Board games:
Olympics promotion rolls into town
A 12m-long, 800kg skateboard is due to roll into town in the next few days.
In celebration of skateboarding’s inclusion at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a supersize skateboard is travelling the length and breadth of New Zealand as part of the Great Olympic Skate Roadshow and is due to visit 40 locations in 41 days.
The skateboard will be at Napier’s Bay Skate on Marine Parade from 9am to noon on Saturday, after travelling through some of Hastings’ main streets on Friday.
The 12m-long skateboard is set to land a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest fully operational skateboard in the world.
After a public vote, the board was named Eke Tahi, meaning Ride as One. Boardsailing Olympic gold medallist Barbara Kendall led a panel of Olympians to decide the winning name, alongside shot putter Maddison-Lee Wesche, canoe slalom athlete Finn Butcher and president of Skateboarding New Zealand, Chris Curran.
With close to 1000 entered names, Eke Tahi, nominated by Karyn Fisher of Auckland, was selected ahead of runners-up Oly, Ralph, in honour of Kiwi skating legend Lee Ralph, Blake’s Board and Skatey McSkateFace.
“The Great Olympic Skate is about having fun while backing our athletes – and being typically innovative, as we Kiwis tend to be,” Kendall said.
“Eke Tahi is such a beautiful name, with a wonderful message for our athletes. We can’t wait to see Kiwis coming out to meet Eke Tahi.”
Fisher, who hopes her daughter Kirsten Fisher-Marsters will secure a spot in Tokyo to represent the Cook Islands in swimming, said she was inspired to nominate Eke Tahi after seeing the challenges faced by athletes in a year of disruptions.
“Athletes are athletes because they don’t give up. For me, Eke Tahi is a symbol of us all coming together as one.”
New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Kereyn Smith said with no international spectators allowed at the Tokyo games, it’s more important than ever for our Olympians to feel support on their home turf.
“During the Great Olympic Skate Roadshow, Kiwis will have the opportunity to meet the skateboard and have some fun by getting involved in some of the new sports on show.”
Following the nationwide tour, the skateboard will be a centrepiece at the New Zealand Team HQ Fane Zone, where Kiwis can gather to watch live Olympic events.
Kiwi skaters Bowman Hansen and Matt Markland also hope to represent New Zealand in the event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.