WATCH: Grandmothers and grommets alike, gliding through Kelowna

Sally Lizotte may not be what you picture when you think of a skateboarder.

But the great-grandmother from Penticton, who has over 25 years of experience, is so in love with it, it was central at her wedding.

“My husband made me a longboard out of an old wooden water ski. It still has the fin on it, and we got married on that,” Lizotte told Kelowna10. “So, everyone had to learn how [to skateboard] so they could be in my wedding.”

Lizotte is also a snowboard instructor and said those skills transferred over to the new boarding style.

She and her family, who all took it up after her, joined a community of boarders Tuesday afternoon for a ride along Okanagan. Land Yachtz, who is behind the cruises, recently stopped in Revelstoke, Edmonton, and Calgary as part of their world tour.

The organizers’ hope is to strengthen local skateboarding communities.

“We are hoping to inspire the community to do more cruises like this, get people out on boards, get them out,” Organizer Tessa Campbell said. “Building the link between those people is really, really important.”

Experienced skateboarders and some who were stepping on one for the very first time were led on a scenic ride along the Waterfront Promenade up to Tugboat Beach. Along the way, riders found some downhill slopes where they would line up to test their control around turns at downhill speeds.

Skateboarding is Campbell’s latest athletic endeavour. She started being active in very different worlds, including gymnastics, cheerleading, and waterskiing at semi-professional levels.

Four years ago, she decided to take up skateboarding and called it “lifechanging.”

She admitted it was difficult and there were falls along the way. Even speaking with Kelowna10, she sported a large bruise on her arm.

“You fall, you hurt yourself. But there’s something about getting back up and conquering that and getting redemption that is super empowering,” Campbell said.

Boarders came from across Western Canada for the cruise, from the Sunshine Coast to parts of Alberta. Campbell said this typically happens wherever they host these events. Most skaters don’t know each other when they arrive, but introductions quickly happen. People share equipment and bond over a shared passion.

Campbell said the perception of skaters can be far from reality.

“We are just a really awesome group of people that is super outgoing. All these people showed up together. They didn’t know each other and they’re just hanging out and skateboarding together,” she said.

“Having a skateboard gives you something to talk about with that person and it just bonds you immediately.”