The Pender Harbour May Day celebration was peaceful this year, with no repetition of the violence that marred last year's event. In 2004, at a campground where skateboarders were staying, dozens of people were injured in a melee where hockey sticks were allegedly used as weapons. Five young men from Gibsons were later arrested on multiple assault charges; their trial will begin June 13.
For May Day this year, both the Sunshine Coast RCMP and the organizers of the Attack of Danger Bay longboarding competition were determined to make sure everything went safely.
The result was a trouble-free weekend where the only injuries resulted from skateboarding. One North Vancouver skateboarder was treated at St. Mary's Hospital for a punctured lung and cracked ribs after crashing during a practice run on Saturday.
Cpl. Larry Burden and Bricin Lyons, who organized the longboarding event, met in advance to discuss security and the importance of controlling liquor and rowdiness, according to S/Sgt. Brad Zalys of the Sunshine Coast RCMP detachment.
"There was a good liaison," said Zalys. "It was very, very well organized. They had things much better than in past years."
Lyons said the police presence was "unbelievable."
"Having security and having the police there, it makes you feel safe," he said. "It's really important having the police on our side."
The longboarders rented the Lions Park in Pender Harbour, which has a lockable gate, and recruited volunteers to provide security, making sure no uninvited guests crashed the party.
Being able to rent the Lions Park for the weekend was key, Lyons said, because the park is secure.
"Big thank yous to the Lions Club," he said. "It would have been really hard to keep it safe if it hadn't been for the Lions Club."
Lyons said the attack on the skateboarders' campsite last year frightened some people away from attending this year.
"I know a lot of people who didn't come up because of that," he said. "I had to tell them it's OK now."
The RCMP had road blocks set up on Friday night and issued about half a dozen 24-hour suspensions, said Zalys, but nobody was picked up for impaired driving and there were no serious incidents of violence.
Gibsons skateboarder Greg Smithwick was one of the security volunteers.
"We didn't have any problems. The police were extra-cooperative," he said. "We never felt like the police were watching us. We felt like they were watching out for us We changed what they asked us to change. We spent three months saying 'don't drink and drive'."
Smithwick thanked the community of Pender Harbour for stepping up to make the event safe and successful.
"At the dance, there were at least 25 people, moms and dads, wearing yellow shirts and providing security," he said. "We were absolutely thrilled by the paramedics and police."
Now longboarding enthusiasts are looking forward to the next big races of the season, including one at the Maryhill Loops in Washington state. Many of the longboarders will be returning in two weeks to testify at the assault trial for the five men accused of attacking them at the 2004 May Day. "Hopefully we're not going to miss one of the biggest races in the world that is scheduled at the same time as the trial," said Lyons.
"Some of the racers missed the race last year because they got sticked, and they might miss it this year because they are witnesses at the trial."
