Local skaters take to Marina Park for global skateboard event

A local skateboard shop encouraged the community to get out and skate Tuesday afternoon.

The 4Fourteen Skateboard Shop sponsored an event at Marina Park to contribute Thunder Bay’s skateboarding community to the global Go Skateboarding Day. The event is held every year on June 21 to coincide with the longest day of summer.

"It’s the longest day of summer and like any other sort of thing that people are really passionate about, they want to celebrate it," said 4Fourteen co-owner Catherine Brophy.

The shop, located on St. Paul Street, was giving out prizes for the best trick, under 16 and pool race competitions.

Local skaters pay into a pot and get to take home money and prizes, like shoes and skateboard decks. The crowd that watches the competition becomes the judge, and that crowd was beginning to fill up the skate park before the 4:30 p.m. start time.

"At the end the crowd applauds. It’s a crowd judged, skater judged contest," said Brophy.
The city was also on-hand, hosting a barbecue. The day is also held to recognize the growth of the sport.

"It’s getting bigger and bigger and bigger for sure," said Brophy. "It’s important to bring the community together."