Person of The Week - Jim Barnum

Barnum being a loco Photo - Brendan Sohar

Jim Barnum totally rules! He's got the best job, working with communities designing the radest skate parks ever. Like Hastings bowl and the new Squamish park, Bonsor/Burnaby and countless others. Along with LBC skate shop Barnum just opened an indoor in NV, and knowing Jim it's gonna be a blast. You can skate there too but you have to get a membership....So get one, they are only $$$100. bucks for a year, very cheap for the amount of good times you will have! Check out the directions below and more about Jim ......

Barnums & LBC's new indoor park in North Van........!839 W. 1st street, North Van in the LBC Skateshop/Spectrum Skateparks warehouse anyone can buy a membership, $100 for the whole year ($8.33/month...if you come once a month, it's worth it!)

Are you single?
No, I have a sweet sweetheart

Describe your personality?
Driven & intense, but level headed, calm, loving & rational too. Open minded.

Do you work?
A-holic.

Any hobbies? .
I love reading, learning; consciousness & what life is for, has been the topic of choice lately.

Barnum (middle, back) schoolin' the peeps in TO

What's your poison?
Homemade power smoothie.

Craziest drinkin' binge?
I barely drink anymore, but my craziest bender? The problem is , there's no way I'd remember it."

What is you favorite restaurant in Van?
In North Van it's Brown's. Otherwise, I love what they are doing at the Foundation, Hatch R.I.P.

Music?
More & more, it simply has got to be PURE.

How did you get into building skateparks?
By following my heart, working my ass off, acting on opportunities instead of so easily letting them just slide by. I had no idea & never consciously intended this..That's one of the things I love about it most.

Tell us about your biz.....
We strive to create the best, all around skateparks on the planet, not listening too hard to trends, more being guideded by what's fun & creative. A big part of what we do is in helping small communities achieve their dreams, educating folks, working directly with them & inspiring them. That's one of the best parts, guiding people toward dreams, & thus empowering them to shoot for some other dreams they might have.

Photo Brendan Sohar

Future plans for more parks in Van?
I hope so! I haven't heard of anything major, other than some talk of getting crete into Leeside.

How did you get into skatin'?
I saw Archie skating in a comic, he had this wicked SWOOSH drawn behind him. The flowy shape made me want to feel it! Banana board in 1985, baby!

Best places to skate in Van?
Bonsor, Hastings, Plaza, Horseshoe Bay, NV Hills & streets, our new Spectrum/LBC indoor. Call Rocky at LBC 904-7889 for memberships.

Worst bail?
No need to remember really. Maybe one of those times I bonked my coconut, which makes it hard to remember?

Any cool events or parties comin' up?
Just had a great opening party here at the new office/skatepark, This Friday we're having an industry session/party...anyone who works in skating, come on out for mellow shreds & good times. Oh, bowl series, what!?

What are some of the best things about Vancouver?
Mountains, ocean, rivers we can swim in, beach parties, tranquil spots, skatepark mania, fresh coastal air, open
minds & fresh culture.

What are the worst?
Drivers like myself & the cost of living.

What do you do about Vancouver's rainy days?
Our new indoor park, and put on a raincoat & go walk in the canyons...they come alive in the rain.

Alex Chalmers and Jim Barnum in Marseille, France

Do you want to thank anyone?
Wow, I have so many to thank & so much to be thankful for. I'll give it a go here: Father & Mother, my sweet lady Allee, Alex Chalmers, Seb Templer, Rocky Anderson/LBC, Shane Hunter, Ken Meyer, Larissa McInnes, Craig Williams...ah so many people help & inspire me in ways they would never know...thanks to everyone who is mellow & true, I strive for the same, to continue to loosen & slide out of the variety of chains that try to control & bind. Fahgit about it!

Give me a good link to check out.

I'm not much of a web shred, but how about www.globalcircle.net

More photos!!!!!!

Stay tuned for next week's Person Of the Week