5th Annual Ghost Ryders Skatepark Competition Is a GO!!
After a 2 year COVID hiatus, The Delburne Skatepark will once again play host to BMXers, scooter riders, and skateboarders from central Alberta schools for an amazing, unique, and fun celebration of action sports.
Hosted by Delburne Centralized School, the competition is for any student currently in grades 7-12. This year because of the 2-year break, there is a special category for alumni. This category is for any past participants in the Delburne comp who graduated in 2020 or 2021 and missed their last chance to compete.
The Delburne skatepark and this competition are both the result of an incredible relationship between the youth of Delburne, their school, and their community. Skateparktour.ca told this story in a 2017 post and video.
Students from ANY school or school district are welcome to come to Delburne and participate in the competition. Because it is a school-based event on a school day, schools will require certain paperwork to be completed. For more information on competing (or sponsoring!) contact @delburne_ghost_ryders on Instagram or email: sbanks at cesd73.ca
Skaters 14-17 Years Old Needed for Online Interview Study
A researcher from the University of Guelph wants to learn about skateboarders’ love for skateboarding, even though they have experienced injuries from the occasional slams that come with being a skater.
Specifically, they need:
PASSIONATE skateboarders
Aged 14-17
Have been injured skateboarding
Willing to explain and discuss why skateboarding is important to them in a roughly 30-minute video interview
Volunteerskaters who do the interview will receive a gift card as thanks for sharing their time and insights for the study.
I made it to Edmonton this past weekend for the opening day of the newly expanded House of Wheels 2.0. This video tells the story of what I saw and was able to video.
HOW 2.0 is located across the parking lot from the old skatepark at 8834 48 Ave. NW. The entrance is toward the north end of the building, and there is a ramp to make it easier to get your bike, wheelchair, or mini-shredder’s stroller up to the park level.
There is now a large gathering area with tables and chairs where parents can hang out, or take a break between sessions on the ramps.
Features
New to HOW 2.0 is a Little Shredders area, with some small features for the real little ones go gain skill and confidence on before riding the main park.
Also new is the pump track and flow jump area. The two areas run parallel to each other with the pump track on the inside, and the flow jumps on the outside. Both have high banked corners to help riders keep their speed up.
The box jump line is not open yet because the staff couldn’t get them ready for opening day. When I arrived Saturday morning, about an hour before opening, workers were cutting wood and screwing them into place on the pump track feature. Some had worked through the night to get the park ready to open.
I will return to House of Wheels in a few weeks to take photos for a new virtual tour, once everything is in place and working properly. Until then, you can get an idea of what to expect from the slideshow and this video (which is also on the HOW page).
Edmonton is so lucky to have House of Wheels! The last two skateparks in the area didn’t survive 2 years and here is HOW expanding and growing! It may not have every feature you want, but House of Wheels offers lots of variety, and they have plans to add even more features over time. If you’re in Edmonton, pick up a pass or punch card and enjoy a session from time to time to ensure the park continues to thrive!
This past week Canada Skateboard with CASE hosted an information session at The Compound Indoor Skatepark in Calgary. About 30 skaters listened to Vice President Kyle Dion tell the Canada Skateboard story and share plans for skateboarding in Canada.
With skateboarding becoming an Olympic sport (we’ll talk about THAT word later!), skaters needed to form a national governing body. The governing body will decide who gets to skate in the Olympics, and how to develop up and coming skaters for future games. Funding for this work comes from Sport Canada but donations and sponsorships will also make up part of the Canada Skateboard budget
Every Olympic country needs a governing body for skateboarding. In some countries there are battles between skaters and other sports organizations to be the skateboarding governing body. If the skaters that founded Canada Skateboard hadn’t stepped forward, decisions about who skates for Canada and how they are chosen could have been made by people who have no clue about skateboarding or skate culture.
Who Is Canada Skateboard?
So, who are the founding board members for Canada Skateboard? They are all prominent members of the skate community who have passionately lived the skateboard lifestyle for most of their lives. They are:
Kyle Dion, Canada Skateboard VP Presenting to Calgary skaters.
Ben Stoddard – President
Jay Balmer – Treasurer
Kyle Dion – Vice-President
Monty Little – Secretary
Rob”Sluggo” Boyce – Head Coach
Josh Clark – Board member
Mike Prangnell – Board member
Bob Lasalle – Board member
Annie Guglia – Board member
Kevin Harris – Board member
Jim Barnum – Board member
Brent Coyne – Board member
This board will manage Canada Skateboard until board elections can be held.
Priorities
Many skateboarders see skateboarding as a lifestyle, not a sport, and don’t think skateboarding should be in the Olympics. That ship has sailed and no matter what the skate community thinks, someone will win Olympic medals in skateboarding at the Olympics. Skateboard Canada was formed to make sure that decisions about Canada’s skate team would be made by Canadian skaters. Who knows better than skaters, who should be considered for the team spots and the money that goes with it?
While the Olympics is the reason Canada Skateboarding was formed, the games will not be the sole reason the organization exists. The Canada Skateboarding mantra speaks volumes about the direction they want to take:
Keep Pushing
Skating is everything. It is an artform, a lifestyle and a team activity on an individual level. It’s where you make your own rules, experiment with ideas, and push your limits for nobody’s approval but your own. It’s a community where you can be yourself, clear your mind, and connect with one another – no matter how shy or wild you are. Skating is where you push yourself to set goals and to stick to them, building a mindset that can serve you throughout life as you just have to keep pushing. #keeppushing
Building skateboarding will be the most important priority for Canada Skateboarding. They will work with local skate organizations to grow skateboarding from the ground up while providing opportunities for those who want to compete at the Olympics for Canada.
Canada Skateboard will have more information available in the new year, including a website. If you have questions about Olympic skateboarding or Canada Skateboard programs, please be patient. Plans are being developed in both in Canada and at the international level, and Canada Skateboard will have more answers to share in 2019.
Canada Skateboard will be a great addition to the Canadian skate scene. They are laying the foundation for an organization that will grow skateboarding in Canada. Skaters that want to compete internationally will have amazing resources and opportunities to help reach their dreams, but the focus of Canada Skateboard will be on grass roots skateboarding. Skaters everywhere should be sure to join Canada Skateboard when they launch in 2019.
The Medicine Hat Skateboard Assciaton Skate Skool is returning and we can’t wait to help the young ones learn to shred! Same time, same place as before! For ages 5-12.
????????Saturdays at 11AM ????????Kinsmen Skate Plaza (In Kin Coulee) ????????Bring $5, a helmet, and a board!
HOW 2.0 is located across the parking lot from the old skatepark at 8834 48 Ave. NW. The entrance is toward the north end of the building, and there is a ramp to make it easier to get your bike, wheelchair, or mini-shredder’s stroller up to the park level.
This past week Canada Skateboard with 
