The sound of wheels crunching on smooth concrete. That of wood which strikes, rubs and slides on the ramps. The organized mess of snowboarders of all levels came to ride under the comforting sun of mid-September. It is a little past 10 a.m. on Saturday morning on the Esplanade of the Olympic Park, and this joyous hubbub would go on for a good part of the day.
Posted at 7:30 p.m.
“I really like it, explains little Renaud, helmet on his head and protectors on his knees. We skate. This is cool we have all the equipment! I learned a lot anyway. »
The event, organized by Vans as part of the prestigious Dime Glory Challenge, brought together young people from the JM Court and Tyndale St-Georges community organizations in the morning. But not only. Fans of all ages had come to learn about the sport, or simply to practice it.
They had good teachers, by the way. Olympian Annie Guglia was among them. We see her, in the shade, surrounded by children sitting on their boards. She explains to them the practice of “ticking”, which consists of lifting the front wheels to the left, to the right, to change direction.
Then she points to a snowboarder dressed in beige passing behind them. “She’s Lizzie Armanto,” she explains to them. “She went to the Olympics like me. »
This is one of the greatest athletes of the moment in skateboarding. She was notably invited to participate in the Dime Glory Challenge, one of the biggest skateboard “shows” in the world, which took place in the afternoon.
“It’s funny because I was at the Games too,” Guglia told The Press smiling. But to me, Lizzie is a legend. It’s an icon. »
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
American skateboarder Lizzie Armanto
The Californian was “happy to see the skatepark filled with young people who had come to learn to ride”.
I remember when I started skating. This feeling was special. Seeing that happen here in Montreal is incredible.
Lizzie Armanto
And she has only good words for the “inspiring” Annie Guglia.
” It is so cool that you have it here, and to see that the community takes care of it. She’s here teaching children. It’s something you remember all your life. »
“Make skateboarding accessible”
Our little Renaud had come with his two sisters, Clara and Mathilde. All three, as well as the 35 young people invited by the two organizations, were offered the complete equipment of the perfect snowboarder: skateboard, helmet and knee pads. Courtesy of the Dillon Ojo Lifeline Foundation.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Clara, Mathilde and their brother Renaud rode with the pros on Saturday on the Olympic Park Esplanade.
“It’s sick, underlines Guglia. These are really good quality skates. »
“That’s what we mean by ‘making skateboarding accessible'”, adds the one who works in the Vans marketing team to promote inclusion and diversity.
“For me, it goes through visibility and showing young people that it’s possible to do it. And also to break down socio-economic barriers. Being given a skateboard makes it easier to access [à ce sport]. »
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Young Levi rides his skateboard on the Olympic Park Esplanade.
Lizzie Armanto agrees.
“It can change your life,” she said. It allows you to channel your energies. And there is so much to learn from the skate community. You can make friends. It’s so good for young people to have a place where they belong. »
The elite in Montreal
With the multiplication of its infrastructures and the events promoting it, Montreal is becoming a world hub for skateboarding.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Alex Auchu, Marketing Director of Vans Canada, among the skateboarders
“People think of Montreal as a skateboarding city,” said Alex Auchu, Marketing Director of Vans Canada.
The Dime Glory Challenge has been presented in Montreal since 2015, bringing together the sport’s elite.
“They are the best in the world, confirms Auchu. In Montreal, before, we didn’t have that kind of representation in skateboarding. For the past few years, with the Montreal Dime, it has put the city on the map. »
Meanwhile, the next generation of skateboarders was beginning to find their bearings in his park.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Beatrice Leduc
Béatrice Leduc teaches young people aged 6 to 14 at the JM Court organization, whose skatepark is located in the garages of Jeanne-Mance high school. After a little respite given to her group of six or seven young people, on Saturday morning, she invites them to get up.
“Are you ready to learn another trick?” »
” Yes ! “, they answer in chorus, before taking their dashes. And go back to screeching their wheels.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Saturday’s event was organized as part of the Dime Glory Challenge.