Young skateboarders catch the air
A four-hour drive for 10 minutes in the bowl is what skateboarder Rhya Henare lives for.
The 11-year-old Taupo girl travelled to New Plymouth on Saturday to compete in Velocity Bowl Blaze, now in its third year.
But Henare said this was not a first time visit to the East End Skatepark and she’s been in countless competitions.
‘‘I’ve lost count,’’ she said as she fiddled with her skateboard, which once belonged to Kiwi skateboarding legend Lee Ralph, and is now the young skater’s prized possession.
It was Henare’s prized possession and it must have worked as she took first place in her division.
The timely fine weather on Saturday made for an impressive turnout, with more than 30 competitors coming from around the country.
Event organiser and Velocity Skateboard Shop owner Phil Culf said the Henare family turn up to every skate event.
He said Henare’s brothers, Remus and Riko, would also compete in the bowl and all three children were talented on wheels.
‘‘They’re a machine of a family,’’ Culf said.
The event kicked off with three under-12 girl skaters, who sped around the bowl with grace.
The crowd cheered to reassure Oakura skater Darcy O’Sullivan when she fell off her board.
The eight-year-old instantly hopped back on her feet with a smile.
Culf said skaters were judged on their style, use of the bowl and types of tricks performed during a run.
Winners walked away with cash prizes, while proceeds will go to the Taranaki Stroke Foundation in honour of Jim Blas, who built the skate park in 2010.
Blas became partially paralysed after a major stroke struck him three years ago, which initiated the beach-side skate event.
Final Results (from first place): Girls’ Division: Rhya Henare, Ariana Shewry, Darcy O’Sullivan; Under-12: Remus Henare, Niwa Shewry, Caleb Terry, Max Reid-Hancock; 13-17: Jackson Wlicox, Rico Henare, Soul Kropelnicki; Open Men’s: Shaun Boucher, Joshua (Vert Machine), Mikey Joyce; ‘Old Farts’: Nolan Ewart, Orson Reynolds, Sam Icke.