Putting talent on wheels

The Minnow Lake Skate Park was rocking with action Sunday afternoon as bikers, skateboarders and scooter riders put their best moves on display.

The Triple Crown Skate, BMX and Scooter Competition and Safety Summit, hosted by the Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) and Pinnacle Sports, drew athletes of all ages and abilities, vying for the championship titles.

After being crowned as the champion of the 15-and-under division, Morgan Maclellan said it felt "pretty, frickin great," especially since it was his first competition.

"It's awesome, I'm feeling good about it."

Maclellan has been riding a scooter for the past two-and-a-half years. The 15-year-old said skateboarding is "a little weird, not my style," and BMXing was resulting in too many injuries.

"Scootering — I just love it," he said.

The scooter rider said he was impressed with the overall event.

"I actually think it's really awesome. We get to come out and compete for (prizes). I want it (to happen) more often."

Sgt. Corinne Fewster, of the GSPS neighbourhood policing unit, shared that sentiment.

"It's an opportunity for us to get the youth in this area engaged ... and they're learning that police are friendly," she said. 

The Triple Crown Skate, BMX and Scooter Competition and Safety Summit, hosted by the Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) and Pinnacle Sports, was held Aug. 26 at the Minnow Lake Skate Park. Photo by Laurel Myers.

The competition also offered a venue for the police to educate the riders on safety.

"We have brain injury awareness here — no young person is competing today without a helmet on."

In past years, Pinnacle Sports has run the Triple Crown Competition. However, because of certain restrictions imposed by insurance and liability with the city, the competition wasn't going to happen this year.

"That got the wheels turning with me," Fewster said. "It's not fair that something for these kids isn't going to be possible because of financial limitations."

She got the backing of the police service, and in partnership with Pinnacle Sports, started raising money to make sure the event was a go.

Fewster has spent a great deal of time at the Minnow Lake Skate Park with her son. Watching her "very quiet boy" thrive on the halfpipes, handrails and ramps has given her a strong appreciation for what goes on in the concrete park.

"It's a group of individuals that have to respect each other," she said. "They have to take turns and they have to watch out for the other guy or somebody will get hurt. They just encourage each other to improve.

"(My son is) not intimidated by the group that's here," she added.

Despite the stereotypes sometimes associated with the individuals who use skate parks, Fewster said "it's a great group of kids."

"Some of these kids are kids (the police) know, and we know if they weren't here, staying involved in this type of physical activity, they might very well be breaking into your house while you're at work," the sargeant said. "We're really glad to be engaging these young people and showing them that we care, and giving them an audience for the day, because that's really what they want.

"Some of these kids are really talented."