A new recreational amenity in the Town of Jasper is making waves well beyond the Rocky Mountains of Alberta.
On Sunday, September 21st, anticipation and excitement filled the air as hundreds of community members gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the new Jasper Skatepark, a ten-year dream forced to pause in order to allow the community to regroup after facing the devastation of wildfire followed by resident evacuation. Now, nestled within Jasper National Park, is the modern and integrated concrete skatepark; a new piece of history reflecting years of advocacy work by Darrell Savage and the Jasper Skatepark Committee, the Town’s resiliency and commitment to rebuilding their community, and the importance of reestablishing meaningful gathering spaces.
The momentous occasion also drew visitors from across North America, including San Diego, California’s SK8mafia professional team riders Brandon Turner and Alexis Ramirez, and New Line Skateparks’ Design Director Kanten Russell, plus some of our New Line staff from across Canada. Without a doubt, our New Line team feels very fortunate to have played a small role in the Town’s movement towards recovery and are grateful to have participated in such an unforgettable event for its community.
#buildingskateboarding #buildingcommunity
Photos supplied by Bob Covey
jasperlocal.com // @thejasperlocal // https://www.facebook.com/TheJasperLocal
Dan Mancina is on a mission to make skateboarding and skateparks more accessible for low-vision and blind individuals across North America.
New Line Skateparks had the opportunity to work alongside Dan as he developed his own adaptive skatepark which not only responds to his skating style, but enables him to host individuals and families from the low-vision and blind community as well. Utilizing his training as a Visual Rehabilitation Therapist (VRT), complimented by his adaptive skatepark, Dan seeks to open new possibilities for the community and their families while sharing his passion for skateboarding and mission for accessibility.
Dan has been critical in educating the team at New Line about design and construction methodologies that not only provide a higher level of accessibility for adaptive athletes, but meets the diverse needs of all skill levels within the park as well.
My goal is not to make every skatepark an adaptive park, but to make all new skateparks more accessible to everyone.”
We continue to be inspired by Dan’s ability and philosophy and are beyond grateful to have played a small role in support of his mission. To learn more about his adaptive skatepark project or how to contribute, visit https://www.keeppushinginc.com/adaptive-skatepark-project.
Keep Pushing Inc. is a non-profit that combines Dan’s two passions by introducing the low-vision and blind community to the inclusive culture of skateboarding.
#buildingskateboarding #buildingcommunity
It is more than just messing around with a skateboard at a skatepark. For some, it is how we connect with the environment, community members, and ourselves. For others, the skatepark is our safe space and the act of skateboarding is a form of therapy.
New Line Skateparks recently had the honor of supporting the Spring Sprung Skate Jam and Fundraiser held in Calgary, Alberta in support of Push To Heal.
“The creation of the Push to Heal program led to skateboard-based opportunities as a means of engaging a number of youth and enriching the treatment being provided. The Push to Heal program also contributed to a deeper understanding of the impact of skateboarding on healing as well as the development of best practices in the international social skateboarding community. Push to Heal is part of Hull’s Pathways to Prevention: A Centre for Childhood Trauma.”
The event held on March 22nd drew nearly 150 people, including 70+ amateur skaters who participated in the competition, judges from across the province including our Marketing Coordinator Denise Biziaev, and special guests and professional skateboarders John Rattray and Chris Haslam.
#buildingskateboarding #buildingcommunity
BTS photos courtesy of Flying Fox Productions
Many of us know this from personal experience, skateboarding makes us feel better. The question is: What happens when we intentionally create space to use skateboarding as a vehicle for inclusion, learning and well being? A global conversation has begun to shed light on the inherent impact skateboarding can have on Mental Health, Education and Social Issues. Listen to Joe Buffalo, Jonah Bayley, Kristin Ebeling, Joel Pippus and John Rattray discuss just this during SWITCH: A panel discussion on skateboarding’s effect on Mental Health, Education and Social Awareness. Curated by Everett Tetz and Rose Archie and brought to you by New Line Skateparks in partnership with the Vancouver Skateboard Coalition.
Photo by Jeff Thorburn and Video by Mike Bradley.
