By SAMUEL CATHCART, staff reporter

Outdoor Pursuits and Rentals held its seventh annual Spring Symposium last Thursday to celebrate the arrival of spring outdoor activities.

OPR organized live music, mini clinics, vendor booths and a barbecue for students to enjoy during the event.

“It went well; a lot of people came through,” Eddie Roberts  OPR events programmer, said.

The symposium took place on the SURC east patio, which was filled with Kittas County and Ellensburg residents as well as CWU Students.

The vendors were a big hit with events ranging from Motion Board Shop to Stevens Pass.

Vitalire Apparel was one of the more popular vendors of the day, selling apparel and offering water pong to people who visited their booth.

Students walked around and enjoyed the merchandise from vendors like Motion Board Shop, who gave students the opportunity to demo long boards.

“All the longboards were cool to try out,” Jesse Ransauvage, tourism management major, said.

OPR also brought in live music for the event. Performers included M-PYRE, T.S., Leenie Krew and Fight or Flight.

The longboard contest was a hit. Over 100 students cheered on their peers as they competed against one another.

OPR set up a slalom course in front of its office, with a finish line made of a huge Red Bull sign. Red Bull sponsored the event and handed out free energy drinks to those watching the contest.

Fifteen of Central Washington’s best longboarders came out to compete in the contest.

“It was a lot of fun and a good challenge,” Sean Carroll, one of the contestants, said. “There was a lot of energy from the crowd.”

After three solid heats, Matthew Wick took home first place with a time of 22.92 seconds.

The Spring Symposium ended with the world premiere of “Pursuit of Gnarliness” at the SURC.