This week commemorated International Go Skateboarding Day, and although the pandemic halted an official celebration, many got out to hit the streets.

The event first began in 2004 in the United States as a way to make skating more accessible to the public.

Locally, Youth Unlimited YFC Portage la Prairie has been engaging youths with its program Platform Skate. Skate ministry director Steve Hildebrand says they aim to create space for skateboarding.

"There's a lot of youth in our community that have an interest or are involved in skateboarding, but there isn't a lot of programming around it," says Hildebrand. "So, we try to create a space for a safe community to be able to be involved in skateboarding."

The ministry has a small place as part of the YFC, which contains a mini skatepark for the winter months run by volunteers. During the summer, Platform Skate can be found organizing supervised community skate times. They aim to make sure parents and kids have space to practice and hang out in a safe environment. Hildebrand says they also have started hosting some skate camps.

"We were able to do skate camps last summer at Dakota Plains and Dakota Tipi, as well as here in town. There was no cost at all for the kids to attend, and all of the kids that came were able to take a skateboard home with them," says Hildebrand. "We were able to do that through the emergency community support fund, and we're trying to figure out how we can do that again this year, even though that grant isn't available."

During the pandemic, Platform Skate has branched out and is doing a line of podcasts to keep followers entertained and informed about the latest skate news. Hildebrand says one thing he loves about being a part of this organization is seeing kids gain confidence and excitement.

"Skateboarding is a great way for that. Kids can pick up a board, and even if kids don't have boards, we usually have extra available or kids to use," says Hildebrandt. "And then to see when they land their first ollie or trick, everyone gets to celebrate with them. That's one of the healthy parts of our community that I appreciate."

One thing skaters in Portage long for is a new skatepark. Currently, the city has a park beside the BDO Centre, but Hildebrand explains it's not a great facility.

"The issue with that space is it's not really helpful for beginners. If you don't have some basic skills in skateboarding already, it's hard to use that space," he says. "We feel like we need to create a space where kids who have zero (skateboarding) skill can come, learn, and gain some skill."

As of last November, the Portage la Prairie Parks Committee was in the process of putting together the request for proposal for the design of a new skatepark within Simplot Central Park. Hildebrand believes a new space could help boost the cities economy.

"My experience is when you have a decent skate park in the community, it draws people in from outside of the community. I can attest to that as we have often filled vans up to skate in surrounding communities' parks,
mostly because we don't have a proper one here, but also just the opportunity to skate at different spaces. Other skaters are the same, so they're going to come and check out the facility if we have a quality facility here."

Hildebrand adds those who would like to leave their impact and help donate towards a new skatepark should contact the parks committee.