Park hosts longboarders

By John Arendt - Summerland Review - May 08, 2008

o Despite earlier opposition, event will take place

on Giant’s Head

The skateboards will be rolling down Giant’s Head Mountain next month during a two-day longboarding event.

Recreation director Dale MacDonald says the road into Giant’s Head Mountain Park will be closed from June 28 at 6 a.m. until June 29 at 10 p.m. to allow for the event.

On the Saturday, a one-day free ride session is scheduled while on the Sunday, racing will take place.

A maximum of 70 longboarders will participate.

MacDonald says the meet is part of a circuit of longboarding events which will take place around the region. He adds that it will draw skateboarders from B.C., Alberta and the northwestern United States.

He believes it will add to Summerland’s assortment of sports and recreational events.

“It will be another special event for our community, particularly the younger people,” he says.

Nick Kast, one of the event organizers, says the two-day event will help to promote awareness of longboarding as well as improving the image of the sport.

Fencing and barricades will be in place and the longboarders will wear helmets and protective clothing.

“People will see the effort that’s been taken to make the sport safe,” he says.

He adds that longboarding has become popular in recent years. Giant’s Head Mountain is known throughout North America as one of the best places for longboarding.

Kast, who teaches shop at Summerland Secondary School, got involved with the event after several of his students were designing and building longboards in class.

“I’m amazed at how quickly the sport has evolved,” he says. “It’s growing by leaps and bounds.”

Reactions to longboarding have been mixed. MacDonald says skateboarding is not allowed on the paved path in the park unless at a sanctioned special event.

In November, council passed a resolution banning skateboarding in the park because of safety and liability concerns.

At that time, several members of council said they wanted to see skateboarding events held in the park.

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Park hosts longboarders

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