Bay boy's bag of tricks could nail him national title

Sean McFarland trains for the nationals in Napier. Photo / Duncan Brown

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.

If the show he put on for the Hawke's Bay Today photographer is an indication, it will take a spectacular effort to nudge McFarland out of top-five contention on Saturday. Bri flips and a flair (180-degree back flip) are the fancied moves in his repertoire.

Considering the extreme moves tackled by the likes of McFarland and the McKenzie brothers, Angus and Jayden, a couple more of the host club's hopes this weekend, one wouldn't be surprised if they were regular pick-ups for ambulance personnel.

"I've been pretty lucky over the years. I've had a fractured knuckle in the past and at the moment I've got a sprained hand, which I hope will be right by the weekend, but that's about it," McFarland said.

A fan of United Kingdom exponent Jake Taylor, McFarland is grateful for the coaching he receives from his father Warren.

Organiser Kyle Hamilton will accept entries on both days of the nationals and expects about 60 competitors. At least 40 will be in action tomorrow in the 12-and-under and 16-and-under mixed division competitions.

Another 20 will start in Saturday's open mixed professional division.