Go Skate Day returned to Sun Peaks for its fourth year, bringing in donations for a long-awaited skate park.
Located at the Sun Peaks Centre Stage, ramps, quarter pipes and snake tracks were set up for all wheels to join. Folks of all ages and skill levels came out to ride around with free skateboards and helmets to use for the day.
The ramps for the event were provided by Tourism Sun Peaks, and will be sold with proceeds benefiting the Sun Peaks Skate Park Foundation, acting president Peter Wilson said.
The event had freezies, candy bags, stickers, chips and prizes available for all attendees and families. A friendly competition was held for participants who could do the longest manual, a skate term for performing a wheelie on either the back or front wheels. With 11 boarders and a scooter, the winner received a Sun Peaks Skate Park Foundation T-shirt and a bag of chips.
There was also a draw to win a free skateboard with the board, wheels, trucks and bearing all included.
Why bring a skate park to Sun Peaks
The fundraiser aims to bring a long-awaited local skate park to the village, offering an accessible and free-of-charge activity, Wilson said.
Additionally, between snowsports and mountain biking, skating provides a new challenge for riders.
“I think it’s important for kids to have some place to go…and enjoy themselves, challenge themselves and it’s free,” attendee Kenny Dale told SPIN. “It’s got a lot of really good camaraderie around it.”
Dale, who is a member of the design committee for the park added the proposal has a mix of some of the best skate structures he’s seen over the years.
“I really think it’s a masterpiece. It has some influence from a bunch of different skate parks around the world,” he said.
Adam Breedon, program director of the Sun Peaks Freestyle Club came to Go Skate Day to watch members of his team turn up to the event who love to skate.
“You can usually tell who skates when you watch them ski or snowboard, they kind of just have a little more glow, a little more understanding of their body, a little more style,” he said.
Having a financially accessible activity for both shoulder seasons is an important part of the athletic culture in Sun Peaks, especially for the young athletes who train mostly in the winter, Dale said.
In advocating for a local park, Dale and Breedon mentioned the trek it takes to have to go all the way down the hill to visit the skateparks Kamloops.
“Honestly, the biggest complaint I hear from kids who live here is that there’s nothing to do between skiing and biking, and you see them kind of just hanging around… It’s just a good way to get them outside, get them doing physical activity, keep the minds busy, get them off their phones,” Breedon said.
To bring the skate park over the finish line, support is needed for the foundation to continue progress. For more information on how you can contribute, contact the Sun Peaks Skate Park Foundation.
What did you think of this story?
Your feedback after we publish a story helps ensure we're always improving our reporting to better serve you.
