Local youngsters got a chance to show off some gnarly moves when the team from Young Guns Skate School held classes at East Skate Club in Lloyd Elsmore Park recently.
Put on with the assistance of the council events arm About Auckland and the Howick Local Board, riders at the inaugural Lloyd Elsmore meet joined 100,000 students across 6,250 classes that have taken part in Young Guns lessons since their inception in 2010.
It’s an exciting time for skateboarding locally after Auckland Council announced its approval to fund the upgrade of the skatepark at Lloyd Elsmore. The new design caters for rookies and veteran riders alike, with construction expected to begin in August.
Mirroring trends in the United States, skateboarding gained popularity in New Zealand during the 1970s and 1980s and the early culture was driven by local enthusiasts who built ramps and skate spots.
Building on that pioneering work, Young Guns Skate School’s classes provide an introduction to skateboarding for ages 5-14 where students are streamed into groups of similar ability all in a safe and controlled environment.
Simon Thorp from Young Guns said the last event at Lloyd Elsmore was fully booked with 23 keen attendees learning the fundamentals of skateboarding like pushing off, balancing, turning, and stopping.
Thorp said the courses are great for children’s “Confidence building and self-esteem” and basic skating techniques greatly enhance “balance and coordination.”
He added parents have reported that one knock-on effect of the classes was that their “children’s behaviour has improved,” something he puts down to them getting outside and exercising.
“There are fewer kids playing sport these days, they are always on the iPad and doing something like skateboarding is a good alternative to stay active and healthy- which is beneficial for the parents and the kids, “Thorp said.
Barry Curtis Park in Flat Bush will be used for classes in the upcoming school holidays, and skateboards and helmets can be provided to children by Young Guns if entering the sport is cost-prohibitive.
