More than 30 racers took part in the Toronto Girls FUBU Longboarding race at the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant in the east end on Oct. 4.
The race is in its fourth year and is the first and only all-girls event of its kind for longboarders in Toronto. It draws riders from all of over Canada and the United States.
Longboarder Candy Dungan and fellow racegoers show their enthusiasm at the 4th Annual Toronto Girls FUBU Longboarding race.
Organizer Sisi Zhou said, although she was initially hesitant to take on arrangement duties, she received a lot of encouragement to keep the annual race going.
“Cindy, the former organizer, she just kind of pushed me to do it. Then, my Toronto friends were like ‘You should do it, you can do it,'” Zhou said. “So, then I did it just to continue this thing that’s so important to me because Toronto Girls Longboarding and FUBU is what really got me super into this sport in the first place, and I want to do that for other girls as well.”
Competitors took part in various races, from beginner relays to the slalom for more experienced riders. Zhou said it is essential for the girls to have an long boarding event to call their own.
Longboarder Candy Dungan fell in love with the sport at a young age and journeyed all the way from Colorado just to attend. She said the race provided her not only with a fun time, but also with a sense of belonging.
“I came here the second year and I was still learning back then and that was the first time I felt that included in the longboarding community, and I had so much fun,” she said. “Cindy Zhou was here and a lot of other girls and they showed me the best weekend. I’m excited to come back and i brought some other girls because I want them to experience it too.”