Beau Thomas delivers a huge air during the Kidskate competition at Alfred Cox Skatepark over the weeknd. Photo / Luke Buss
Beau Thomas delivers a huge air during the Kidskate competition at Alfred Cox Skatepark over the weeknd. Photo / Luke Buss
Kidskate’s second annual competition was held at Alfred Cox Skatepark over the weekend, with 30 kids competing in front of around 200 supporters.
Luke Buss started Kidskate around a year and a half ago, with the aim of getting more of a buzz around skateboarding in Gisborne.
He wanted tocreate a skateboarding school that gave kids confidence, resilience and technical advice on skateboarding.
“Just wanting to grow it in the region, and it was working really well, so we decided to put on a competition last year and we’ve done another one because it was really successful. This was even busier.
“A couple of the kids were saying it was the best day of their lives.
“She was really talking the kids up, even the ones that were a little low on confidence or ability,” Buss said.
“We had terrific sponsors, Coast Build handcrafted the beautiful trophies that we gave away. The first prizes were all Sequence [surf shop] vouchers. They also gave a lot of spot prizes as well, so they’re really behind skateboarding in Gisborne.”
Buss said the environment was every supportive for those competing or just watching.
“There’s something so beautiful about skateboarding. No one really wants to see other people fall, even though you’re there for competition.”
Buss offers skateboarding lessons on Saturday afternoons at the skatepark, which can be booked through Instagram at @kidskatetairawhiti.
