Each and every person in a community deserves the right to pursue his or her own interests. Those interests are what motivate us towards our goals and they instil in us a sense of passion, desire and drive.
We can all remember the all-important rules we were taught growing up in our own educational system: some of the most important, when learning what brings about eventual success, is we must set goals, drive towards those goals and pick ourselves up when we fall down to try and try again.
Some would argue this is how we grow as individuals and as a community.
On the cusp of Freedom Skate and Snow's 10th Annual 306 Thanksgiving Throwdown, a snowboard rail jam held every year in the business's parking lot (Oct. 11), it becomes important to understand the significance of these cultural ideals and their benefits. There is a major intrinsic joy that comes to those participating in a physical activity, of their choice, and with these activities come important life lessons about hard work and pursuing your dreams.
"It's not a sport, it's a lifestyle," said Freedom manager Brennan Lampitt, when speaking about snowboarding and the upcoming event, adding he hopes to see people coming out to enjoy the culture. Lampitt spoke about having a personal vision for this year's jam and working hard to make it a reality. "I kind of just had a vision and I went with it," he said.
When asked about preparing for an event of this nature, Lampitt said this is the "most smooth sailing [year] as of yet," but added if any problems do arise they mostly happen two to three days beforehand.
Lampitt credits much of the "smooth sailing" effect to community support. He talked about how this is the first year organizers have gone out of their way to find community sponsors.
"This year we actually went seeking," he said.
According to Lampitt, local business are donating carpet, furniture, wood, jerseys and stickers. Lisa McEachern with the Downtown North Battleford has helped to close down part of 100th Street for the extra large set up. A Saskatoon brewing company has become a sponsor and the result is one of the features will be a large fuel tank designed as a beer can. Lampitt asserted this is the biggest set up of any previous year with five features, where in the past there was a maximum of three.
Organizers of the event began prepping for the set up months in advance to pull the vision into a reality. From small beginnings, when the event started as just a car for a jib obstacle, this year the event will be its most elaborate. On top of snowboarding, the event will feature an outdoor shop, music and a barbecue put on by Two42 Youth Group.
After the event, Freedom organizers will be putting on a "Shake Down, Break Down" after party in hopes of fundraising for a non-profit organization Lampitt has his heart set on creating. Speaking about his vision for the non-profit, Lampitt said, "It's about getting kids from North Battleford out and getting [them] to see the world and ride things they wouldn't normally get to."
"I'm going to wax the board up," said Freedom Skate and Snow founder Bruce Tucker.
When contacted for comment, Tucker, who currently lives in Saskatoon and runs Tuckers Tees (a screen printing and t-shirt business), said he is excited about the event and will be coming to the city to participate.
