The Town of The Blue Mountains is proud to proclaim March 5, 2022 as the first annual Wee Willi Winkels Day in honour of snowboarding pioneer and innovator, Wee Willi Winkels.
Wee Willi Winkels Day will be celebrated annually on the first Saturday of March to recognize Willi’s dedication and contribution to board sports in the Town of The Blue Mountains and throughout North America and Europe.
“Wee Willi Winkels contributions to skateboarding, skiing and snowboarding are quite impressive,” explains Deputy Mayor Peter Bordignon. “A true pioneer and innovator, Willi’s contributions to the sport are one of the main reasons over seven million people snowboard annually. As a fixture at Blue Mountain Resort, it is only fitting that we celebrate Willie Winkels on this day.”
“I am looking forward to celebrating our Town of The Blue Mountains hometown hero, Wee Willi Winkels, on his special day on Saturday, March 5th” explains Councillor Paula Hope. “Wee Willi Winkels represents the best of our beautiful Town with his love for sport, innovation and fun.”
About Wee Willi Winkels
Wee Willi Winkels spent his entire life inventing new technologies, manufacturing, and testing products. His innovations in skateboarding and snowboarding impacted companies and athletes throughout the 1970s, 1980s and beyond. His work was integral in the development of the flexible skateboard, creation of a portable half pipe, early snowboard development, the snowboard binding and coining the word ‘snowboard’. He was also involved in early wakeboarding.
To learn more about Wee Willi Winkels, please visit The Blue Mountains Public Library’s online exhibit. To share your stories, pictures and memories, please click here.
Members of the public are also invited to watch the following films to learn more about The Blue Mountains community’s history in the ski and snowboarding industries:
- Snow People, presented by Mountain Goat Film Company Inc and the Blue Mountain Resort: https://youtu.be/JiKi02gUs5g
- The Ski Industry at The Blue Mountains, presented by the Craigleith Heritage Depot and Mountain Goat Film Company Inc: https://youtu.be/uGTA2Mm1li0
For more information, please contact:
Ryan Gibbons
Director of Community Services
For more information on the Wee Willi Winkels Foundation to help young boarders and to create a Board Sports Museum, please contact:
Judy Winkels
(705) 888-7284
celine.szoges@gmail.com