Lukas Savoie, 13, completes a jump at the Go for Broke skate competition at north Red Deer's Glendale skate park on Aug. 20, 2022. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

$8,000 in cash and prizes

Skaters ‘Go for Broke’ at annual competition in north Red Deer

Aug 20, 2022 | 3:23 PM

Skateboarders of all ages were out in the heat for the 7th annual Go for Broke skate comp in Red Deer on Saturday.

The event was held once again at the Glendale skate park, next to the YMCA, in partnership between the Central Alberta Skateboard Association (CASA) and local businesses.

Tim Nelson, CASA vice president, says the competition is a sign the skate community is strong, but it’s also a chance for youth to push themselves to new limits.

“Now that skateboarding is in the Olympics, there’s an avenue for kids to take if they want to pursue it. Lots come out just for fun and this is all they ever do each year, which is awesome. but we’re also seeing groups with pro-ams from Medicine Hat, Vancouver, Lethbridge, Cochrane and Calgary,” says Nelson.

“There’s definitely a bit of a stigma around skateboarding and we do work hard to combat that. CASA folks were out here on Friday with graffiti remover and pressure washers to clean it up a bit and help out The City after we got a bit behind on that during COVID.”

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One of many skaters to take a few runs on Saturday was 13-year-old Lukas Savoie, who got on a board for the first time last summer.

“There are a lot of nice people who are very supportive and it’s a very rewarding sport,” says Savoie, who took it up as a hobby and works on his tricks whenever at the park.

“My dad kind of introduced boarding to me when I was younger, and then a friend and I went to a skate park and I figured I’d try it out. It was a bit scary the first time; it’s a lot harder than most people think. But I would say just do lots of practice and support your fellow skateboarders.”

Go for Broke organizers gave away $8,000 in cash and prizes.

More information about CASA is at their website.