Sep 24, 2009
Author: Alija Bos
After having just been booted from a winch spot at the Toronto Harbourfront, wakeskaters Jono Boysen, and Dan Brown, filmer Andrew Curr and I set off to get one last shot for an upcoming feature in SBC Wake on Toronto winching. Jono, rollin in the Red Bull Sugga, led the way down Highway 427 into the darkness. He hopped a curb and plowed through some long grass down into a ravine around Rexdale; an area often associated with gun violence and gangs. At the bottom we parked the trucks and checked the water depth of the drainage canal. We deemed it too shallow and spent nearly 40 minutes constructing a dam with rocks, branches and a fence. As the water levels rose, we got Sugga into position. We wanted to light up the large graffitied tunnel that went under the highway so Jono could throw down a wall ride. I set up my flashes and we started discussing what part of the embankment he wanted to hit.
The infamous Red Bull Sugga. Bos photo
The next thing we heard was yelling from the far end of the tunnel: “Get outta the tunnel!” “What are you guys doing here?” “Keep your hands where we can see them!” We were greeted by eight of Toronto's finest with their guns drawn. Needless to say, the officers have never heard of wakeskating, nor winching. I was escorted up to my truck where I saw five cop cars and three tow trucks on the side of the highway. Heart rate now elevated, I explained that I was just trying to shoot photos for a magazine. The officers informed us when they arrived at the spot they saw headlights in the water, two abandoned vehicles and proceeded to call for backup. They suspected a body dump in the tunnel or some sort of gang activity. We didn’t get the shot but someone can thank me for getting them out of a speeding ticket when backup was called. Be sure to check the upcoming issue of SBC Wake for our whole article on Toronto winching. And check out alijabos.com for more photos
What kind of idiot would dump a body in here, it's way too shallow. Bos photo
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