ABOUT US
MISSION + VISION
Our mission at Park Labs is to lay the groundwork for a competitive future or well-rounded riding and skiing, wherever you want to take it by fostering the development of core freestyle skills. Join us as we build the foundation for your freestyle journey, wherever you want to take it!
OUR STORY
In 2022, Park Labs emerged from the roots of the Senders beginner program, answering the call to advanced grassroots freestyle across Ontario and beyond.
With nearly five decades of combined program management in the freestyle realm, the owners of Park Labs bring unparalleled expertise to the table. Sam, the founder of the Senders, has nurtured some of the nation's most elite freestyle athletes and coaches, boasting a track record of producing pro, Olympic, and X-Games champions. Meanwhile, Shawn's extensive experience includes decades of managing resort freestyle programs and all programs at larger resorts (600+) skiers and snowboarders. Not stopping there, Shawn also leads ParkScapers, a groundbreaking terrain park building program that provides vital support to the industry through educational initiatives for builders.
At Park Labs, Sam and Shawn's wealth of knowledge is augmented by input from Canada's finest athletes and coaches, resulting in a collaborative powerhouse. With strong connections to Provincial and National sport organizations, Park Labs is primed to lead the charge in spreading freestyle programs across the Province and beyond, with sights set on developing and elevating the entire freestyle scene.
OUR APPROACH
At Park Labs, our approach to developing freestyle athletes revolves around honing core skills essential for progression to larger tricks and features. Our proprietary Bunsen system forms the cornerstone of our training methodology, allowing athletes to earn bronze, silver, and gold Bunsen helmet stickers across 10 key skills in freestyle skiing and snowboarding. These skills encompass a blend of jumps, freeskiing/riding, jibbing, and attitude, carefully selected as the building blocks from which other maneuvers can be mastered.
Central to our ethos is fostering a supportive, team-oriented environment where athletes can thrive. We guide our athletes through structured sessions focused on mastering techniques such as popping, grabbing, spinning, 50/50s, and slides on small to medium park features. While freeriding/skiing remains integral, every drill is tailored to enhance performance on park runs. Freestyle athletes are often considered free thinkers (as well as ADD, ADHD, dyslexic for a lot of them) and one of Park Labs owners, Shawn, shares most of those traits and knows how to program for them. Freestyle programs need to include: culture, focus on the athlete's learning style (typically visual, feel-based), coaching delivered in small chunks with time for the athletes to explore, and a focus on visualization and positive mindsets.
The curriculum in freestyle cannot be too rigid as that doesn’t fit the culture.
Park Labs Bunsen system addresses this with skills to work towards in freeride/ski, jumps, and jibs that we support the coaches to build into a plan
for the session, season, and year-round training.
At Park Labs, we take the concept of fun seriously. Alongside skill development, we prioritize cultivating positive mindsets, visualization techniques, goal setting, and overcoming the inherent fear associated with pushing boundaries.
We emphasize the importance of camaraderie and teamwork, encouraging athletes to support one another and forge lasting friendships within the team.
To complement our training program, we host Park Labs events designed to
match athletes' skill levels, with age categories structured every two years and
a maximum trick limit to ensure fair competition and optimal opportunities for success. Join us at Park Labs, where we're not just shaping athletes—we're building a community.