By Sophie Mediavilla Rivard
In 2014, Alain Bergeron founded the school Abitibi Skate, whose mission is to enable young people to try skateboarding in a safe environment by providing them with coaching. We met with him to talk about his business and the rise of this sport in the region.
What are the different services provided by Abitibi Skate?
We provide various services, which are pretty customizable depending on the requests and situations. We provide an introduction to skateboarding through group activities in festivals and schools. I visit elementary and secondary school classes, where we do activities to teach students how to be confident. I bring the helmets and the skateboards. I also rent a space that I turned into a skatepark. It is called the GRIP, and we give classes there every Sunday.
Photo : Christian Leduc
Have you skateboarded your whole life?
I am a skateboarding enthusiast since I have started practising the sport in 2000. My life revolves around that ever since. I have worked in skate shops and filmed skateboarding movies. The trips I have taken in my life were always about going skateboarding. I have always appreciated this sport, so I thought that teaching it to others was a good way to continue practising it.
What are the different services provided by Abitibi Skate?
We provide various services, which are pretty customizable depending on the requests and situations. We provide an introduction to skateboarding through group activities in festivals and schools. I visit elementary and secondary school classes, where we do activities to teach students how to be confident. I bring the helmets and the skateboards. I also rent a space that I turned into a skatepark. It is called the GRIP, and we give classes there every Sunday.
Have we had the chance to see you lately in regional events?
I try to attend all major events. In particular, I have been to Festival de musique émergente, H2O le festival, Alien Fest in Duparquet, family day in Malartic, and Osisko en lumière. We also attended the Festival du cinéma international en AbitibiTémiscamingue twice to present, simultaneously, skateboarding movies and competitions. For two years, we have been hosting the SkateOCab, an activity with skateparks and punk shows at the Cabaret de la dernière chance.
Have you noticed a rise in popularity for skateboarding in AbitibiTémiscamingue?
There have been ups and downs since the early 2000s and I have witnessed multiple waves, but it has become more popular and accessible over the last six years. With social media, you can get exposure with a simple skateboarding trick. Back then, people had to be in magazines and movies, or to move to Los Angeles to be seen. As for popularity, about a hundred people come to see me to try skateboarding whenever I go to festivals. Youth has a bright future in skateboarding.
Photo : Sophie Bourdon
Alain is also the owner of Crossfade, his own skateboard company, which he founded in 2016. He designs skateboards and clothing with patterns reminiscent of RouynNoranda and the region.
