Crash hit home for skateboard group
The Medicine Hat Skateboard Association just got back from a trip to Ensenada, Mexico where more than 35 people lived on a bus for more than 60 hours.
The group heard the news of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash late Saturday before finishing the last leg of their journey back to Canada.
“A big part of our reaction was disbelief,” said volunteer Terrence Kowalchuk. “We all were just sitting there asking, ‘How could that even happen?
“The tragedy part was obviously hard hitting for us as a group. But it also hit home with us because here we are, living on a bus. We’re partway through this trip, and it wasn’t even a thought for us until the crash happened.”
Group member Davie James says the Humboldt crash shocked the team of skaters.
“There was a bit of nervous anticipation in our group,” said James. “I think a lot of us had a moment where we realized how fragile life really is.
“We had moments like that on the trip, but hearing that news was really eye opening.”
Kowalchuk has been on multiple trips with the skateboard association, and brought his family along for the ride this year.
“As an organizer of the trip, it really drilled home how much responsibility we have,” said Kowalchuk. “After it happened, I started getting a lot of texts and emails from parents asking where we were, if we were OK and stuff like that — as a dad, I had my family on the trip with me, so it was very real for us.”
When the group arrived Sunday evening, it was a very emotional scene.
“As we got to our drop off point, it was really touching,” said Kowalchuk. “We had a few parents who were very emotional at the drop-off.
“One dad ran on to the bus and embraced the bus driver. It was really heavy and powerful to see.”