Longboarders of all ages come out to board along Boundry Road every Thursday night.
(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
September 15, 2013 - 9:17 AM
KAMLOOPS – From a dozen guys getting together in Juniper to more than 330 members looking for leadership and a group of a friends to board with, the Kamloops Longboarding group has seen quick growth. The growth doesn't seem to be slowing down.
The often misunderstood sport requires a good deal of balance and strength, though several longboarders say it takes time to get to that point. Nearly anyone could handle the extra long skate board with some practice.
While some people have complained in Kamloops about longboarders coming into their area, people who live along Boundry Road seem to enjoy watching the athletes.
The longboarders in the group greatly vary in age. The youngest is in Grade 7 and the oldest a father of a teenager. The group comes out every week to perform their slides and stops.
The group advocates proper safety and requires everyone to come out in a helmet and specialized gloves. Knee and elbow pads are optional, but they're recommended. The boarders also use hand signals or clapping to alert each other to oncoming cars.
There aren't a lot of opportunities for longboarders in Kamloops to practice, though several areas often see boarders come together because of the long sloped streets that are ideal for the sport. A specialized longboarding area is expected to be built in West Highlands Park, something many of the members are excited about.
To contact a reporter for this story, email jstahn@infotelnews.ca, call (250)819-3723 or tweet @JennStahn.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013