Over the past couple of years, a mysterious new sticker has started appearing on skateboards and skateboards all over Ontario. Where did this "Sanction" come from? And who broke in and stole all its snowboards just weeks before Christmas? Which top Ontario riders skate and snowboard for them? Of these riders, who's the biggest lush?

I checked the Sanction website (www.sanctionskate.com) and disseminated the following information: The shop has two locations, Waterloo and North York, Ontario, and a long list of team riders. The roster includes: Ben Locke, Dan Pitts, Mike Osachuk, Jon Rusk, Taylor Hill, Joel Watamaniuk, Isaac Watamaniuk, Erik Stuhlmacher, JD Robinson, Tyler Corbett, Don Smiley, Aaron Wynia, Stefan Viana and Dalton Sykes. The website also included the following statement:

"Sanction is a new snowboard/skateboard company that was created from the last squeezed piece of soul of an older company. I believe it was called ‘Boredzone' (I could be mistaken with the spelling). Sadly the name was bought out by an evil multi-headed corporation that we will refer to as ‘The Beast'. The legendary name had to be disbanded as well as ownership. Thus, a search for a new owner was in place and Charles Javier, Ryan McDonough and Malcolm Vaughan came to the rescue. They quickly formed a partnership (the business kind) and gathered up the necessary gold to start this new company up. The fairytale begins..."

Got it? I checked in with Ontario do-gooder Ryan McDonough to fill in the blanks and see what Sanction is all about.

Ryan, you've been around the Ontario retail game for a minute. Give us a quick run-down on how the ol' switcheroo went down.
I'd been with the company I purchased to start Sanction Skate and Snow since 2000.  Over the years I learned from some of the best retailers in the industry and decided it was now or never.  We'd been working on the purchase agreement for a few months and came up with a deal that worked well for both parties.  We took over ownership May 1st, 2008. It was a long process with all of the typical lawyer B.S. but was well worth it in the end. We've got two amazing shops and couldn't be happier.

What's the story with Sanction? How does it differentiate itself from the other shops around Ontario?
The biggest difference is our experience. I've been snowboarding for almost 20 years and skating even longer. All of our employee's skate and/or snowboard.  We can give the customer what they need, not want, thanks to all our personal experiences with the product. We also offer a wide range of products from beginner to pro, and only carry snow and skate-specific brands. The way I see it, you shouldn't be selling something you don't actively do. Too many consumers have been misled by people trying to make a buck in an industry they don't care about.

Isaac Watamaniuk. Comber sequence.

Now I'm sure you're sick to death of talking about it, but seeing as its all anyone wants to talk about these days, how has the dreaded economy been treating the retail game in Ontario lately?
Too be honest, we've been real good.  Retail is never an easy game, but you need to be aware of what's going on and adjust accordingly. We put ourselves in a position to be able to ride -- no pun intended -- out these tough times. Could we have come in at a worse time? I doubt it, but we're here and always will be.

I heard the shop had a little break-and-enter ordeal a few months ago. What's the story there?
I can't say a whole lot about it, legally-speaking, but I'll give you the basic run-down: Break down back door, smash siren for alarm, cut phone and alarm lines and steel all our boards, goggles, watches and cash. It was a tough start to the day, to say the least... We've caught everyone involved. I wish I could tell you how, but it's still in court so that will have to wait for another day.

Tell me a funny Mike Osachuk story. That guy's been repping hard and killing it for years...
Where do I begin?  The most PG story is his adventure to Ontario for the Telus Big Air.  Here are the highlights:

-    Misses flight from Vancouver to Toronto.
-    Gets on the next flight out.
-    Layover in Calgary.
-    Gets drunk in Calgary, passes out in the bar and gets kicked out of the airport. I was on the phone with him during the kick-out. So funny.
-    Sneaks back into the airport and books a flight with a different airline
-    Gets caught by the same cops, but they appreciate his initiative and let him fly.
-    Lands at 9:00 am the day of the contest.
-    I pick him up and drive him to Collingwood.
-    We get there as practice is starting and Mike does two jumps and decides it's time for a nap.
-    Find him on a couch in the lobby as the finals are starting.
-    He wins and flies out the next morning at 10:00 am.

The dude is a machine and he's still hunting for all you young bucks, so watch for his double C's.  Good ol' Crumply Bucks...

What's so appealing about Waterloo? The skate scene there seems to breed some talented and fiercely loyal riders.
It's a really low-key scene. You don't see tons of kids rolling together like you used to. We do have some super good dudes coming out of this area and hopefully they drive some kids to get out and skate. All the kids that have grown up skating here will always give love for K.W., even if they do move out west. It's a very tight-knit scene, but a very welcoming one as well. Go skate!

Joel Watamaniuk. Comber sequence.

Any brands or event you wanna blast out and about?
I've worked with the best brands in the industry over the years and thank them for all their love and support. Some more then others, but we love you all. We've got all the brands you could ever want. I need to thank Stepchild snowboards for allowing me to be part of the best snowboard brand in the game.

Any final words?
I want to thank all our amazing customers for all their support over the years.  You guys and girls are the best. Lastly I just want to thank a few people: Malcolm and Charles (the owners) in our Toronto location for all their hard work and dedication, all our amazing staff, our family and friends, and Marija for all her support.

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Related:
Shop Props: Top Of The World
Why Bother?: Alex Bastide (of Underworld Shop)