At just nine years old, Summit resident Ellis Cichocki has achieved a remarkable feat, earning a spot among the 14 skateboarders selected to headline the opening performance of the Breckenridge International Festival of Art.
A seasoned skater with five years of experience, Cichocki is no stranger to the festival scene. He previously showcased his skills during the Concrete Jams segment of the 2023 festival. This year, however, he will take part in a much grander spectacle, with the festival’s skateboarding segment taking on a new and ambitious format.
The Concrete Jams of last year featured an open skate session with a DJ at the Breckenridge Skate Park, adjacent to the recreation center. This year, the festival’s organizers, Breck Create, are elevating the event by relocating it to the Riverwalk Center. The event, named “Finding a Line: Skateboard, Music + Media,” is scheduled to open the festival on August 16 at 7 p.m.
In a fusion of jazz and skateboarding, Breck Create will set up a small halfpipe inside the Riverwalk Center. Skaters, including Cichocki, will perform tricks against a backdrop of live jazz music by acclaimed musician Jason Moran.
Moran, recognized by Rolling Stone Magazine as “the most provocative thinker in current jazz,” will perform with his trio, The Bandwagon, which includes Tarus Mateen and Nasheet Waits. Moran has long explored the synergy between skateboarding and jazz, drawing inspiration from both art forms’ shared spirit of improvisation.
“The essence of jazz lies in its improvisation,” Moran explained. “Our band aims to complement the skaters’ improvisational moves with our own spontaneous music.”
Moran’s fascination with the intersection of skateboarding and jazz dates back to his youth in the 1980s, when both cultures were emerging. A particular skateboarding video featuring Mark Gonzales, set to the music of John Coltrane’s Quartet, left a lasting impression on Moran and influenced his later performances.
Moran’s jazz/skateboard “hangouts” or “jam sessions,” as he prefers to call them, are designed to transcend traditional communication barriers. “These sessions bring people together, regardless of language, and allow them to connect through the music and skating,” he noted.
Cichocki is eager to showcase some exciting tricks during the festival’s opener. In addition to local talent, the event will feature professional skateboarders Jordyn Barratt, a 2020 Olympic participant, and Derek Scott, who will join the lineup at 8 p.m.
The innovative blend of skateboarding and jazz promises to make “Finding a Line” a standout event at this year’s Breckenridge International Festival of Art.
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