”
He asked the city for a new quarter pipe in March, but the city didn’t have the funds. So, Jake created a Go Fund Me account for $15,000, which raised enough to create the quarter-pipe.
“Thankful for community and the kids, knowing that I made the big stage because of the little stage here,” Ilardi said.
But he couldn’t have made it to the global stage without his grandma, who bought him his first board.
“I knew from that time on, he was going to be a professional skateboarder,” Ilardi’s grandma, Paulette Moulton said. “But, I thought it’d pass, but it never did. It just got worse and worse or better and better,” she said while laughing.
Kids lined up to get their boards signed.
“I was so excited,” Compound Skate Shop camper, Ava Vanleer said. “When I walked away, I was just like (eyes wide)
It was a full-circle moment for Ilardi.
“I was once that kid that looked up to the bigger skater and now I’m the bigger skater that the kids look up to,” Ilardi said.
He wants to inspire others to dream big.
“Whatever dream you have, no matter how big or small, if you put your hard work into it and mind into it, you can do it,” Ilardi said. “You can achieve it. I’m proof. I’m from Osprey, Florida; I’d never thought I’d be going around the world skateboarding, especially the Olympics.”
“He’s doing really well and we’re really proud,” Moulton said.
Jake will compete in the Olympics on Sunday, July 25th in Tokyo.
