Local Focus: Learning to skateboard with Sam's Skate School

Before anyone dares to ride the Mount Maunganui "vert" ramp, which is New Zealand's largest skate ramp, they have to put in years of practice.

But thanks to Sam's Skate School, lots of kids may soon be dropping into the void, as they learn to skateboard safely, with teachers who know what they're doing.

"I've been skateboarding for about 15 years, it's my passion," said Sam Robertson, founder of Sam's Skate School, originally from the UK.

"I moved to New Zealand a couple of years ago and felt there was a need for kids who couldn't afford to get into it," he said.

Robertson is a schoolteacher by day but every Wednesday from 4pm to 6pm, his "social enterprise" comes to life at a skatepark around Tauranga.

"It's for kids who might not have the opportunity, no one to teach them, or couldn't afford a board, to come and get into it," Robertson said. "Because it's a rapidly evolving sport and I think it's a really cool thing for everyone to get involved with."

Armed with the goal of getting more kids into skating, Sam pitched the idea around.

"Sport is well provided for in New Zealand, like football cricket, mainstream ball and grass sports, but there's a big skate scene evolving here that isn't really provided for in the same way with coaching," he said.

"I approached a few schools and asked if I could do it as part of their school programme but they weren't very interested, which I understand."

After a chance encounter in a local gym with a member of Sport Bay of Plenty, Robertson was invited to pitch for funding to get his skate school off the ground.

The Tū Manawa Fast Fund offers grants up to $10,000. Robertson wanted the money to be able to buy extra boards because skateboarding isn't cheap.

"I also wanted to use it to help pay some coaches so they can come and help run sessions. At first it was just me volunteering but as our numbers have started to increase, it would be cool to have some other local coaches come along and help the kids."

One of those coaches is local legend Donny Allan.

"It's not something that was available when I was younger," said Allan. "When I was at that age, I didn't have anyone else showing me what to do. It's great that we can facilitate a big session for all these young guys to come together."

Parents stay for the session and watch over their children, fully appreciative of what Robertson is doing.

"We were getting 20-25 kids a week and we're getting loads more now that have never skated before," Robertson said. "They're starting on their knees and with the coaches' help getting up on both feet and starting to push and roll and turn and that's really cool to see."

With skateboarding now an Olympic Sport, grassroots initiatives like this could help New Zealand produce future Olympic champions.

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