At the north end of Bend, in a nondescript neighborhood tucked between junipers and new houses, sits Northpointe Park. It’s home to a small skate spot with a few simple features—a quarter pipe, flat rail, volcano and ledges—just enough for locals to gather and push their limits. It’s midmorning, quiet and the perfect time to skate.
Meet Matthew Detweiler, a cheery, blond middle schooler who eagerly hops on his skateboard to warm up, cruising around, carving the smooth cement. At first glance, he’s confident. Minutes later, while testing the rail, he slips, crashes hard and emerges with blood streaming from his knee. In the blink of an eye, he’s back on the board as if nothing happened. Add “resilient” to that list of first impressions.
Detweiler executes some impressive tricks, launching himself into the air, flipping the board underneath and landing with a grin. He’s a natural. “It’s amazing,” he says of skating, smiling as if just thinking about it fuels him.
For some, skateboarding evokes a “bad boy” image—words straight from Detweiler’s mouth—complete with “graffiti and even smoking,” he admits. “But, hey, even those people are cool,” says the 13-year-old in his mature, nonjudgmental way. His eyes light up as he describes the many “amazing people” he’s met through skating, including some “artsy types and a whole bunch of positive role models.”
One of the biggest influences shaping Detweiler’s view of skateboarding has been Board House—or “BoHo,” as they call it—a nonprofit with a mission to someday open Bend’s first indoor skatepark and make the sport accessible year-round. With inclusivity at its heart, their approach blends sport, art and community, attracting all ages who share a love for skating.
“Every sport has a perceived culture,” says Matthew’s mother, Amanda Detweiler, “and Matthew has always had a knack for crushing stereotypes. I appreciate that Board House is actively working to create a positive culture and rewrite what it means to be a skater,” she continues. “Community is central to the BoHo mentality and daily interactions.”
Local skater and BoHo board member Bryan Gennaro puts it this way: “Everyone is different, and everyone has a different story. Board House’s mission is to provide a safe space for anyone in the skateboarding, art and music community to come together and do whatever it is that we love to do with others who share the same passion.”
“Community is central to the BoHo mentality and daily interactions.” – Amanda Detweller
Detweiler’s father first introduced him to skateboarding when he was around four years old, but his passion didn’t ignite until he met Ollie Bjornstad, the son of BoHo founders Trygve and Caitlin Bjornstad—also his older brother’s best friend. “I found the stoke!” Detweiler says, remembering how he felt in that moment.
At first it was more about the identity. “It was just cool to be a skater, and I had the passion to do it with others,” but soon, Detweiler began practicing on his own to get better and master the fundamentals. Under the guidance of Trygve Bjornstad, Gennaro and the rest of the BoHo crew, Detweiler has progressed rapidly.
Trygve Bjornstad, a visionary leader in Bend’s skate scene and a role model for local youth, and his wife, Caitlin, run summer skate camps and winter field trips to indoor ramps, giving kids a chance to skate year-round despite Central Oregon’s harsh winters.
“Board House was doing a very cool thing for the young skaters here in Bend who want to keep skating through the winter but can’t because of the rain, snow and cold weather,” says Gennaro. “Matthew attended a handful of those sessions, and not only did he learn new tricks, but made new friends, and taught younger kids the tricks he knows how to do.”
“Board House has taught Matthew to see skateboarding as a community where everyone learns and supports one another,” explains Amanda Detweiler. “It has also given Matthew a chance to be a leader while also learning from others.”
Through BoHo, Detweiler’s friend circle has expanded to include kids and adults he never would have met, and he’s become a teacher himself, even showing his school friends how to ollie. “Matthew has absolutely influenced the younger skaters in the community to not just start skating but also to progress and get to a level of skating they feel good about,” says Gennaro.
Detweiler has learned from both peers and mentors, picking up street tricks from his friend and mentor Jake Neate, and transition skills—ramps, bowls, etc.—from Anders Bjornstad and others. His own style gravitates toward benches, ledges and flat ground, but he’s quick to say that “as I go deeper, other stuff is fun too.”
Another aspect of the current skate scene is creating edits, short videos showcasing skateboarding footage, usually set to music. BoHo currently works with local photographer Regina Nicolardi, who has taught the kids some filming skills. “I’ve done a little bit with Regina and it’s been a blast!” Detweiler says. “She’s opened [filming] up to me.”
As for going pro someday? He’s not so sure. “It would be a fun thing to be paid for, but pros are constantly filming and posting edits. That can take away from the fun of just doing what you love.” Still, he follows some pros—Jamie Foy and Andy Anderson, his favorites—as well as local inspirations like Gennaro and Neate.
When asked about the downside of skateboarding, Detweiler ponders the question and says, “Yes, you’re going to fall,” noting that a recent wrist injury created “a lot of tension” with his mother, “but it’s so fun and I know if I stop, I won’t know that aspect of my life.”
To Detweiler, skateboarding is what you make of it. “Pros are pushing the limits, but it can go anywhere… whether you want to ride around on a longboard or try tricks in the park.” For him, it’s a lifelong activity—one rooted in community.
Amanda Detweiler sums it up: “I am excited that Matthew participates in a sport that is challenging what it means to be an athlete and a caring human being in the world.”
This article appears in BendNest Fall 2025.
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