I'm not going to lie here; Canada is chock-full of the most amazing skateboarders in the world. But why don't we have any amazing contests? We've lost our once-beloved Slam City Jam, and for about 3 years we had the West 49 Open— but even that contest went the way of Dodo.
Even with the popularity of both events, neither could draw enough to afford to be a mainstay in skateboarding. Not even with these two amazing events and huge cash prizes could the organizers attract the right pros, and in turn they got shit-all for fan support. Maybe it was because they were held in huge arenas and stadiums? The thing is, California has a ton of these events every year, and the draw is incredible. So I find myself asking, what has California have that we don’t?

I got to talk to Vans representative, Jason Shoemaker. He tells me that "California is the Mecca of skateboarding. The place over any other that has dictated what really is legit progressive skateboarding. Events like the VANS' ‘Downtown Showdown’ are viewed by millions of skaters via live webcasts and are a key element for showcasing the skateboard industries most elite dedicated skaters at that given time."

By comparison, what we've done in Canada is driven skateboarding to become more of a demonstration for when the teams pass through town. Anything that is considered a major Canadian contest becomes the sideshow in the mix of a grand festival. "The ‘Island of the Ams’ contest at Wakestock [which was one of the larger contests put on this year with an advertised purse of $10,000] was a sideline attraction to the concerts and wakeboarding? The direct focus to skateboarding is not there like it is in California," says Shoemaker. “We even get the Vans Warped Tour swing through town once a year and skateboarding, which was once a huge focus at the festival has been placed in the background with one single ramp demonstration.”

With the 3rd annual Vans Downtown Showdown having just recently taken place in LA, it just drives the point home that maybe it's time we do something here up north that focuses on the fun. "Vans invites a few top influential skateboard companies to design a unique skate obstacle,” Shoemaker explains. “The 4 most creative are chosen and then reproduced in Paramount Studios’ downtown movie set. Each obstacle is then skated for an hour by at least 1 pro and 4 amateurs from each board company to win an assortment or awards and prizes." Sounds easy, doesn't it? Why isn't it here then?
The same direct Cali skate focus events can be achieved here in Canada, we just have to be realistic that these contests will never draw the same crowds as California, mostly due to California’s intense skate culture population.
"Events like the VANS backyard pool party that went down in Montreal's indoor Southparc skate facility represent some of Canada's finest efforts to compete with Cali's large scale production events,” Shoemaker says. “Eric Mercier's concept of creating an out-door backyard pool-style ramp inside with every attention to detail thought possible has gained international acclaim. It featured a 70' wide, 5' to 7' high ramp painted blue complete with a diving board, light box and maindrain; a mural of the back of the house, complete with a real hose reel, wooden porch, real grass sod area, free BBQ and drinks all night long!" It's this type of event that is made to create innovative ways to appreciate the core supporters of the Canadian skate community.
There are lots of amazing opportunities out there for skating in Canada, you just have to be in the know and it really comes down to whether or not you give a shit. There are so many great multimillion-dollar skateboard-specific facilities popping up all over Canada. Skateboarding, by any means, is not dead or even hurting here, but just don't ever expect to see an indoor contest again.