Skateboarding project gets wheels

THE future of skateboarding in the area has just received a boost, with Skateboarding Victoria receiving a $7000 council Community Strengthening Grant for its Promoting Golden Plains Skateable Spaces project.

Skateboarding Victoria programs manager Richard Flude said the project will bring a series of skateboarding events to multiple locations in the shire from mid January.

He said the sessions will be led by skateboarding instructors and will teach skills for skaters ranging from complete beginners to intermediate and more advanced levels.

Besides offering plenty of basic safety know-how and the chance to pick up some impressive maneuvers, Mr Flude said the sessions will also aim to help enthusiastic locals set up club structures to strengthen the shire’s resident skateboarding community long-term.

“We’re in the planning stage, working with youth services,” said Mr Flude who will be among the Skatebaording Victoria instructors delivering the program across an anticipated “12 or 13 different events.”

“What it means is a real step forward in sustainability. It’s promoting all of the spaces around the shire, basically all the skate parks in the shire and working with the shire,” he said.

“We’re aiming to get things going around summer school holidays from mid January, and we’re very happy to be delivering the project. It will help some people who perhaps don’t know where to start.”

Mr Flude said the project aims to see sessions delivered at all of the shire’s skateparks.

“You’ve got Dereel, Bannockburn, Meredith, Smythedale, Invereleigh, Teesedale and it will be a bit of a travelling roadshow that goes to all of the different skateparks,” he said.

“We’ll also be looking at helping out with competitive pathways, linking in with other events and new approaches to look at these skate parks.

“We’ll be looking for people who want to volunteer and help build club-like structures looking to sustainability.”

They’ll also be encouraging skateboard savvy locals capable of coaching others to pre-register to get involved.