Groms get rec’d
Six year-old grom, Kian Haberler (front), will compete in his first skating competition at the Kilbirnie Recreation Centre next week.
For the sanity of board enthusiasts in the winter, a new competition is being launched at Kilbirnie Recreation Centre.
The first ever under 12 year-old Cheapskates Grom Skateboard Competition will be held this week, and six year-old Kian Haberler will earn his marks on the ramps and obstacles.
“Last week I had my worst accident and made my [wobbly] tooth fall out, it was really bloody” says Kian.
His favourite skater is Rodney Mullen, because “he does cool tricks”.
Amongst the cacophony of sound at the indoor skate park, Kian is learning a 180, and has already mastered the ollie, nose grab and manual.
Steve Gregory, Manager Kilbirnie Recreation Centre, says record numbers of young skaters have spurred the competition.
“Our entire learn-to-skate programme is booked for next term; if I could start up new classes right now I would – it’s the only class of its kind in Wellington,” says Gregory.
Cheapskates Brad Bowes will judge the competition, along with Harris Taylor from Element, and Guy Collier from the Kilbirnie centre.
“It’s cool to see how the young ones are coming along ... and even take bribes from the parents,” Bowes jokes.
Groms will be attempting sick ollies and kickflips on 1.2m high ramps, boxes, quarter pipes, table tops, pyramids, wedge ramps and launch ramps.
“You have got to have a love affair with the concrete,” says Bowes. “Kids go to car parks, or Queens Wharf, but they get kicked out pretty quick, [Kilbirnie] is the only indoor park in the lower North Island.”
He says the “street and vert” competition is a great way to “break the winter slow down”.
Since X Air has been on hold, Bowes says the sport has been more underground and Wellington’s groms are coming up in a big way.
Wellington has the U13 and U16 national champions, but because Auckland dominates the sponsorship funds, U16 champion James Huntley is still looking for a brand to take him on.
“Skaters that aren’t as good get sponsorship in Auckland, because skaters here have to send up video footage. It’s frustrating,” says Bowes.
Other local skating competitions include the Bowl o Rama in February, and the regional finals in October, but Bowes says Wellington lacks a park with “good flow”.
“Chaffers Park is too back and forth, the bowl is good, but because the council had to be ‘aesthetically pleasing’ it lacks continuity”.
The Onslow park used to be a better “perpetual motion machine”, but the council “screwed that place up”.
Bowes says the proving ground for street skaters in Wellington is the 10-stair rail at the over-bridge to Frank Kitts Park.
Cheapskates Grom Skateboard Competition, registration at 12am, Kilbirnie Recreation Centre, July 16.
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