WINNIPEG SK8 SCENE
Not just for twelve-year-old poseurs anymore
MELISSA HIEBERT STAFF
When I was asked to write an article about the new skate park that opened at the Forks on Canada Day, visions of junior high came flooding back to me. I pictured the “cool” kids loitering around the parking lot of McDonald’s, holding their skateboards under their arms — skateboards that never seemed to find their way on to the pavement. The very few times that the functionality of these four-wheeled accessories was actually demonstrated usually resulted in a few failed attempts at a board flip or some other simple trick taken from a Tony Hawk video game. Needless to say, I expected to be met by a brood of the next generation of skate-poseurs as I made my way down to the Forks.
The skate park, as I expected, was packed. There were hundreds of people, both skaters and spectators, littered among a multitude of railings, ramps, and half-pipes. However, there were two things that I didn’t expect. First was the age variance of the people in attendance: I figured that the general populous of the skate park would consist of twelve-year-old kids donning sideways baseball hats, but this was not the case. From the one five-year-old I saw enthusiastically tearing up the ramps, to the elderly couple that may have been watching a grandchild, every age group was represented.
The second thing that took me by surprise is that people were actually skating — and skating well! I stood in awe as I watched people land impossible combinations of flips and jumps. I mean really, how can someone jump that high on something that is not attached to their feet? I was very impressed with the quality of skating — and I wasn’t the only one. “The quality of skating here is good, and it’s already getting better!” said Jessie, marvelling at the other skaters, bikers, and the occasional blader (or fruit-booter, if you prefer).
Everyone that I met at the skate park was pleased with the City’s latest investment. “It brings a skate scene to Winnipeg; it opens up opportunities for people who want to skate,” said Jessie. “Yeah, and it’s probably keeping a lot of these kids off the streets,” added his friend Justin.
Even the parents standing around watching their kids were impressed with the park. “It’s a great idea, and a great facility,” commented Frank, the father of one of the young and upcoming skaters. Though when I asked Frank if he was going to give skating a whirl any time soon, he wasn’t as enthusiastic. “I snowboard, and that’s about it,” he told me.
All in all, the skate park is a pretty cool place to hang out, regardless of your age or skill level. Everyone seemed friendly and accepting, and the facility itself is top notch. As I left the skate park with my preconceptions of skaters completely shattered, I found myself wondering if the next time I ventured back to the skate park it would be with a skateboard under my arm. Ahh, to be cool at last.
