Jones jumps for Olympic dream

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

Part of the eternal beauty the Olympic Games provides is inspiration. Young children cheer for athletes wearing their country’s flag who they have probably never heard of. They witness the heroics and then run out into the backyard to relive the events that just took place.
But that isn’t the only form of inspiration that is a product of the games.
Hope and the realization of becoming an Olympian for one local athlete was constructed following a decision by the International Olympic Committee to introduce five Olympic sports to the program for the Olympic Summer Games Tokyo 2020.
As the world witnessed new events at the recent Winter Games in Pyeongchang, viewers can expect more of the same during the 2020 summer version of the games, which will see baseball/softball, climbing sports, karate, surfing and skateboarding make their Olympic debut.
“My mom always wished that skateboarding was an Olympic sport back when I was competing. Back then, it wouldn’t have even been an issue for me to decide if I would go or not,” said Tamara Jones. “Now, it’s a little different story, but I still think I have a great shot at it.”
Not too long ago, Jones was the No. 1 ranked skateboarder in Canada for five years. Born in New Westminster, B.C., she moved to Calgary at the age of 19 and has been living in Strathmore for four years now.
Jones first hopped on deck when she was 13 and started competing in street contests when she was 15, where she quickly ascended to the top of her division, winning any contest she entered.
She won the See Jane Skate at the age of 16. She was a member of the team that won the 2009 Skate Like a Girl, while also winning the DC Nationals three times in a four-year span, and even took part in the widely recognized X Games.
In street competitions, Jones would ride the rails, bowls, stairs and ramps on the amateur and professional side. Like any good skater, she had her share of bails, even while trying to stick her favourite trick, the nollie flip.
“It would have been a great opportunity if skateboarding was in the Olympics back when I was competing. Now, there are so many great up-and-coming female skateboarders, it’s going to be tough,” said Jones.
Early into her 20s, when Jones was on top of her game and the nation, life came calling. She was married and had her first son all by the time she was 22 years old.
Now with two boys, 5 and 2, and learning about the possibility of an Olympic adventure, Jones has dusted off her deck in an attempt to come out of retirement.
“I have a lot on my plate these days, I won’t lie. I am very busy at home with my little guy, and my older guy plays hockey twice a week now. Between him napping and the help of my mother, I am able to do a little bit of training,” said Jones. “I also work a few nights a week to help make ends meet around the house.”
Currently, the Strathmore Youth Centre and Skatepark is covered in snow and ice, which has forced Jones to head into the city to ride at the Compound Skate Park, but it is 45 minutes away and is not heated during the winter.
Jones strapped on the gear last November for an amateur competition in California. Riding in her first meet in nearly eight years, Jones placed third after the qualifications and finished sixth once the dust settled in the finals.
Wanting to get back to her throne as the top female rider in the nation took her to Montreal this week for seven days of training at Le TAZ. From there, she plans to head to Seattle for the Wheels of Fortune competition May 6; she would also like to make her way to Tehachapi, Calif. for another training session at Woodward West.
“I have a long way to go to get back in shape to start winning competitions again,” said Jones.
Qualifications for the Tokyo Games takes place in 2019 with three spots up for grabs on the Olympic team. Just how many competitions and the schedule of those rides will be determined next January.
Like any Olympic dream, Jones still needs the assistance of others to help see her dream come true. Cross-country trips cost a lot of money when adding up flights, accommodations and usage of facilities.
Jones held a paint night last week in town to help raise money for the trip. She also has a GoFundMe page set up and is accepting donations. Jones said there will be more fundraising possibilities down the road as she works out the kinks for those plans.
The comeback and the work put in for an amateur sporting event that has taken her away from her family will all be worth it if she gets the opportunity to hear her national anthem played in two years’ time at the Aomi Urban Venue in Tokyo.
“I haven’t even thought that far ahead yet but winning a medal would be unreal. I would probably freeze up and start crying,” said Jones. “It would be an amazing opportunity to represent my country, win or lose. Just to make it there would be a once-in-a-lifetime journey that I would remember for the rest of my life.”