An animation of a science beaker with a bubbling green liquid appears on screen with a title that reads "Sports Lab."

Now Nykeem appears on screen walking on a playground. Nykeem is in his thirties, has shaved black hair, is clean-shaven, and wears a navy blue hooded jacket and jeans.

Nykeem says HEY EVERYONE, WELCOME
TO SPORTS LAB.
WHERE THE THREE
MOST COMMON ELEMENTS
ARE SPORTS,
SCIENCE AND FUN.

(Theme music plays)

The opening sequence begins.

Two light blue doors with a title that reads "Sports Lab" open where thousands of sports equipment encircles a classroom skeleton. The animated balls fly throughout the white room stopping at scenes of people playing different sports.

First Nykeem kicking a soccer ball, then a boy on a skateboard, then a tennis ball, then a hockey goalie, and lastly of a group of kids and Nykeem who break on a tennis court and say SPORTS LAB!

All the sports equipment turns into different colours and funnel into a science beaker with green liquid with a label that reads "Sports Lab."

(music plays)

Nykeem walks on the playground and says MY NAME'S NYKEEM,
AND TODAY
WE'RE SPENDING
THE DAY AT THE PARK.
BUT IT'S NOT
GONNA BE A PICNIC,
BECAUSE THIS PARK
IS FOR...
SKATEBOARDING.

Nykeem catches a skateboard.

(Fanfare)
(APPLAUSE)

In the white room, the science beaker with green liquid bursts with colours and balls and a title emerges that reads "Skateboarding."

Nykeem walks through a skate park and a caption reads "Thornbury Skate Park, Thornbury, Ontario."

Nykeem says SKATEBOARDING IS
FAST PACED PAST TIME
THAT'S ALL ABOUT
MASTERING TRICKS,
HANGING OUT WITH FRIENDS,
AND HAVING FUN.

As Nykeem walks past, a little boy with a black helmet looks at a girl with a pink helmet and a skateboard and says HIGH FIVE. They give each other a high five.

Now Dr. Heather appears on screen with a caption that reads "Dr. Heather, Sports Scientist." She has straight, dark brown hair and wears a red shirt. She stands at a white desk with books and science supplies around her.

Dr. Heather says LOOKS LIKE
A COOL PARK, NYKEEM.
SPEAKING OF COOL,
SKATEBOARDERS USE
SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS
LIKE THRUST, GRAVITY,
AND MOMENTUM,
TO ACHIEVE INCREDIBLE HEIGHTS.
IN FACT, WHEN IT COMES
TO SKATEBOARDING,
YOU CAN SAY THAT
THRUST IS A MUST.

Back at the skate park, Nykeem says SO GET COMFORTABLE
AND BRING A HELMET,
BECAUSE SPORTS LAB IS GETTING
ITS BEARINGS ON SKATEBOARDING.

David appears on screen with a caption that reads "David." David has short, shaggy blond hair, and wears a gray sweatshirt.

David says MY NAME'S DAVID,
I'M 13 YEARS OLD
AND I'VE BEEN SKATING
FOR THREE YEARS NOW.

Clips of David skateboarding appear on screen.

David says SKATEBOARDING'S AWESOME
BECAUSE THERE'S
NO SPORT LIKE IT.
AN AMAZING FEELING
TO LEARN TRICKS.
I LIVE IN A BEACH TOWN,
SO IT'S ALWAYS FUN
CRUISING DOWN BY THE WATER
AND FINDING NEW SPOTS TO SKATE.

Nykeem walks up to David and says HEY DAVID,
WELCOME TO SPORTS LAB.

David says LET ME TEACH YOU
MY HANDSHAKE.

Nykeem says OKAY.

David says TWO HIGH FIVES,
AND THEN A PROP WITH A SNAP.

Nykeem says OKAY, LET'S TRY IT AGAIN.
ONE, TWO, OH YEAH!
OKAY, SO SKATEBOARDING
IS ALL ABOUT
PRACTICING TRICKS
OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
WHAT TRICK TOOK YOU
THE LONGEST TO LEARN?

David says A KICK FLIP.
IT TOOK ME AROUND
TWO MONTHS TO LEARN.

Nykeem says WOW.
AND HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU
FEEL TO MASTER A TRICK?

David says IT'S LIKE NO FEELING
IN THE WORLD, I LIVE FOR IT.
IT'S LIKE FINISHING A BATTLE
BETWEEN YOU AND THE TRICK.

Nykeem says THAT'S AWESOME.
ALRIGHT DAVID, SO HOW MUCH
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT
SKATEBOARDING'S HISTORY?
I KNOW A BIT, BUT WAS IT
ALWAYS CALLED SKATEBOARDING?

Nykeem says I'M GLAD YOU ASKED,
LET'S ROLL OUT
THE HISTORY
OF SKATEBOARDING.
(Fanfare)

Back in the lab, a book opens and a title flies out that reads "History of Skateboarding."

Nykeem says SKATEBOARDING
BEGAN AROUND THE 1950S,
WHEN CALIFORNIA SURFERS,
WITH THE WAVES FLAT,
CAME UP WITH THE IDEA
TO TRY AND SURF THE STREETS.
THEY PUT ROLLER SKATE WHEELS
ON THE BOTTOM OF WOODEN BOXES
OR BOARDS AND CALLED IT
SIDEWALK SURFING.
IN THE EARLY 1970S,
FRANK NASWORTHY
INVENTED SKATEBOARD WHEELS
MADE OUT OF A MATERIAL
CALLED POLYURETHANE.
POLYURETHANE PROVIDED
MORE TRACTION,
MEANING THAT RIDERS COULD
GRIP THE GROUND BETTER.
THAT HELPED
SKATEBOARDERS PERFORM
NEVER BEFORE SEEN TRICKS,
LIKE 360S.
SOON SKATEBOARDERS
WERE USING
EMPTY SWIMMING POOLS
TO PRACTICE,
AND REALIZED HELMETS
WERE A MUST.

A skater says RIGHT ON!

Back at the skate park, Nykeem holds up a black helmet and says DAVID ARE YOU
READY TO SKATE?

David says YEAH, ARE YOU.

Nykeem says AS I'LL EVER BE.

Nykeem skates behind David as David does tricks.

Nykeem says WOO, GOOD JOB!

Nykeem tries to ride the skateboard and says NOPE, I CANNOT DO IT.

Two kids push Nykeem down a ramp while he sits on the skateboard and Nykeem says AH! I DID IT!

After they?re done with their tricks, Nykeem says DAVID, THAT WAS
SO AWESOME.
HOW DID YOU BECOME
SO FEARLESS OUT THERE?

David says PRACTICE.

Nykeem says AH, PRACTICE
MAKES PERFECT.
I HEARD ONE OF
THE FIRST TRICKS
YOU NEED TO MASTER
IS CALLED AN OLLIE.

David says YEAH, THE OLLIE IS
THE BASIS OF ALL TRICKS.
SO, I'M NOT SURE WHY YOU
PRESS DOWN ON THE TAIL, THOUGH.
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION,

Nykeem says AND WHERE THERE'S A QUESTION,
THERE'S DR. HEATHER.

Nykeem looks at his watch and Dr. Heather appears on screen.

Nykeem says HEY DOCTOR!

In the lab, Dr. Heather says HEY GUYS,
I THINK AN OLLIE
MAY SHARE SIMILARITIES
WITH SOMETHING
OUT OF THIS WORLD,
BUT I'LL NEED TO SEE ONE
IN ACTION TO MAKE SURE.
FOR THAT, SOMEONE'S
RIDING YOUR WAY.

Nykeem and David put on their helmets and Nykeem says THANKS, DOC.
LET'S GO.
(Fanfare)

Back in the lab, the science beaker with green liquid appears on screen with a label that reads "Pop Quiz." The bottle swirls and flies over to the blackboard with a question.

Nykeem says IT'S QUIZ TIME AT THE LAB.
WHAT PART OF THE BODY
DOES SKATEBOARDING WORK?
A) CORE.
B) LEGS.
OR C) BOTH.

A skeleton with a red cap says THE ANSWER
IS C!

Nykeem says BOTH.
YOUR CORE, OR MIDDLE,
HELPS STABILIZE YOUR BODY
TO ACHIEVE BALANCE.
AND YOUR LEGS GIVE YOU
THE POWER TO PUMP.
SO, MAKE SURE YOU STRETCH
BEFORE YOU SKATE.
(APPLAUSE)

Back in the lab, out of the science beaker launches white foam that turns into a slate that reads "Meet the Pro."

Erik appears on screen with a caption that reads "Erik." Erik has short brown hair under a navy baseball cap and wears a beige T-shirt.

Erik says I GUESS THE FIRST TIME
I EVER SAW A SKATEBOARD
WAS AT THIS PARK, ACTUALLY.

Clips of Erik skateboarding over ramps appear on screen.

Erik says THERE AREN'T ANY RULES
IN SKATEBOARDING,
SO YOU CAN JUST
KIND OF GO OUT THERE
AND DO HOWEVER
YOU WANT AND HAVE SOME FUN.
IT'S ALL FREEDOM
OF EXPRESSION.

Nykeem and David walk over to Erik.

Nykeem says HEY ERIK,
WHAT'S UP?
HOW YOU DOING?

Erik says PRETTY GOOD.

Nykeem says DAVID,
THIS IS ERIK.

Erik says NICE TO MEET
YOU DAVID.

David says NICE TO MEET YOU,
TOO, WHAT'S UP?

Nykeem says DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE
FOR YOUNG SKATERS?

Erik says I ALWAYS TRY TO REMEMBER THAT
SKATEBOARDING IS JUST FOR FUN.
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE
LEARNING A NEW TRICK
YOU MIGHT TAKE
A BAIL OR TWO,
BUT YOU JUST GOTTA GET BACK ON
YOUR BOARD AND HAVE SOME FUN.

Nykeem says ALRIGHT, DAVID, WHY DON'T YOU
TELL ERIK WHAT WE NEED?

David says CAN YOU SHOW US
HOW TO OLLIE?

Erik says DEFINITELY,
I'D LOVE TO.

Nykeem says ALRIGHT, DAVID,
LET'S GET OUT OF THE WAY.

Erik walks over, puts his skateboard down, rides past Nykeem and David, and does an Ollie.

Nykeem says HERE HE COMES.

Erik stops and says YOU SEE, YOU'VE REALLY
GOTTA SNAP THAT TAIL DOWN
TO GET THE POP.
WATCH CLOSELY,
I'LL DO IT AGAIN.

Erik pops another Ollie.

Nykeem says YEAH!
LOOK AT THAT AIR.

(music plays)

The clip replays in slow motion.

Nykeem looks at his watch and says DOCTOR HEATHER, ARE YOU THERE?

Back in the lab, Dr. Heather says HEY GUYS,
THIS IS VERY COOL.
THE PHYSICS OF AN OLLIE
SHARE SIMILARITIES
TO THE PHYSICS
OF A ROCKET TAKING OFF.
WHEN A ROCKET TAKES OFF,
IT NEEDS THRUST.
THRUST IS THE ACT
OF APPLYING FORCE
TO PROPEL SOMETHING.
OR MAKE IT MOVE UPWARDS.
A ROCKET GETS THRUST
FROM ITS ENGINE
SHOOTING FUEL DOWNWARDS.
AS THE FUEL SHOOTS DOWNWARDS,
THE ROCKET MOVES UPWARDS.
THE THRUST MUST BE POWERFUL
ENOUGH TO MOVE UPWARDS
AGAINST THE GRAVITY THAT IS
PULLING DOWN AGAINST IT.
NOW, IMAGINE ERIK'S BOARD
IS A ROCKET.
ERIK GETS THRUST
FROM HIS BACK FOOT.
WHEN HE SLAMS
THE BOARD DOWNWARD,
IT WORKS TOGETHER
WITH THE UPWARD FORCE
FROM THE GROUND.
THAT CAUSES THE BOARD TO POP.
FIRST IT HITS THE GROUND,
THEN IT POPS UPWARDS.
YOU COULD CALL IT
HIS JET FUEL.
ERIK ALSO DRAGS
HIS FRONT FOOT ALONG THE BOARD,
SLOWING THE BOARDS
RAPID MOVEMENT,
WHILE ALSO
DRAGGING IT UPWARDS.
MORE THRUST.
HE THEN USES
THAT FOOT TO STEER,
PUSHING ON THE NOSE
OF THE BOARD.
AS THE BOARD LEVELS OUT,
GRAVITY TAKES OVER.
BRINGING THIS EXPEDITION
BACK TO EARTH.
ERIK IS THE PILOT OF HIS BOARD,
AND WITH THE RIGHT THRUST
AND GOOD STEERING,
HE CAN MAKE IT SOAR.
HAPPY FLYING.

Back at the skate park, Nykeem says ALRIGHT, SO THE PRINCIPLES
OF AN OLLIE
ARE LIKE THE PRINCIPLES
OF A ROCKET.
DAVID, WHAT
DO YOU THINK?

David says THAT'S COOL, I'VE NEVER
THOUGHT OF THE BOARD THAT WAY.

Nykeem says ALRIGHT, DAVID,
YOU READY TO TAKE OFF?

David says YUP.

Nykeem says ALRIGHT,
WELL LET'S GO.
ERIK, LET'S CLEAR
THE RUNWAY.

Erik and Nykeem sit down and David rides over and does an Ollie.

Erik says ALRIGHT, GOOD JOB.
ALRIGHT MAN, SHOW US
SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

David rides by and does a kick flip with his skateboard.

(Fanfare)
(APPLAUSE)
Back in the lab, the green liquid in the science beaker spills and then dries up to reveal a title that reads "Fun Fact."

Nykeem appears on screen in the skate park, holds a skateboard, and says QUICK, WHAT DO YOU SEE HERE?
A SKATEBOARD, RIGHT?
WELL, LOOK CLOSER
AND WHAT YOU'LL ACTUALLY SEE
IS A COMPOUND MACHINE.
A COMPOUND MACHINE
CONSISTS OF TWO OR MORE
SIMPLE MACHINES
WORKING TOGETHER,
LIKE AN ENGINE.
LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.
THE NOSE AND TAIL
OF THE BOARD ARE CURVED,
WHICH ACT AS LEVERS
TO GIVE THE RIDER MORE POP.
THE AXLES AND WHEELS
ALSO ACT AS A LEVER,
HELPING THE BOARD PIVOT
FROM SIDE TO SIDE.
AND INSIDE THE WHEELS
ARE BEARINGS,
METAL PIECES THAT
KEEP THE WHEELS TURNING
AND EVERYTHING RUNNING SMOOTH.
EVERYTHING WORKS TOGETHER
TO MAKE YOUR WORK EASIER.
SO TAKE A LOOK AROUND
FOR MORE COMPOUND MACHINES.

Back with David, Nykeem says TODAY WAS
A GREAT DAY.
I GOT TO SEE
SO MANY COOL TRICKS,
NOW I WANT TO
TRY AN OLLIE.
BUT SAFETY FIRST.
ANY TIPS?

David says IT'S ALL ABOUT THRUST.
MAKE SURE PIVOT
YOUR BACK FOOT
DOWN ON THE TAIL,
SLIDE YOUR FOOT UP,
SLIDE BACK DOWN
AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.

Nykeem steps on the skateboard and says OKAY, HERE WE GO. BOOM.
ALRIGHT, BACK LEG DOWN,
OTHER LEG SLIDE UP.
ALRIGHT, WISH ME LUCK.

David says GOOD LUCK.

Nykeem attempts the trick and says WOO, ALMOST GOT IT!
(APPLAUSE)

Back in the lab, colours and balls fly out of the science beaker and a slate reads "Pro Tip."

Erik appears on screen at the skate park and says LEARNING ALL THE FLIP TRICKS
AND THINGS LIKE THAT
ON A SKATEBOARD IS NOT
ALWAYS THE HARDEST PART.
FOR ME, THE HARDEST PART
WAS LEARNING HOW TO LAND
WITH BOTH FEET ON MY BOARD.
THAT'S CALLED COMMITMENT.
100 PERCENT YOU WANT TO LAND ON
THAT BOARD WITH BOTH FEET,
ALL YOUR WEIGHT
AND ROLL AWAY SMOOTH.
IF YOU DON'T COMMIT
TO YOUR TRICK,
YOU WON'T LAND IT,
YOU MIGHT HURT YOURSELF.
MY NAME IS ERIK,
AND THAT'S MY PRO TIP.

David appears on screen at the skate park and says NOW THAT I THINK OF MY
BOARD AS A ROCKET SHIP,
WHEN I'M IN THE AIR
I THINK I'M IN SPACE.
ONE DAY,
I'LL OLLIE TO SPACE
AND BE THE FIRST
SKATER ON THE MOON.

Now Nykeem appears on screen riding on a skateboard with the two little kids holding his hands.

Nykeem says TODAY WAS AWESOME,
WE DISCOVERED THE SIMILARITIES
BETWEEN A SKATEBOARD
AND A ROCKET.
WE LEARNED THAT
TO CREATE THRUST,
YOU NEED TO PUT YOUR
BEST FOOT BACKWARDS.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
I'M STILL IN ONE PIECE.
NOW, I'VE GOTTA GO,
BUT ONLY FOR NOW.
BECAUSE IN THE SPORTS LAB,
AROUND EVERY TURN,
THERE'S MORE TO LEARN.
COME ON GUYS, FASTER, FASTER,
LET'S GO, LET'S GO,
WE CAN DO IT!
AROUND, MAKE A LEFT,
LEFT, LEFT!
WOO!
I AM SKATEBOARDING!
SPORTS LAB!

The credits roll scenes of kids playing sports appear on screen.

Written and directed by, Johnny Mitchell.
Host, Nykeem Provo.
Editor, David Mitchell.

Produced in association with TVO Kids for riverbank pictures, copyright 1919216 Ontario Inc.