Alert Bay hosted a Skate Camp for the second year in a row, July 16 and 17, at their local skatepark with professional instruction from Courtenay based skaters Patrick Kitto, Damian Toovey, and Telegraph Cove resident James Serrano.
"The first day was typical Alert Bay weather, cloudy until it got hot. The second day was sunny, warm and perfect," said Kitto, adding that they had eight kids "come out for the two days, and we started the camp out with board information, how to maintain your board, and the basics of how to skate. We were stoked to see many of the same kids return from last year."
The instructors made sure that all the kids who participated wore helmets for safety reasons while learning the skateboarding techniques.
"We had a little obstacle course going on for the kids, a barbecued lunch each day and at the end of the camp we had a prize giveaway with lots of cool stuff like shirts, helmets, hoodies, stickers, and wheels. Our sponsors really hooked us up," said Kitto, adding that he loves going over to Alert Bay to hold the skate camp because "I love teaching the kids, I love ripping the park which is right near the ocean, and also getting to go fishing and playing on the beach and just enjoying Alert Bay is a huge part of it. Every time I go there the kids are stoked to participate, and it's really cool to show the next generation the skills needed to skate the park and help them progress."
Kitto wanted to make sure to say a "big thank you to the Village office, the coaches and sponsors. We will be back again and also looking to run a skate camp in Port Hardy for sure next summer."