The Weekly Advertiser Horsham

Millar judges young talent

- – Dylan De Jong

Wimmera youth flipped, ollied and bunny-hopped in front of world-class skating sensation Renton Millar at the weekend.

The Melbourne skateboard­er joined youth leaders across the region to judge skate competitio­n Wimmera ‘Roll-in’ in a showcase of action sports at Horsham Skate Park on Sunday afternoon.

Millar said the event attracted more than 50 amateur and intermedia­te skaters, scooter and BMX riders from across the region.

“All the kids here are super passionate, they’ve got a good skate park and they know how to use it,” he said.

“Most importantl­y, it was a really good vibe, and they were all really stoked to be here – they can all throw down some rad tricks.”

Millar, who spent the past seven months isolating in Melbourne due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said he was ‘stoked’ to support the event.

“It was really good fun. This is my first competitio­n back – I’ve been in COVID-19 lockdowns for seven months,” he said.

Millar’s profession­al career, spanning more than 20 years,

has allowed him to compete throughout the world.

He said before the pandemic hit Australia in March he had planned for a big year of backto-back competitio­ns.

“I was planning a trip to Peru, the world champs in China and then off to the Olympics,” he said.

“Because there’s so much COVID around the world I just can’t predict what the new year will bring, but in the meantime, I’ll definitely be doing a lot of events across Australia.”

The pro-skater also helped

run skate clinics at Rainbow P-12 College, Jeparit Primary School and in Yarriambia­ck Shire earlier this week.

He said he hoped the events would inspire young people to continue to pursue opportunit­ies in skating.

“These kids spend a lot of time on their skateboard­s, scooters and bikes, so it’s great to be able to give them a day specially for them at the skate park,” he said.

Victorian Youth Week runs until December 15. It was postponed due to COVID-19.

 ??  ?? RAD TRICKS: Horsham skater Ruben Elliot competes in a Wimmera ‘Roll-in’ open skate competitio­n. Picture: DYLAN DE JONG
RAD TRICKS: Horsham skater Ruben Elliot competes in a Wimmera ‘Roll-in’ open skate competitio­n. Picture: DYLAN DE JONG

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