A crowd gathered to watch skateboarders perform their best tricks on 'Go Skateboarding Day' in Prince Albert in June. (Submitted photo/Adam Balon)

By Dawson Thompson

New Olympic Sport

Skateboarding at Olympics makes local impression

Aug 6, 2021 | 7:00 AM

There have been plenty of new sports debuting at the Olympics this year, including karate, surfing, sport climbing and skateboarding.

While Canada was not able to win a medal in skateboarding this year, the sport being at the Olympics has been a positive for the local skateboarding community.

“I think it’s incredible for competitive skateboarding. I think it’s an awesome outlet and an awesome venue,” Adam Balon, the manager of specialist store Propaganda told paNOW. “I look forward to seeing what the future brings to that side of the sport.”

At this year’s games there was a total of 17 competitors under the age of 18, with one competitor turning 13 later this month making it quite a young roster.

“Hopefully down the road we will see the Olympics have an impact on future skateboarders,” Balon said. “I think it will bring new kids to the sport, new interest, and I look forward to that.”

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He added one of the best parts about skateboarding being at the games this year has been seeing athletes from around the world that would not normally be seen.

“It’s cool to see names of skateboarders you have never really heard before,” Balon said. “Some of the athletes that made it to the games are not pros in regular skateboarding. It’s interesting to see some of the new up and coming names or other names. Like there was a 46-year-old guy skating in the Olympics that no one has ever heard of.”

Creativity or competition?

On Thursday paNOW watched a few skaters carving their moves across the Kinsmen Skate Park, including Gunner Duthie.

“I kind of have mixed feelings about the Olympics. I like it because it is going to cement skateboarding, going to make it last longer, and bring it more into the mainstream,” Duthie said. “At the same time it will take out the self-expression aspect of it, putting points on everything. It just depends on which perspective you look at it, if you look at skateboarding as an art or a sport.

“I always view it as something that is an escape, not to compete with other people.”

Four Canadian skateboarders competed at the Olympics this year. Andy Anderson, Matt Berger, Micky Papa, and the lone female Annie Guglia.

One of the Canadian competitors that Duthie has been watching in Tokyo is Anderson.

“He’s pretty cool,” Duthie said. “I’m pretty sure he set out to keep his style the same at the Olympics, not to take the creative aspect out of it during his run.”

Berger finished 20th in qualifying during the street prelims, while Papa finished in 10th. Anderson competed in the park event and finished 16th during qualifying. Guglia competed in women’s street and finished 16th in qualifying. The top eight made it to the final.

The Olympic games started July 23 and will run until August 8 in Tokyo, Japan.

Canada so far has won 18 medals at these Olympics; five gold, five silver, and eight bronze.

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Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @dawsonthompson8