Youth skateboarding workshops taking place in Fort St. John and Taylor next month

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. —  A Fort St. John resident is hosting skateboarding workshops at the Taylor Arena and Pomeroy Sport Centre next month for local kids to discover the sport.

Event organizer Cole Andrews says the workshops, scheduled for June 5th and 6th, have been put together with the assistance of School District 60.

According to Andrews, the free event has been held locally for six years. 

During the event, jumps, ramps and rails will be set up at the venues, and lessons, as well as skateboards, will be provided to the kids.

“We want to teach the kids on a nice, big, flat surface,” said Andrews. “There will be instructions, and everyone will have a board to use.”

A resident of Fort St. John, Andrews has been riding since his early teens. Although he is approaching 40, he still enjoys jumping on a board.

“Skateboarding provides exercise, and it is super challenging,” said Andrews. 

“There are so many different tricks you can learn. Once you learn and get better, you can try tricks outside.”

Professional skateboarders Andy Anderson and Ben Degros will also be on hand to showcase their skills.  

Anderson is a skateboarder from White Rock who competed for Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Degros has run a YouTube channel dedicated to skateboarding culture since 2011. The channel currently has over 100,000 subscribers. 

“He’s an inventive skater,” said Andrews of the 28-year-old Anderson. “The kids will meet him and get the chance to hear his story.”

Students from grades four to six will attend during school hours before the workshops are open to the public from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on both days.