“Brothers are not only close; brothers knit together”-Robert Rivers.

Whatever board you ride from skiing to skateboarding, action sports are a big part of the Rossland spirit.

The attitude and culture is similar for skateboarding and freeride skiing, and it’s their inclusiveness that makes them popular. Athletes are known for exchanging exhilarating stories about extreme running and thrilling results.

While both sports started for young people to find new and creative things to do on wheels and boards, a lot of learning is involved to bridge the gap between beginners and pros.

Ski and skateboard freeride consists of riding unique lines and performing tricks. Another similarity between the two is the Joyce brothers.

Wyatt is in Grade 11 at the Seven Summits Center for Learning, and Jake is in Grade 8. They are brothers in extreme action sports. Like most extreme sports, younger siblings learn through imitation. From takeoffs to mocks, this action sport is great but better with a bro who knows.

Freeride skiing is a specialized sport often referred to as extreme skiing. Freeriders ski challenging “lines” through steep and featured terrain. Jumping, dropping, tricking and turning through natural terrain obstacles make this sport a challenge. The mission is simple: go where no one has been and manage to send the slopes.

Last winter, Jake couldn’t find a freeride ski coach, so he turned to Wyatt, who initially introduced him to the sport.

“That’s a good thing about having an older brother. I’ve never had a problem alone – he couldn’t solve everything, but I just followed his lead and did my own laps,” said Jake. “I let him think it was all his idea—and, well, it usually is.”

In February, Jake competed in the Canadian Open Freeride Championship at Red Mountain. He scored the thirteenth position on the first day. Then, with some coaching ideas and tips and tricks from Wyatt, he skyrocketed to sixth in the final.

“I just know he can do it. I have faith in him and his abilities,” Wyatt said. “I told him this and said give them peanuts and send it loud!”

Wyatt also competed and received ninth place for his efforts in the 15 to 18 year age division.

“It’s a matter of knowing your limits, staying positive, limiting your abilities, and staying in control smoothly to take the big step.”

Siblings throughout this season took their recreational sport seriously. Wyatt guides and motivates his younger brother to bridge the gap.

As the seasons change, Wyatt and Jake’s energies are diverted to the skate park. Skateboarding is a sport that requires advanced balance, coordination and timing.

Originally used as a method of transportation, skateboarding has evolved into an entertaining yet competitive sport. The history of skateboarding culture is fascinating, innovative and most inclusive. Skateboarding, like skiing, transcends generations with the only limitation being one’s personal choice.

Sharing the same passion for conquering the tricks and tricky terrain of freeriding, the Joyce brothers also enjoyed the physical physics of skateboarding.

“Skateboarding is a natural progression from freeride skiing or snowboarding. My main aim is to promote the sport and engage a lot of new young riders to share their adventures and reduce the conflict of stigmatism,” said Wyatt.

“Unfortunately, skateboarding has been associated with negative rebellious connotations that I seek to destroy by normalizing the sport.”

By addressing conflict and making skateboarding mainstream, many of these false accusations will be dismissed, thus bridging the gap. Establishing himself as a role model not only to his brother but also to other interested riders, Wyatt is seen offering his skills to coach both sports in the future.

Like all siblings, Jake had the last word on Wyatt’s goals, “I will always have a coach because I have an older brother. Big brother for hire; just make all the payments to the little brother, of course. ”