Bricin Lyons, organizer of the infamous Attack of Danger Bay longboarding competition in Pender Harbour, is spreading the downhill gospel all the way to the Caribbean with the first-ever Party Island Downhill competition in Castries, Saint Lucia on Dec. 13.
Lyons said he was approached by a representative of the small Caribbean Island shortly after announcing a longboarding competition in Kimberley, B.C.
“He loved the race and the show I put on for the crowd the whole day,” Lyons said. “He wanted the same action and excitement for the people on Saint Lucia.”
Lyons will be working with an old friend of his, Jody Wilcock, who started Kimberley’s longboarding competition at the same time that Lyons started Attack of Danger Bay, 15 years ago.
“We run the longest running downhill races in the world,” Lyons said. “Now we’re getting flown to this Caribbean island to hold our very own race.”
Two Pender Harbour teams will each be sending a youth racer to compete in Party Island Downhill, thanks to fundraising efforts they have carried out in the community: Sawyer ‘Bonez’ Cote from Team Irene and Rylan ‘Raggie’ English from Team Green. Lyons was ecstatic that Pender Harbour will be so well represented in Saint Lucia.
“Here I am – 15 years older now after starting Attack of Danger Bay – I get asked to run an event in the Caribbean and now two youths are going to participate against some of the world’s best,” Lyons said. “You have a Pender Harbour boy organizing and announcing this race and you have two racers from Pender Harbour. This is really exciting news!”
A total of 16 longboarders will be racing for a $1,000 top cash prize. Lyons said they will be doing some missionary work with the Island youth the day before the competition.
“The mix of professional and amateur racers will have a chance to give back to the Island and get the youth rolling – taught from the best,” Lyons said.
Party Island Downhill is presented by Northern Underground Adrenaline Circuit (NUAC), Coast Longboarding and Berley Skate British Columbia. More event info is available at www.nuac.ca
