McMorris brothers snowboard in Saskatoon for fundraiser

The idea of a snowboarding and ski hill in Saskatoon has been a dream for some time, and on Wednesday, some winter sport legends gave it a boost.

Brothers Craig and Mark McMorriswere in Saskatoon to offersnowboardingdemonstrations and host a gala to raise money for the Optimist Club, the organization that's behind the idea for asnowboardand skill hill.

• Optimist Club has vision for a Saskatoonsnowboardingpark

Club members arrived atDiefenbaker Park Wednesday morning to a bit of a challenge for the day's plans: there was no snow.

Powder was trucked in, and by the time the McMorris brothers arrived in the afternoon, the hill was ready.

The brothers have been looking for a project like this.

Craig McMorris and his brother Mark, who is one of the most decoratedsnowboardersin the world, grew up in Saskatchewan and want to give young people in Saskatoon more of a chance to get outside and enjoy the winter without having to travel.

"It's not just that one trip to a mountain anymore that you take with your family," Craig said in an interview with CBC Radio'sSaskatoon Morning.

"This just gives kids the opportunity to get outside and do activity right in their own town."

While at the hill, Mark told reportersthe brothers were able to go to a ski hill every weekend growing up.

"Not every kid has that opportunity."

Having a hill in the city would offer a new means of getting involved in sport, the brothers said.

"Let's set them up to hopefully do what we do for a living," Mark said.

The day's events end with a fundraiser at the Capital Music Club.