Skateboarders were out in force Saturday afternoon at Riverside Skate Park for the first-ever "Board Aid Penticton," a combination trick circus and fundraiser for disadvantaged guys and gals who might not even have the bucks for a board.
It was an all-ages event that featured lots of stunts, lots of swag and prizes, and live music in the form of local rockers Desert Arms and Hardball.
It was, said Chelsea McDowell of organizing body Pro Poser Productions, all about support.
"We're a grassroots organization that promotes skateboarding and advocates for skateboarding at all levels of the community," she said.
"Today, all of our proceeds (through $10 raffle tickets and donations) are going to buying skateboards and safety gear for people in the community. We're actually taking nominations for people who are looking to get into skateboarding but need gear."
According to McDowell, once the VP of local craft beer organization CAMRA, Pro Poser also wants to "highlight skateboarding and the excellent facility we have in Penticton."
"It's just growing a bit of a community around this. Just like there's help for people who want to play softball or hockey, we want to be the people who support you if you want to skateboard."
We asked McDowell to speak to those who might brush off the cause due to skateboarding's counterculture stereotype.
"Well, I'm a psychiatric nurse," she said. "I'm 37 years old. I own property. I'm a taxpayer. And I also skateboard.
"So this idea that skateboarding is unruly, or it's a kid's thing, all of it isn’t true. Skateboarding is one of the first athletic pursuits that’s available to people of all genders, all classes, all skill levels. It's never been for a certain group.
"And we're really friendly people. We're not intimidating."
Joining the fun Saturday was Trevor Brockington of Penticton auto customization shop Bling Performance. Brockington heard about it and showed up. It was that simple.
"I'm the head mechanic up there and I love skateboarding," he said. "So I got hold of the organizer this morning and spur of the moment decided to come help out. I brought down one of our show cars too. We’re doing demos.
"I'm just here to promote happy families, happy kids, happy youth. I just wanted to be part of the situation."
Another adult, this time one who finished second in the trick challenge, was Christopher Kanopski of Naramata.
He's 42 years old and he's been skating for 37 of those years. And most of the stuff he was dong Sunday was, as the kids and the skateboarders say, sick.
"It's just fun," he said in explaining his ongoing attraction to the sport. "I'm just trying to get back into skateboarding, found out about the event, and thought it would be fun."
And despite all the falls we witnessed him take Saturday, be claims he's never been seriously injured.
"I've never had any broken bones," he smiled. "A few sprains and some abrasions though."
According to Pro Poser co-owner and Board Aid co-organizer Orion Jones, the event ultimately raised $700.
"We sold more than 60 raffle tickets and I'd estimate attendance was between 150 to 200 people throughout the day," he said.
"We've contacted the Boys and Girls Club and they're working on getting a list of kids to us. And we're always open to nominations for low-income skaters. We had a sign-up sheet at the event, and people can also reach out to us directly on our social media channels @proposerproductions."
At Facebook, that's here.
