Launching himself down a ramp at Generation XX, Cameron deftly maneuvered himself up and over the various obstacles in his way before landing on his feet at the other end of the large room.
He landed with a big smile on his face.
There's nowhere else he'd rather be, said the youngster.
In fact, Cameron's not sure where he'd be if he wasn't tearing it up with his buddies at Generation XX.
“Probably be at home, doing nothing," he said.
Whatever the alternatives he'd rather be on a skateboard.
"It's fun and entertaining. I love to skate, it gives me an adrenalin rush.”
Cameron was one of about 20 skaters and rollerbladers milling around Generation XX on Friday.
It was the last mini comp (miniature skateboarding competition) for a little while, so nobody wanted to miss it.
The mini comps are a new initiative being put on by Generation XX as part of their effort to revitalize the 15-year-old club.
Aaron Jackson, assistant manager of the club, said it's all about offering the youth of Summerside something fun to do on a Friday night.
"It's great to actually see them all down there cheering for each other. I mean the guy in second place is cheering for guy in first place, you don't see that in a lot of sporting events," said Jackson.
The club used to offer three or four big skateboarding and rollerblading competitions every year, he said, but the kids always wanted more.
But those events take a huge commitment from sponsors and volunteers, he added, so pulling off more of them was a tall order.
So about three months ago Generation XX came up with a compromise in the form of the mini comps.
Every Friday night, starting at 7 p.m., they have a miniature competition at the skate park. Kids can come in for free, sign up to do a few runs on a skateboard or rollerblades and get judged by some of the older volunteers. The highest scoring kids can win prizes.
It basically allows the kids to show off their skills, pick up some tips from some older boarders and improve themselves, said Jackson.
"The hockey, the baseball, the soccer players, all those kids have a very structured kind of sports league where they can work towards something,” said Jackson. “In skateboarding and rollerblading that doesn't really exist very often.”
The mini comps have been going well, he added, and they usually get between 30 and 40 participants ranging in age from six or seven to 16.
It has been a long time since there's been that much activity around Generation XX, said Jackson, so it's great to see the kids so excited.
"As long as there's excitement here we're doing the right here," he said.
The mini comps will be taking a break this week but will start again Feb. 22.
Colin.maclean@journalpioneer.com
