Skateboarding camps are among the best ways to pick up and retain the fundamentals of the sport. You can learn at a faster rate than you would by kick-turning around the neighborhood. Luckily, Canada is home to many great skateboarding camps.
Let’s take a look at the 5 best skateboarding camps in Canada where you can up your skills, and most importantly have the time of your life!
1. Evolve Skateboarding Camp (Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia)
Location: 69 Wingold Ave # 120, Toronto, ON, Canada, Ontario
Phone: (647) 345-3999
Website: www.evolvecamps.com
Evolve Skateboarding Camp caters to students between the ages of 6 and 14, and they offer comprehensive courses. Campers get the freedom to practice tricks after the instructional courses. Instructors will provide input to help the campers as they practice after group sessions.
Evolve offers a bus pickup service, but you can drop your children off as well. Other amenities such as an on-site swimming pool make this one of the best skateboarding camps in Canada. Evolve also has several locations to choose from, such as British Colombia, Vancouver, Alberta, Ontario, and even San Francisco in the United States. Your can see our top 10 skateboard camps for the United States here.
A common question parents ask is “What will my kid learn?”. At Evolve Skateboard camp riders are going to learn so much, but exactly what they learn depends on their current skill level. All beginners will be trained and taught the basics of skateboarding, this includes simple riding skills, park etiquette, board control, pushing, and stopping.
If your kid is at a higher skill level they will be focusing on intermediate tricks, such as riding ramps, rails, stairs, and much more. They will not be pushed beyond their limits, but they will likely push themselves to become a better skateboarder throughout the camp.
2. Skateloft (Toronto, ON)
Location: 763 Warden ave., Toronto, ON, Canada, Ontario
Phone: (647) 688-9568
Website: https://skateloft.com/
You will be hard-pressed to find a skateboarding camp in Canada as accommodating as Skateloft. Located in Toronto, Skateloft offers a great environment to learn the fundamentals of skateboarding. This skateboarding day camp makes it easy to learn as they divide the group of up to 30 children into groups based on skill level and age.
The best thing about Skateloft is that you can regularly access a nice indoor skatepark. You can learn everything from flat ground and street to transition tricks at their park. This camp also typically visits several other local skateparks during the 7-day duration, so there is plenty of variety.
You can also sign up for single-day classes at Skateloft for CA$ 45.2.
3. UnderToe Skateboard Academy (Vancouver, BC)
Location: Granville Island Mini Ramp or UBC Skatepark
Email: info@undertoeskateboard.com
Website: www.undertoeskateboard.com
UnderToe Skateboard Academy in Vancouver offers two levels of skateboarding camps. The first level is best for younger children and kids who don’t have much experience with skateboarding yet. Undertoe’s second-level camp is more advanced and covers everything from rails and flip tricks to ramps.
This is a 3-day camp spread over 3 weeks, you will spend an hour and a half per session every sunday. Each day involves 1.5 hours of intensive skateboarding instruction and practice. The instructors can cater to the campers whether they want to learn more about flat ground or park tricks.
You may also see the course offered on The University of British Columbias website here, they are in partner with UBC recreation and offer a camp called Skateboarding 101. This camp you meet at UBC tennis courts and skate at the UBC Skatepark.
4. Bold Skate Spring Break Camp (Victoria, BC)
Location: Influence Board Shop | 3954 Quadra St, Victoria, BC V8X 1J6
Email: boldskatevictoria@gmail.com
Phone: +1 250-818-0394
Website: https://boldskate.com/
If you have young children interested in skateboarding you should consider the Bold Skate Spring Break Camp. With two instructors and small groups, this is a great opportunity to get valuable information that will stick in your child’s brain. Skateboarding is about learning at your own pace, and Bold Skate Spring Break Camp makes that possible while providing plenty of information.
The owner and an instructor Carla Hyslop has been skateboarding her entire life. She is extremely passionate about skateboarding and teaching youth the sport. She has a degree from the University of Victoria in Child and Youth Care, which certainly helps her with more than just skateboarding. She knows how to properly take care of kids at camp and that itself is a major plus and why this camp is on this list.
She offers 1 hour individual lessons, 1 hour group lessons, remote lessons, ramp lessons, and more in various locations.
The spring break camp you get 4 hours of helpful instruction in one of several locations that the campers get to visit. The 5-day course costs $365 and provides as much information about skill and technique as it does about proper skatepark etiquette.
5. Keiki Longboarding Camp (Calgary, AB)
Location: Pick up/ Drop off location is 250 Collegiate Blvd NW, Calgary, AB T2N 5A6
Phone: (403) 220-7749
Website: https://www.ucalgary.ca/ActiveLiving/registration/Program/longboarding?path=All_Camps
The University of Calgary offers Keiki Longboarding Camp which caters to riders with any skill level. Each tier goes up in difficulty and complexity, so novice longboarders should start with the first course. The courses cost between $275 and $340 and are geared towards 6th-9th grade students.
This is great for children that have limited experience as the first course starts with basics such as foot placement and pushing. Keiki Longboarding Camps runs from July 4th to August 11th, you have 3 course options, 101, 201. and 301. The camps are either 4 days or 5 days long.
101 is for new riders, 201 is for any 101 camp members or comfortable longboard riders, and 301 is for riders who were in 201 or are intermediate riders.
Here is what you need to bring with you as stated in the camps description:
- Longboard
- Longboard/Skate-Specific Helmet
- Knee & Elbow Pads
- Protective Longboarding Gloves
- A comfortable backpack that fits all items on the checklist
- Rain Jacket & Pants
- Activity appropriate clothing and footwear
- Sunscreen & Bug Spray
- Swimsuit & Towel (for swim days)
- Baseball/Sun Hat
- A healthy lunch with lots of snacks (no peanuts on the first day); campers will not be able to purchase food at camp
- A large water bottle or water bladder
- Emergency Supplies (inhaler, epi-pen, etc.)
Overall this is a fun camp to learn the basics of longboarding and increase your skills. It doesnt include regular skateboarding but longboarding is a rapidly growing action sport and offers a unique skillset that kids just love.
What to Consider When Signing Up for a Skateboard Camp
Is Overnight Stay Included or Just Daily Sessions?
It’s important to consider whether or not an overnight stay is included. Many skateboarding camps involve overnight boarding whereas others only run for a few hours per day and parents pick up their children. Of course, overnight skateboarding camps are more expensive than daily sessions.
Think about whether you want to spend extra for overnight stays or if that would even be a good experience for your child.
Skill Level
Nothing matters more than skill level when it comes to choosing between skateboarding camps. Each skateboarding camp is geared towards a different skill level. The last thing that you want to do is send your kid to an advanced skateboarding camp when they have entry-level skills.
Not only can this be overwhelming, but it can also be dangerous to enter a skateboarding camp that is beyond your skill level.
Read our related post on the 10 biggest skate competitions in the world here.
Type of Skateboarding
Check to make sure what type of skateboarding the camp is centered around. You can find vert and street skateboarding camps in Canada. A street-skater will likely be disappointed if they show up to a skateboarding camp and find out it is vert-skating centric.
Some skateboarding camps in Canada combine both types of skateboarding or offer vert or street-specific courses. That’s why it’s important to research the camp ahead of time so you know exactly what you’re signing up for.
Final Thoughts
Skateloft and Evolve are the best skateboarding camps in Canada with locations in Toronto, Alberta, Ontario, and Vancouver. Skateboarding camps like UnderToe Skateboard Academy and Keiki Longboarding Camp are also comprehensive and fun.
Consider the skill level that is required and what type of skateboarding the courses focus on before you choose a camp.
Skateboarding camp is all about meeting new people and making friendships that last a lifetime. No matter the skillset you or your child has, skateboard camp can be so much fun!
You can always check out our other best skateboarding camps:
Nick Durante is a professional writer that primarily focused on action sports. Skateboarding and Longboarding are his particular areas of expertise. When he isn’t writing about action sports, he is catching up on the world of skateboarding and spending time outside.