This past Thursday (Feb.14th), the Roarockit Skateboard Company hosted the new and returning students from the Oasis Skateboard Factory at our 131 Sunrise Ave. location for the first time. We had a great time meeting the new students, and it is always a pleasure to share our history and work space with these creative individuals.
Together, Oasis and Roarockit have some big plans for this years intake. We look forward to collaborating on some great events, custom 'Dream Board' builds, and most importantly - helping these students graduate...Stay tuned!!
Here are a few pics from their visit:
Impossible to get a clear action shot of these kids devouring the pizza!Couple of great panoramic shots of the Roarockit tourNorah, Ted, Nico and Sarah introduce themselves and talk about the businessPizza Party!
Chris explains the CNC machine and how to keep the shop organizedMarcel shows his enthusiasm towards cleaning up
For the past 5 weeks we have had the pleasure of hosting two great students from the Oasis Skateboard Factory here at the RockitLabs HQ, as part of their Job Shadowing program. We put these kids to work on everything from taking out the garbage, to helping pack orders. We also let them fix up a few old broken boards we had sitting around the shop, and give new life to them with some killer custom artwork.
Before they left, I asked them to write a short paragraph about their experience here at the Roarockit Skateboard Company.
Student #1
"So far working at Roarockit has been great. I haven’t had much experience in a workplace, so co-op is definitely a good start. I didn’t understand much about how to run a business, but I had in my mind this is where I want to be one day. Everyone here is super friendly and that's my favourite part. I can crack a joke anytime, where other places I didn't find anyone to be as open and relaxed.
I learned from being here how much work is put into running a business and keeping it afloat. Whether it be simple things or intense detailed labour. There is work involved, no beating around the bush - you want a business? Prepared to get dirty!
Roarockit is doing a great job expanding their business. They are getting colours veneers, giving people more choice on boards they want to make, and there shop moved to a larger location so they can have more stock. Working in the skate industry has been awesome, I'm glad I got into it instead of horrible office work. I'd like to be a graphic designer for skateboards one day, or something that I can really sink my artistic teeth into. I just hope I can make it there. (I will!!! ) Being at Roarockit has been a great experience, and I hope I can manage as well as they have."
Student #2
"Roarockit has been a great learning experience. I have learned a lot of the inner workings of a skateboard building business including shipping and setting things up to be shipped. This experience has been very meaningful to me as a skater and as an artist, being given the opportunity to learn about this awesome business and designing a board for them has been amazing.
Working in the skate industry has been an underlying thought in my mind for some time and Roarockit has been inspiring me to pursue it. If I were to work in the skateboard industry, my ideal job would be a board designer and artist but creating shapes for boards would be great too.
My favourite part of being here has been designing the board for the office, I say this because I think it is the best board I have done yet and this great business deserves no less."
The Roarockit Skateboard Company is no stranger to working with kids in the community, and it gives us a great amount of pride to see our programs implemented in classrooms around the world. Helping kids have fun while learning how to make skateboards, and in some cases realize their potential, is what Roarockit is all about.
Recently there have been a few great events and features, based on the success of programs using our Thin Air Press Technology.
First off is our friends at the Oasis Skateboard Factory. Almost everyday we hear about another great success coming from this unique Toronto District School Board program. Run by one of the most resourceful and engaging teachers of all time, Craig Morrison, this program operates out of a community center in the heart of downtown Toronto.
Chris from Roarockit with Craig from the Oasis Skateboard Factory... Ken Spencer in the back!
Recently, the program was recognized and presented with the Ken Spencer Award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. Shortly after, they were featured in a great video by the Toronto District School Board.
We are also very excited to have worked with a group of kids from the Northmount Catholic School, who pressed and painted over 20 original pintail longboards for an Art Gala Fundraiser. The all-boys school came into our teaching facility as a group, and were introduced to Roarockit's vacuum bag process for making their own boards.
We sent them home with the materials, tools and technology to make their own boards... and they did just that!! When we caught up with the school, they had pressed, shaped and sanded each board and were in the process of painting and customizing their creations. After a visit from Ryan @ Longboard Living, each board was setup with hardware and a custom grip job. The boards turned out great!
Here are a few examples of their artwork, and a great video featuring their finished decks.
We love hearing about (and seeing!) all the great projects and programs that people are doing with our Thin Air Press technology. If you would like to be featured in one of our Rockit Talk posts, send any information, pictures or video links to chris@roarockit.com
Friends of Roarockit are familiar with the great program running over at the Oasis Skateboard Factory (OSF) in Toronto. For those of you who don't know, the OSF is the first skateboard design and street art focused high school program in the world. Students earn credits by learning how to design, build, and run their own skateboard-based businesses. For over five years, the OSF has worked together with the Roarockit Skateboard Company to create a community-based program that both enriches and motivates the students within its' reach.
Recently, the students of Oasis had their Grand Opening of the new POP-UP SHOP located within The Baitshop at 358 Dufferin, Suite 117. The store, which sells skateboards, longboards and t-shirts made by the students, is the culmination of a semester-long business program created by teacher Craig Morrison. Opening night was well received, and the students were able to donate a portion of sales to a local community group. If you haven't gotten a chance to check it out, make sure you go by and see all the hard work done by the students. The OSF POP-UP SHOP is open 7 days a week until Feb.26, 2012.
With the vision of creating a professional atmosphere in an alternative setting, Craig has helped many students reach their potential and exposed them to the business side of a sport many of them enjoy. We are continually blown away by what his students come up with, and have no doubt they will continue to impress in the future.
Impossible to get a clear action shot of these kids devouring the pizza!
Couple of great panoramic shots of the Roarockit tour
Norah, Ted, Nico and Sarah introduce themselves and talk about the business
Pizza Party!
Chris explains the CNC machine and how to keep the shop organized
Marcel shows his enthusiasm towards cleaning up 
dDIY, 
