Some may call it pressure and if it is, Hawke's Bay scooter exponent Sean McFarland is relaxed about it.
"I've heard the talk suggesting I'm the local hot favourite ... hopefully I can land all my tricks," Napier's McFarland replied when told a favourite's tag had been thrown his way in the buildup to the New Zealand Scooter Championships which will be held at Napier's Sk8 Zone tomorrow and Saturday.
The 15-year-old Napier Boys' High School Year 12 student, who has been twisting and turning the metal for the past four years, will step up to the mixed professional division for the first time at his third nationals. The winner of this division qualifies for the Barcelona-hosted world championships this year and the top five for the Australasian championships across the Tasman on a yet to be announced date.
Taking on the country's best seems to be the logical step for McFarland who has won age-group titles and finished second at previous nationals. Those placings reflect the amount of time the former Bay age-group cricket rep puts in at Sk8 Zone.
"I'm pretty keen. I'm down here between 10am and 5pm five days a week during the holidays. I was a handy fast bowler during my cricket days but I've finished with cricket so I can devote the necessary time to the scooter," McFarland said.