Jorge Maria
Campbells bay June 10, 2021
Les Maisons des Jeunes du Pontiac hosted a skateboard workshop and kids from all over the MRC got a chance to try out the recently installed skateboard ramps and quarter-pipe.
Colony Skateshop and School installed the new gear. Owner Randy Pedersen and team members Lyle Stressman and Zach Anthony were on hand to teach the kids ranging from four to 14 how to skateboard. It was a hot day, but that didn’t stop more than 15 kids and their parents from showing up for the workshop.
Kids got the chance to learn the basics from standing on the board to “duck-walking.”
Pedersen has been involved in skateboarding for 35 years. A teacher by trade, he has combined the two proving workshops and other programs. During his time skateboarding, he has seen it go from a fringe sport for boys to an inclusive one for all ages. At Saturday’s workshop, it was evenly mixed with 50 per cent boys and girls for both sessions.
“Skateboarding is generous,” Pedersen said. A kid can show up to a skatepark without a board and the older, more experienced skaters will ask, “‘do you want to skate?’ They will give you a board just like that,” he said.
Things have changed across society in general and in skating, “there is more inclusivity with different types of people; everybody’s style is valid, as long as you’re trying,” Pedersen noted.
As a sign of its broadening mainstream appeal, skateboarding is set to debut at the Tokyo Olympics as a non-exhibition sport.
The workshop is the first of many planned for the summer by Les Maisons des Jeunes in different Municipalities across the MRC Pontiac.
Les Maisons des Jeunes Coordinator Desiree Tremblay-Giroux came out to help with the event and watched her kids participate in the workshop.
“The municipality of Campbell’s Bay and the Municipality of Litchfield put the money together. And they paid for the skate ramps, skateboards and helmets,” Tremblay-Giroux said.
Parents Vickie Châtelain and local musician Cody Labombard were happy to get their kids out playing amongst other children.
“There’s not a whole lot to do in this area. So to have a skatepark close by where they can all go out and play while having these instructors to teach them how to skate is great,” Labombard said.
Châtelain felt Les Maisons des Jeunes was an excellent place for kids to gather, which has been difficult under COVID-19.
Chasten Dubeau, 10, is a regular at Les Maison des Jeunes and was brave enough to take on the quarter pipe ramp with the help of instructors and eventually on his own. When asked to describe the day, he had one word: “Awesome!”
Les Maison des Jeune is open for supervised skateboarding on Wednesday, four to six, Friday, four to eight and Sunday, two to four.
“As per the municipal guidelines, it’s only to be used when supervised,” Tremblay-Giroux said.
