Two skateboarders lobbied the City of Burnaby for a new Olympic-style skateboard park.
Oli Ward, a Burnaby North Secondary student, and national skateboard team coach, Adam Higgins, were at the July 24 city council meeting to make a pitch for a competition-style venue for Olympic skateboarding.
Oli, a Grade 11 student and top prospect for the national team, told councillors competitive local skateboarders are in “desperate need” for a skate park that’s built to Olympic standards.
He asked councillors to consider building an indoor or outdoor skate park.
The Burnaby teen has already competed at the 2022 World Championships in Dubai, and he’ll be competing at the 2023 World Championships in Rome this October.
Higgins said Oli has “incredible potential” for the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032.
Higgins said Canada is “really lacking” indoor skate parks dedicated to training.
“For Oliver to continue to do this, he’s either going to have to relocate to California, or he’s going to have to find some additional indoor training space so he can keep pace with the rest of the world,” Higgins said.
Most of the country’s competitive skateboarders train at Hastings Skate Park in Vancouver, according to Higgins, not Burnaby’s current skate parks at Bonsor and Confederation parks.
Canadian skateboarders, including Oli, also train at a park in Argentina.
Skateboard whiz
Oli told councillors skateboarding is an inclusive and supportive community.
“Everybody is welcome to skateboard, no matter their gender, ability, age, and their build,” he said.
He said skateboarding has taught him to set goals and work hard to reach them.
“There are unlimited tricks you can learn, and I have to work really hard to learn them. It can take me up to weeks or even longer than that.”
Councillors respond
Coun. Maita Santiago said it would be “great” to explore more opportunities to encourage kids to begin skateboarding.
Coun. Daniel Tetrault agreed and asked if the city could zone industrial areas for leisure use like skateboarding or rock-climbing walls.
Johannes Schumann, the city’s director of development and urban design, said it’s possible to add leisure opportunities like climbing gyms, ping pong, badminton and skateboarding to industrial areas, but he noted the city also has a regional obligation to ensure the city has employment lands.
Mayor Mike Hurley praised Oli for his busy year of international skateboarding competitions, noting Oli is among the youngest park-style riders – his teammates are in their 20s and 30s.
Hurley congratulated Oli on his results from the season and presented Oli with a certificate of appreciation from the city.
