91Ƶ

Skip to content

Skateboarders flying from around the globe to Lower Mainland

Competitors prepare for first-ever 91Ƶ7 Generations Cup91Ƶ underway at Langley Events Centre
29421983_web1_220610-LAT-TA-LECSkateboarding-_10
Josh Dunstone flew all the way from Australia to participate in the three-day skateboarding competition, taking place at Langley Events Centre. (Tanmay Ahluwalia/Langley Advance Times)

For 24-year-old skateboarder Josh Dunstone, Canada is like home-away-from-home. While many tourists come to this country to explore famous landmarks, what amazes the young Australian is Canada91Ƶs skateboarding scene.

He has been regularly visiting Canada to participate in freestyle skateboarding competitions. This time he flew all the way to the other end of the world and spent about $3,000 on flights, just for the first-ever 91Ƶ7 Generations Cup91Ƶ 91Ƶ an Indigenous-hosted three-day pro skateboarding event taking place this weekend at Langley Events Centre (LEC).

And Dunstone is not the only one flying across oceans to compete in the event.

Brothers Jotaro and Shotaro came from Japan with their legal guardian. Just 14 and 11, the two boys will be hitting big bowls, showcasing ollies, and performing other tricks on Saturday and Sunday.

Skateboarding legend Kevin Harris described the boys as the 91Ƶbest in the world in their age category.91Ƶ Harris, who helped start and promote the highly successful Slam City Jam in Vancouver, and dput B.C. on the map as a mecca for skateboarders, visited Japan in the late 1990s.

91ƵWhen I was skateboarding, their (Jotaro and Shotaro91Ƶs) dad was a teenager. I influenced him and now they are sending their kids all the way here for this competition,91Ƶ shared Harris.

Harris, a world-record holder and Canada91Ƶs first pro skatboarder, has full confidence in the boys.

91ƵThey will be killing it on Saturday and Sunday,91Ƶ he added with a grin.

RELATED:

Dunstone, who will be flying back to Australia on Tuesday 91Ƶ a day after the competition 91Ƶ is looking forward to giving his best in the freestyle category.

Freestyle skateboarding is a style in which skaters perform tricks on flat ground. Dunstone has been practising the skill for 10 years now, and he described the sport as his 91Ƶlifeblood.91Ƶ

91ƵIt means everything to me.91Ƶ

He is happy that people have started looking at skateboarding from a broader point of view and including freestyle skating in major events like the 7 Generations Cup.

The Melbourne resident shared that the freestyle scene is 91Ƶpretty big91Ƶ in his country and his home city has multiple street spots. He now wants to actively take part in promoting skateboarding as a sport and hopefully encourage more Australians to participate in the Langley contest in future.

While Dunstone spent his Friday at LEC practising for the weekend competition, on the other end of the arena Harris was seen prepping the teenage brothers and a few others.

91ƵIs everything going okay?91Ƶ asked Harris, while also making hand gestures to communicate with the Japanese competitors who 91Ƶ he said 91Ƶ don91Ƶt speak English.

The brothers reply with a thumbs-up gesture.

They all fist bump before heading back to their respective spots 91Ƶ Jotaro and Shotaro hit the rink, playing with their skateboards like it is part of their bodies, and Harris heads down to chat with fellow pro skateboarders.

Practising for the same category, the teenage boys noticed Dunstone as he performed his tricks and cruising towards him from the other end of the arena.

Separated by borders and languages, the international skateboarders share a moment of appreciation for each other with hand gestures. Awed by each others91Ƶ professionalism and skills, the trio ended their practice session with a group photograph 91Ƶ which they will take home as a souvenir.

READ MORE:

Taking inspiration for its name from the Kwantlen First Nations91Ƶ seven laws of life (health, happiness, humbleness, generations, generosity, forgiveness and understanding), the 7 Generations Cup features a variety of events across its three-day span. Those events include an all-terrain contest, a freestyle cup, trick battles, and a competition marking the 35th anniversary of the historic Mini Ramp Challenge 91Ƶ a first-of-its-kind event that took place in Richmond in 1987.

There will also be pow wow dancers, Indigenous drummers and singers, a basket repatriation ceremony, Indigenous vendors, and more.

The competition, which started on Friday, June 10, is scheduled to run both Saturday and Sunday at Langley Events Centre, located at 7888 200th St.

For spectators, single-day tickets start at $26, and three-day passes start at $78. Those interested can purchase tickets and find more information about the all-ages event at .

.


Is there more to the story? Email: news@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on and follow us on .
29421983_web1_220610-LAT-TA-LECSkateboarding-_2
The 7 Generations Cup is a skateboarding competition that started on Friday, June 10. The ticketed event is scheduled to run until Sunday, June 12 at Langley Events Centre, and is open to the public. (Tanmay Ahluwalia/Langley Advance Times)
29421983_web1_220610-LAT-TA-LECSkateboarding-_3
The 7 Generations Cup is a skateboarding competition that started on Friday, June 10. The ticketed event is scheduled to run until Sunday, June 12 at Langley Events Centre, and is open to the public. (Tanmay Ahluwalia/Langley Advance Times)
29421983_web1_220610-LAT-TA-LECSkateboarding-_4
The 7 Generations Cup is a skateboarding competition that started on Friday, June 10. The ticketed event is scheduled to run until Sunday, June 12 at Langley Events Centre, and is open to the public. (Tanmay Ahluwalia/Langley Advance Times)
29421983_web1_220610-LAT-TA-LECSkateboarding-_5
The 7 Generations Cup is a skateboarding competition that started on Friday, June 10. The ticketed event is scheduled to run until Sunday, June 12 at Langley Events Centre, and is open to the public. (Tanmay Ahluwalia/Langley Advance Times)
29421983_web1_220610-LAT-TA-LECSkateboarding-_6
The 7 Generations Cup is a skateboarding competition that started on Friday, June 10. The ticketed event is scheduled to run until Sunday, June 12 at Langley Events Centre, and is open to the public. (Tanmay Ahluwalia/Langley Advance Times)
29421983_web1_220610-LAT-TA-LECSkateboarding-_7
The 7 Generations Cup is a skateboarding competition that started on Friday, June 10. The ticketed event is scheduled to run until Sunday, June 12 at Langley Events Centre, and is open to the public. (Tanmay Ahluwalia/Langley Advance Times)
29421983_web1_220610-LAT-TA-LECSkateboarding-_8
The 7 Generations Cup is a skateboarding competition that started on Friday, June 10. The ticketed event is scheduled to run until Sunday, June 12 at Langley Events Centre, and is open to the public. (Tanmay Ahluwalia/Langley Advance Times)
29421983_web1_220610-LAT-TA-LECSkateboarding-_9
World-record holder and Canada91Ƶs first pro skater Kevin Harris prepping the Japan91Ƶs brothers Jotaro and Shotaro during the practice session Friday at Langley Events Centre. (Tanmay Ahluwalia/Langley Advance Times)


Tanmay Ahluwalia

About the Author: Tanmay Ahluwalia

Tanmay Ahluwalia is a journalist with a digital mindset and a proud alumnus of the University of Delhi.
Read more



(or

91Ƶ

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }