Bobby Redman performs a skateboard trick through a ring of fire during the Shred Till You’re Dead skate event in Polish Hill on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
Josh Moreno skates on the Herron Ave. Bridge during the Shred Till You’re Dead skate event in Polish Hill on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
Joe Conklin announces prizes to skaters on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
Ryan Hancock performs a trick on a ramp during Shred Till You’re Dead. Credit: Mars Johnson
Skaters take on the ring of fire during the Shred Till You’re Dead skate event in Polish Hill on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
Rickie Rapp rides down Herron Ave. on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
Skateboarders attend the Shred Till You’re Dead skate event in Polish Hill on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
Bobby Redman performs a skateboard trick through a ring of fire during the Shred Till You’re Dead skate event in Polish Hill on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
John Paul attends the Shred Till You’re Dead skate event on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
Skateboarders skate on the Herron Ave. Bridge during the Shred Till You’re Dead skate event in Polish Hill on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
Credit: Mars Johnson
Mike Sims runs through the ring of fire on Herron Ave. Credit: Mars Johnson
Skateboarders attend the Shred Till You’re Dead skate event in Polish Hill on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
Cameron Cunningham skates on Herron Ave. on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
Brian Cochrane attends Shred Till You’re Dead in Polish Hill on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
Skateboarders attend the Shred Till You’re Dead skate event in Polish Hill on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
Donald Lester skates down Herron Ave. on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
Skateboarders attend the Shred Till You’re Dead skate event in Polish Hill on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
Skateboarders attend the Shred Till You’re Dead skate event in Polish Hill on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
Jessie Vantine takes a spill on Herron Ave. Credit: Mars Johnson
Eddie Schoemaker skates down Herron Ave. on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
Joe Conklin helps up Parker Colbert during the Shred Till You’re Dead skate event on Nov. 1, 2025. Credit: Mars Johnson
Skaters prepare the ring of fire on Herron Ave. Credit: Mars Johnson

Hundreds of skateboarders took to Herron Avenue in Polish Hill on Saturday for the first-ever Shred Till You’re Dead skate event. The public event spanned Herron Avenue with skate races down the steep, winding hill to ramps and rails on the Herron Avenue bridge. Skaters competed in contests all day, performing their best tricks for cash prizes handed out by organizer Joe Conklin.

Conklin told Pittsburgh City Paper, “This was a lot of behind-the-scenes work; we had to jump through a lot of legal hoops, not just fire hoops today, but this is all for the community. No one else is doing anything like this out on the East Coast, and we wanted to shed a spotlight on all of these awesome skaters we have here in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas.”

After an exciting day of community skateboarding, organizers prepared a ring of fire for skaters to jump through. With fire marshals at the ready, Conklin and his friends set the ring ablaze, illuminating the bridge. A select few grabbed their boards and successfully skated through the flames.