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All about the groms

Skating and snowboarding featured in kids-only competition

Once upon a time Sean White was the best known grom on the planet. A prodigy in both skateboarding and snowboarding, he was featured in videos by the time he was eight years old. Now he’s an Olympic halfpipe champion and X Games champion, and is widely recognized as one of the best vert ramp skaters in the world.

Next week a new generation of groms will have their chance to shine at the second annual Great Northwest Gromfest, from July 6 to 10 in Whistler.

Gromfest is actually two events in one, with an on-mountain terrain park competition held in partnership with Camp of Champions, and a skateboard competition in Whistler’s street park.

The first annual event was challenging, with rain driving skateboarders to the underground park at Creekside, but lead organizer Ryan Simpson says the event is set to grow again this year.

“We have a much larger snow group coming this year, we’ve already got 34 or 35 riders signed up, and so far we’ve got about 15 skaters or so this year — not counting locals from Squamish and Whistler that can come out if they want to,” said Simpson. About 100 riders and 50 skaters qualified this year at other Gromfest events, and about a third are making the trip to Whistler.

“We’re going to keep building it,” said Simpson. “Next year we’re looking for at least 50 kids on snow and 35 skaters. Even with the rain last year we have about 75 per cent of the skateboarders from last year returning, and we’re finding that we just have to get the kids here one time and they get hooked.”

Only a handful of athletes will be competing in both snowboard and skate events, but Simpson expects that to grow as word gets out. As well, in the future he is planning to add new events like a freeski competition and possibly a mountain bike or BMX event, although that will likely depend on sponsorship.

As for who’s coming this year, Simpson has already signed up athletes from B.C., Alberta, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, California, and the Dominican Republic. He’s also hoping that Squamish and Whistler skaters will turn out on the practice day at their respective parks, and will sign up to take part in the finals.

The skateboard practice day is July 6, and Gromfest will have a presence at the parks in Whistler and Squamish during the day. All of the invited skaters will need to participate in a skate competition meeting that evening at 7:30 p.m. at Rebagliati Park where they will meet the judges and learn the rules.

The first day of competition is Monday, July 7. The warm up is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by a quick lunch break. The open jam competition will run from noon to 4 p.m. using both the street park and bowl, and there will be an underground skate jam in Creekside from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. that evening.

On Tuesday the skate competition will start with a warm-up from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., followed by a best trick competition in the street park until 11 a.m., and a best flat ground trick competition until noon. After lunch there will be a slalom run in the bowl, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., followed by a best trick competition in the bowl from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The day will wrap up with a barbecue at Rebagliati Park from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the awards taking place at 6 p.m.

Snowboarders will start Gromfest on Monday with a competitor meeting at Rebagliati Park from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The first practice is all-day on Tuesday, and the first day of competition is Wednesday. The warm-up is from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., followed by a halfpipe competition from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and a rail jam competition from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a movie premiere that night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The last day has a warm-up from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., followed by a quarterpipe competition from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and a slopestyle competition from noon to 2 p.m. The awards are at Rebagliati Park from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Simpson says Gromfest distinguishes itself from other youth contests in several ways.

For one, participants are expected to raise a minimum of $200 to take part, with the proceeds going to youth charities that encourage involvement in sports. Whistler and Squamish athletes taking part are exempt from that requirement.

For another, Simpson says the atmosphere is designed to be casual without putting pressure on the athletes.

“Kids already have pressure at school, pressure at other competitions,” said Simpson. “We have a really laidback style, where kids get a practice day, and there are a couple of days of competition. There are no set runs, athletes just do it as much as they want in the time limit with an open jam format. In a way the competition takes a back seat to being there.”

While local skaters can take part by showing up for the skateboard practice days in Whistler and Squamish, it’s a little tighter to get into the snowboard events. Simpson says local athletes can apply online, sending in videos or photos that show their ability. For more information, visit www.gromfest.org.