We are currently looking for youth ambassadors from our community to get involved with the skatepark initiative. Contact [email protected] for more information
Youth Corner
Youth Involvement Day
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Thank you to all the families and individuals that came to give their input and play. We had a great turnout with boys and girls of all ages and scooters were welcome too! During the festivities we were able to gather some great fundraising ideas from the kids as well as their wishes and ideas for the Millet Skatepark Project. Attendees were also able to vote for the new Millet Skatepark logo (winner to be announced soon).
Thank you to Rumor Skate and Snow from Leduc. They brought ramps, bars, awesome instruction and demonstrations! They also handed out stickers and coupons to the kids.
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Skatepark Tips
1. Be polite, and courteous
When ever you go somewhere new (new skatepark, new school, new job, etc.) it is important to be a polite and courteous to the locals. After all, first impressions are everything. If you are a nice, friendly person, people will generally be nice and friendly back.
Yelling “BOARD!!” when you fall and your board gets away from you, is an expected courtesy at all parks. But being courteous can be as simple as just saying “Hi!” when you make eye contact, or chatting with the person you roll up beside. Complimenting someones trick or line goes a long way too.
2. Don’t vandalize
Not only is vandalism illegal, but damaging skateparks is a surefire way to piss off the locals. Don’t graffiti, litter, spit, eat sunflower seeds, or throw cigarette butts on the park surfaces. Nobody likes to roll through your gum and garbage. A sunflower seed stops your wheels the exact same way as a pebble, which are any skater’s arch enemy!
Damaging obstacles can create dangerous situations for skaters. Nobody wants to get hurt, and nobody wants to be responsible for someone getting hurt. Being clean, and taking care of the obstacles will ensure that your skatepark lasts for decades.
3. Don’t wax
Leave your wax at home. Chances are that ledge, or rail, will be perfectly slidable, and has already been seasoned and waxed by the locals. Test the obstacle by sliding your board or trucks along it with your hands to see if there are sticky spots. If an obstacle isn’t fast enough for you, wax your board or trucks.
4. Don’t “Snake”
Snakes are people who cut across someone's line, or who 1-up them, when they are sessioning or learning on an obstacle. It is dangerous. Collisions never end without pain, or some injury.
Watch for, and follow The Flow of skating at the park. Skateparks are often directional, in that they can have a down hill slope, and obstacles that can only be skated from one direction. Observer others to see the direction people are skating, the lines that people are following and the obstacles they are skating. There will be a flow. If you want to try something against the flow; ask other skaters first.
5. Don’t hang-out on obstacles
Most skate parks have benches, or grass for sitting and hanging out, so don’t sit on a fun box.
6. Ready Position
This is a do and don’t. People who frequent skateparks look for others who are ready to start a line, before they start their’s, to avoid being a snake. You need to telegraph your actions. For example, if you are standing at the top of the mini ramp, and are not ready to go, don’t hang your board off the coping. Having your board in drop in position, means you are ready to drop in. If you aren’t ready to drop in, hold our board, or make sure it is facing to the side and fully on the deck.
Likewise, if you are ready to start your line, look like you are. If you are going to run up, hold your board by the nose like you are going to run and jump on it. Don’t start a run up, from a mall grab position, or holding your board some weird way. Running in doesn’t work too well when holding the rail of the deck.
8. No “infinite lines”
Little kids have a ton of energy, and can push around all over the skatepark for what feels like hours. This makes it impossible for skaters to know when they can start their line, and where they can go.
Pick a line in a section, and skate it, and take a break.
9. Don’t be reckless
Skate within our limits. This doesn’t mean you can’t try to advance your skating. We all want to advance our skating, but there are ways to do it, and ways not to do it. If you are just learning to ollie, don’t try to tre-flip the 5 set.
Most parks have obstacles of varying difficulty, so get your tricks dialled on small objects and graduate to bigger, then bigger ones. Advancing in your skating is an indescribable feeling, but doesn’t happen instantly. Nobody likes to get, or see anyone get, seriously hurt.
10. Follow the written rules
Most skateparks have written rules; helmets, hours they are open, no vandalism, bike/scooter/skateboarding hours, etc. It is important to follow these rules to avoid being hassled by locals, law enforcement, and having the skatepark shut down by the owner, or the city.
When ever you go somewhere new (new skatepark, new school, new job, etc.) it is important to be a polite and courteous to the locals. After all, first impressions are everything. If you are a nice, friendly person, people will generally be nice and friendly back.
Yelling “BOARD!!” when you fall and your board gets away from you, is an expected courtesy at all parks. But being courteous can be as simple as just saying “Hi!” when you make eye contact, or chatting with the person you roll up beside. Complimenting someones trick or line goes a long way too.
2. Don’t vandalize
Not only is vandalism illegal, but damaging skateparks is a surefire way to piss off the locals. Don’t graffiti, litter, spit, eat sunflower seeds, or throw cigarette butts on the park surfaces. Nobody likes to roll through your gum and garbage. A sunflower seed stops your wheels the exact same way as a pebble, which are any skater’s arch enemy!
Damaging obstacles can create dangerous situations for skaters. Nobody wants to get hurt, and nobody wants to be responsible for someone getting hurt. Being clean, and taking care of the obstacles will ensure that your skatepark lasts for decades.
3. Don’t wax
Leave your wax at home. Chances are that ledge, or rail, will be perfectly slidable, and has already been seasoned and waxed by the locals. Test the obstacle by sliding your board or trucks along it with your hands to see if there are sticky spots. If an obstacle isn’t fast enough for you, wax your board or trucks.
4. Don’t “Snake”
Snakes are people who cut across someone's line, or who 1-up them, when they are sessioning or learning on an obstacle. It is dangerous. Collisions never end without pain, or some injury.
Watch for, and follow The Flow of skating at the park. Skateparks are often directional, in that they can have a down hill slope, and obstacles that can only be skated from one direction. Observer others to see the direction people are skating, the lines that people are following and the obstacles they are skating. There will be a flow. If you want to try something against the flow; ask other skaters first.
5. Don’t hang-out on obstacles
Most skate parks have benches, or grass for sitting and hanging out, so don’t sit on a fun box.
6. Ready Position
This is a do and don’t. People who frequent skateparks look for others who are ready to start a line, before they start their’s, to avoid being a snake. You need to telegraph your actions. For example, if you are standing at the top of the mini ramp, and are not ready to go, don’t hang your board off the coping. Having your board in drop in position, means you are ready to drop in. If you aren’t ready to drop in, hold our board, or make sure it is facing to the side and fully on the deck.
Likewise, if you are ready to start your line, look like you are. If you are going to run up, hold your board by the nose like you are going to run and jump on it. Don’t start a run up, from a mall grab position, or holding your board some weird way. Running in doesn’t work too well when holding the rail of the deck.
8. No “infinite lines”
Little kids have a ton of energy, and can push around all over the skatepark for what feels like hours. This makes it impossible for skaters to know when they can start their line, and where they can go.
Pick a line in a section, and skate it, and take a break.
9. Don’t be reckless
Skate within our limits. This doesn’t mean you can’t try to advance your skating. We all want to advance our skating, but there are ways to do it, and ways not to do it. If you are just learning to ollie, don’t try to tre-flip the 5 set.
Most parks have obstacles of varying difficulty, so get your tricks dialled on small objects and graduate to bigger, then bigger ones. Advancing in your skating is an indescribable feeling, but doesn’t happen instantly. Nobody likes to get, or see anyone get, seriously hurt.
10. Follow the written rules
Most skateparks have written rules; helmets, hours they are open, no vandalism, bike/scooter/skateboarding hours, etc. It is important to follow these rules to avoid being hassled by locals, law enforcement, and having the skatepark shut down by the owner, or the city.
Get Involved
We want to hear from our youth! Your input is important, you can have a say by coming to our planning meetings, and community events. We are looking for youth volunteers and ambassadors to help with our skatepark Initiative, if you're interested contact us for more info at [email protected]
Share Your Ideas and Stories
We want to hear your skatepark ideas, stories, event experiences and wishlist, drop us a line