The Calgary community of Fairview, located in the southeast, is now home to the city’s very first asphalt pump track. 

Pump tracks, designed for everything from mountain bikes to skateboards, are popular all over the world. “They provide a playground for kids and adults alike, from beginners to professionals, a pump track provides a community with sustainable and fun packed activity for all.” (1)

The project began in 2018 as a way to take advantage of a prime piece of vacant park space in the center of the established Fairview community. Located at 7800 Flint Rd SE, next to an off-leash park and a children’s playground, the pump track is now a unique component of this well-trafficked area overlooking the city. “Fairview has a few wonderful playgrounds,” says Sam Koots, Fairview Community Association Board Director, “so this is a great amenity for older kids, something they can do once they age out of those parks.” 

A number of charitable partners and local businesses contributed significant funds to the development of the park, and Koots says the community fundraising aspect was quite monumental as well. “There were a lot of recognizable names on the donor list,” he says, “the Fairview community really came together to get this built.” 

Construction officially began on the track in September 2019. After being derailed slightly by the harsh winter, construction resumed in May 2020 and the pump track had its official soft opening on July 17, 2020. Since the fence has come down, the track has quickly evolved into a popular activity destination and social hub, becoming a huge hit with residents of the community and beyond. “It has been crazy busy,” says Koots, “people have come from as far as Acme to check it out.” A typical day at the park sees everything from young children with their parents to grown adults riding bikes and skateboards, all taking turns barreling around the track for hours on end. 

Photo Credit – Calgary Association of Skateboard Enthusiasts (CASE)

Koots says plans for a grand opening to officially announce and celebrate the launch of the track are in motion, but with COVID-19 still a dominant concern, it’s difficult to determine precisely when that will take place. 

Until then, The Fairview Community Association encourages participants to take advantage of this exciting new community asset and keep riding. To ensure all members of the community and beyond can continue enjoying and accessing the track, the Community Association also encourages riders to take their bikes and boards to the track as much as possible, as opposed to driving, to avoid congestion in the back alleys. 

To learn more about the Fairview Pump Track, visit http://fairviewcommunity.ca/pumptrack. 

For more stories, visit Todayville Calgary.

From an original symbol of menace and mischief subject to criminal bans in certain cities, to a mainstream sport with international competitions and heavy influence in the fashion and music industries, the evolution of skateboarding has been controversial. As a standalone sport, the skateboarding community has built a global network founded on its own unique culture, members and attitude. 

“Skateboarding is a sport like no other … There are no teams and no rules. When someone skates well, we all win.” – Skateboard Here

Sunday, June 21, 2020 is the 16thannual Go Skateboarding Day (GSD), an international holiday encouraging skateboarders around the world to drop everything and go ride. Created in 2004 by the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC), GSD launched in southern California, the “unofficial skateboarding capital, and spread across the globe with the goal of becoming the “grind heard around the world”. 

Since its inception in ‘04, Go Skateboarding Day has gained increasing traction in skate communities all across the world, but the focus always remains the same. The IASC encourages people everywhere to “put away your phone, your computer and video games, and go skateboarding”. 

Although some members of the community don’t necessarily believe in the spirit of the holiday – skateboarding should be every day! – the sentiment surrounding the holiday largely reflects a positive, community-building event. In 2019, GSD rallies in major Canadian cities Vancouver and Toronto saw thousands of enthusiastic boarders take to the streets to celebrate, “The idea is that anyone who owns a board comes out and participates.” 

Although GSD will look different around the world this year due to COVID-19, the show will certainly go on! With all other major summer events and community gatherings cancelled, Go Skateboarding Day 2020 represents a great opportunity to get out, connect with others and have fun while still maintaining distance. 

According to Daniel Craig, Chair for the Calgary Association of Skateboarding Enthusiasts (CASE), the organization has not planned any official events due to COVID-19 concerns and regulations, but still encourages Calgary to get out and ride. “Skateboarding is social, it’s exercise, and it’s a great creative outlet for so many people,” says Craig, a skateboarder of 27 years, “I love Go Skateboarding Day. Get out, find a place to push around and do some tricks, enjoy it!” 

For more stories, visit Todayville Calgary.