YORKTON - When you think of Saskatchewan sport you are likely to think hockey first then activities such as curling, baseball and football might come to mind.
For most sport fans skateboarding probably would not pop into their minds.
So it was some surprise that a skateboard museum has been started in Saskatoon.
The effort is the work of Bruce Tucker, himself a former professional skateboarder, and a long-time collector of skateboard memorabilia.
Tucker explained when he moved back to Saskatoon he opened Tuckers T-Shirts and Screen Printing, located at 218 Avenue B South.
The store space just happened to have a tie to the sport of skateboarding in Saskatoon having once been home to Totally Rad Skateboards, a business venture, with its own 11-foot vertical ramp.
It was a connection Tucker built around as he began printing shirts which were a throwback to Totally Rad Skateboard.
“Skaters started to come in,” he explained.
The store visitors started talking about the sport, and Tucker saw potential to install some nostalgic displays upstairs.
“I had a bunch of boards I’d sort of collected over the years,” he said, adding the material became the core of the museum.
Suddenly people were bringing in items and the rather long history of skateboarding in the city quickly emerged with boards from the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90’s being added.
“People are bringing stuff in every day,” said Tucker, adding for example a friend brought in an Alva skateboard, purchased at Totally Rad.
In particular Jason Belhumeur helped acquire some of the boards displayed in particular original pieces and some that are limited editions, among the more than 60 boards now hanging at the museum.
Belhumeur is sort of a Saskatoon skateboard legend, suggested Tucker.
“He sort of coached us to do all the tricks. He sort of taught us how to skateboard,” said Tucker.
The boards include a Tony Hawk who is an icon of the sport. Nicknamed Birdman, Hawk is an entrepreneur and the owner of the skateboard company Birdhouse. A pioneer of modern vertical skateboarding, notes Wikipedia.
The oldest board, at least so far, is one from Fox Manufacturing out of Chatham, Ont., and was made in Canada. Tucker estimates it dates back to the 1960s.
Closer to home Tucker said Saskatoon and Saskatchewan have a surprisingly rich skateboard heritage.
For example Colin McKay, a huge name in the sport has Saskatoon roots, noted Tucker.
McKay, who was born in Saskatoon, a professional skateboarder is widely recognized for his involvement with the original Plan B Skateboards
Plan B Skateboards is a skateboarding company based in San Diego founded by Mike Ternasky, Danny Way and McKay which has been manufacturing and selling premium skateboard hard goods and apparel since 1991, according to Wikipedia.
And then there is Skull Skates which began Regina back in April of 1978. It’s founders were the Ducommun brothers (Rick-and Peter (P.D.)
The original company was ‘Great North Country Skateboards’ and used a black and white Yin and Yang symbol as it’s logo. Shortly after, the name was abbreviated to “G.N.C. Skates”.
P.D. designed the new logo known as Skull Skates. It was then that it was decided to drop the ‘G.N.C.’ and go with Skull, detailed www.longboarderlabs.com
Skull Skates, now based in B.C., is noted as Canada’s oldest skateboard company at more than 40 years in business.
Tucker said they are hoping the museum raises interest and some dollars for a hoped for new indoor skate park in Saskatoon.
“So just come on by and make a donation,” he suggested.
