Kamloops a dream destination for Illinois longboarder

WANTS TO RIDE AT WORLD'S FIRST LONGBOARD PARK

KAMLOOPS – An Illinois longboarder is doing anything she can to get to Kamloops so she can experience the world’s first longboard park.

Samantha Marsteller is a sophomore at Eastern Illinois University where she is majoring in psychology and minoring in art and criminology. In her spare time she teaches herself to ride and is helping to spearhead a registered longboard organization at the university.

A three-year veteran to the sport, downhill longboarding has become her focus and she wants to try out the new Kamloops park to put her new skills to the test.

“As a longboarder, I think it’s important to explore all styles and I’m exploring downhill right now,” she says. “Life isn’t meant to be lived in one place and a trip to Kamloops sounds like a great adventure.”

When Marsteller heard about the new longboard park in Aberdeen she and her friends began planning a ‘once-in-a-lifetime trip’ in the hopes of not only getting an adventure, but helping the longboard community grow even more. They have set up a GoFundMe account to help fund the trip.

“I want to go to Kamloops because it’s an adventure I feel ready for,” she says. “All in all I’m just a regular girl with a longboard looking for the next adventure in life.”

The longboard track in Aberdeen, just south of Pacific Way Elementary, was built this summer and officially opened last month.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.