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Local artists donate decks to Pemberton park

The Pemberton Skatepark Society has almost finalized its design for a permanent skatepark in town, and is hoping to raise at least $30,000 more in the next few months in order to make the most of matching fund donations from the provincial and federa

The Pemberton Skatepark Society has almost finalized its design for a permanent skatepark in town, and is hoping to raise at least $30,000 more in the next few months in order to make the most of matching fund donations from the provincial and federal governments.

"We're going to start construction this fall regardless, and we had our final design meeting with Jim Barnum," said Chris Addario, who is helping to coordinate efforts for the society. "The design has changed a little since our last concept, but we're going to have only the second pool feature in the Lower Mainland, as well as a lot of park and street riding features."

Getting everything that's on the list will take more cash, and to that end the Pemberton Skateboard Society approached local artists recently to design decks for an auction. Those decks, painted by the likes of Dave Petko, Angela Teng, Lauren Ritz, Sean Coggins, Mathew Goodwin, Lisa Sumire and Vanessa Stark, will be showcased at a special Art Show Saturday, July 31 at the Mount Currie Coffee Company. The event gets underway at 7 p.m., and tickets are $10. Schramm Vodka will be on hand, and there will be refreshments and food available.

Participants can also bid on the skateboard art, with all proceeds from the door, drink sales and the auction going towards the Pemberton Skatepark.

 

Soccer players join Italian tour

Four up and coming soccer players from Sea to Sky have been scouted by the Genova International School of Soccer during a four-day camp in Squamish. They joined a trials tour in Italy that got underway on July 18. The players - Harrison Shrimpton, Cam Baker and Will Robson from Whistler, and Taran Bir from Squamish - will return this week after games at Siena, Catania, Chievo, Cittadella, Sambonifacese and Venezia calico over a 12-day period.

The tour could result in a professional contract for one or more of the players.

Genova International is itself based in Italy, although it has been running camps in Toronto the past two years that have resulted in seven players signing contracts to play in Italy and Switzerland. Their camp in Squamish was a first.

Tim O'Brien, the program director for the camp, says he believes these players - and others - can make it to the next level.

"I have been playing with Will for a few years and saw Cam, Harry and Taran last year. I had a feeling they would be of a standard that would impress the scouts," he said. "They have been working hard to find better teams to play with to improve their skills, and that desire is a lot of the reason they are in this position."