The success of an event focused on getting people to skateboard proves the city’s need to expand the local skate park, says one of its earliest supporters.
Today’s skateboard competition — held in recognition of National Go Skateboarding Day — is the fourth annual event held at the local skate park, but Superior Community Skatepark Association (SCSA) president Travis McCormack said the roots of the event go back much further.
“We were doing Go Skateboarding day in some shape or form since about 2003. Whether it was in a parking lot, or officially at the skate park,” said McCormack at today’s event.
The idea has grown, with live music, clinics, prizes and skateboarding competitions for all levels at today’s Go Skate Day SSM 2016 event.
Starting in 2003, the SCSA first built a wooden skate park on the site as it lobbied the local and provincial governments for funds to build phase 1 of the skate park, which finally opened in 2009.
McCormack said a second phase has always been in the plan for the outdoor skate park, which is adjacent to the John Rhodes Centre.
“The skate park isn’t big enough for the community that we have. The square footage doesn’t pan out for the amount of people who want to participate,” said McCormack.
He didn’t have specific numbers, but McCormack said the attendance for today’s event was clearly larger than last year and proves the need for an expansion of the skate park.
“There were always critics saying, ‘skateboarding is a fad. They are going to build it and then forget about it.’ That certainly didn’t happen here,” said McCormack.
A local skater-turned-board maker recently announced his intentions of opening an indoor skate park this fall.
Kyle Jewett, owner of Swamp Wood Unlimited, was one of the vendors on-hand today and handing out 42 free skateboards and helmets to young children taking up the sport.
He plans on opening the indoor park in the former Steelton Bible Chapel on Wellington Street West this September.
Giving away the free boards and watching kids using them right away was fulfilling for Jewett.
“We’re just trying to get more people involved in the sport, erase some stigmas. Just have some fun,” he said.
Through Swamp Wood Unlimited, Jewett has been able to sponsor local skaters who themselves are giving back by offering skate clinics during the event.
Last weekend he built beginner ramps which he brought to today’s event for the clinics.
McCormack hopes to get the wheels rolling of phase 2 of the outdoor skate park shortly.
“It took us that many years to get this here. We’re going to be pushing it long into the future,” he said.