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Regina's city council covered a lot of ground in a three-hour meeting on Wednesday. With all members in attendance, coun...
Even in 36-degree heat, Paishence Kay found time to cruise up and down the ramps at the skatepark on Rochdale Avenue.
Kay has only been skating off-and-on for about a year, taking multiple breaks because “I just had no motivation.”
A scorching Tuesday afternoon that kept other kids at home meant an empty park to practice tricks without the fear of crashing into others. Perhaps Kay had some inspiration to take advantage of it.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics have been the first Games where skateboarding has been included as a sport. It’s the only sport Kay has been watching.
“It’s a really great opportunity for skateboarders to show how good they are,” said Kay, 14.
Her friend Falynn Johnson agrees that the Games have been a showcase for some of the best talents in the sport.
“Skateboarding is a thing that a lot of people love to do, and I feel like being in the Olympics now, it’s just really nice for those skateboarders who have like really nice talents,” said Johnson, 14.
Johnson alludes to the sport’s growing popularity but also its subculture. It’s “out there, but it’s also hidden at the same time,” she says. The Olympics put it out in the open, on one of the world’s biggest stages.
Both Kay and Johnson credit their peers for getting them into skateboarding. Kay went along with friends. Johnson was eight when she would watch her brother ride his first board, she would then skate in the alley.
“I just always thought it was cool and wanted to try it one day,” she said.
Skateboarders have long competed at the X Games. But after Tokyo, Johnson believes the sport will get more prominence, with more competitions, maybe more prizes.
“It’s probably going to get skateboarding bigger growth, and there’s going be a lot more people doing it.”