Flips, tail whips and massive air – there were plenty of skills on show as Blunt Side Sk8 Park Tours brought a competition to Cowra Skate Park on Wednesday.
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The group, who tour across regional NSW, bring clinics and competition days to skaters, scooter riders and bike riders in rural areas.
Organisers Rick Konza and Blake Gander said it’s all about changing the reputation around skate parks and their users.
“We’re locals in every town, all the way up to Gosford, all the way to Armidale, all the way to Canberra, you name it, we’re there,” Rick said.
“We are just trying to change how everyone perceives the community in skating, we’re not all just stoners or young street rats anymore who just like causing chaos, they are just good kids, this is just their outlet.
“It’s like being part of a brotherhood.”
Blake said it was also about giving country kids the opportunity to compete at a higher level.
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“We are looking to expand and build scenes up elsewhere,” he said.
“The main reason why we do it is it gives the kids purpose, their grades improves, their home life improves, they go leaps and bounds now that they have something to strive for,” Rick said.
Cowra’s competition featured four different sections – Under 12s scooter, 12 – 16 years scooter, Open scooter and Open BMX.
Rick said while results matter, consistency and having fun were the most important parts of any competition.
“The top two in each division go to the final in Orange, and then we have a wildcard,” he said.
“It isn’t about who is best, the guys who just going out there and having fun, they win, you’ve all got a chance.”
Rick said the best part about running clinics and competitions are seeing the kids develop and seeing their parents pay attention.
“You see them all grow up and prosper,” he said.
“I got annoyed at parents who sit on their phones when they bring their kids here, they’ve got their heads down on their phone… the kids are busting their butts off. I want them parents to see the kids’ efforts.”
“A lot of these kids are like dried spaghetti, we just throw them in the water with whatever they need to figure themselves out and they bend their own way,” Blake said.
“We are just like the sauce,” Rick said.
Blunt Side Sk8 Park Tours will be holding runs and a competition in Parkes this weekend.
The group would like to thank NSW Sport and Recreation, Cowra Council, Headspace, Cowra Rotary and 131 Pizza for their support on the day.
