Hi Katrina, can you tell me a little about yourself and what you do?
Hello there! Thanks for asking me for an interview. My work pertains to craft, most specifically furniture and now toys, too. I love designing wooden objects as much as I love making them. I am also super keen on furniture histories and love nerding out on vernacular material culture. I teach furniture histories at OCAD U, as well as chair making, and other maker workshops. I live between Prince Edward County, Ontario and Fogo Island, Newfoundland.
How did you hear about Roarockit? What inspired you to start a skateboard building workshop?
Recently I taught a group of teens 13-16 years old how to make skateboards. It was my first time and I totally loved it! I first heard about Roarockit while working with Roarockit founder Ted Hunter at OCAD U. He’s a total woodworking whiz; I enjoyed watching him shine in the classroom and, as a young educator, I appreciated his advice. It is many years later now and when I was asked by the Prince Edward County Arts Council to teach a wood program to teens as part of their new Youth Craft Academy, I chatted it over with friends from Sheridan College’s Furniture Studio who excitedly suggested skateboard making! It was such a great suggestion and the perfect workshop for the age group I was teaching, they absolutely loved it. The beauty of the skateboard workshop is that it’s interesting and applicable for every age group - adults alike!
How do you feel this workshop benefits the students?
There’s no question this benefitted students immensely and in so many ways. I’ve heard from parents that their kids were so proud of what they accomplished and that the experience improved their confidence in both their own skills and creativity. The beauty of the project is that it gets students hands on several different tools and materials; with demonstrations and brief introductions they’re ready to give it a shot themselves and the results were always great!
What were the students’ reactions to getting to build skateboards? Do you have any special stories to share of the effects it had on them?
The students didn’t all know each other in advance of the workshop so at first the group was pretty quiet but once we pulled out the vacuum bags and started gluing up veneer it was all excitement. My assistant made it super fun and high energy by playing The Flight of the Bumblebee song by Rimsky Korsakov, which really helped keep the kids moving fast before the glue had time to set. Give it a try next time!
How were you able to get a skateboard building workshop started, did you have to jump through any administrative hoops to get there?
In Prince Edward County we have an amazing arts council; they were approached by an equally amazing group of craft patrons, Rue Pigalle, who wanted to start a Youth Craft Academy and were willing to provide funding for programs that teach youth hand skills in various craft mediums. Thankfully, County Arts asked me to get involved! The workshop met for 2.5 hours once a week for 6 weeks and it was a great amount of time to make, shape and finish the boards, paint a design, then add the hardware and grip tape.
How did it turn out? Are the students riding their boards afterwards, or do they use them more as an art project?
All boards turned out great, the kids were beaming with the results. Most of the students had never been on a skateboard before, but one is a very competent skateboarder and we were all excited to watch him show us how it’s done on his finished board! Some of the other kids are now all geared up to learn while others planned to give theirs as gifts.
Do you have a history of skateboarding?
I have zero experience with anything skateboarding but that didn’t prevent me from grasping the work and achieving stellar results. If there’s any educators out there wondering if they should give this a try, you should!!!
Thanks for your time Katrina! Any last words for the viewers back home?
Watch the Roarockit tutorial videos, they helped me with any questions I had. Also, you can get assembled truck/wheel/bearing kits which made all that unfamiliar stuff really easy for me.
Thanks Roarockit! You’re doing great things!
Taryn O'Grady,
Roarockit Skateboard Company