Chiggy’s Skateboarding at risk of shutting down amid cost of living crisis

The Sunshine Coast’s only indoor skate park is facing an uncertain future after celebrating an upturn in business three months ago. Read how they’re plotting survival.

Mat Chigwidden has called on the community for extra support of his indoor skatepark after rising costs made for an uncertain future.

A Sunshine Coast business owner has started a community fight to keep the Sunshine Coast’s only indoor skate park open, after a dramatic rise in costs threatened its future.

Owner of Chiggy’s Skateboarding Mat Chigwidden told the Sunshine Coast Daily in August his business, an indoor skatepark and training facility in Coolum Beach, had exploded in demand with more than 500 children being coached per week.

While this was still the case, a dramatic rent increase and sky-high insurance costs threatened to close down the beloved business.

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“Our rent has gone up at the indoor skate park three times this year, and one insurance policy … that has fallen on us, is $2500 a year,” he said.

“So not only has our rent gone up … we’ve incurred a new insurance policy … plus general insurance policies that we’ve had for multiple years have increased.”

However, Keith Morley, one of the owners of the complex the indoor skatepark operates out of, said rent was “below market” and the businesses were “treated very fairly”.

But Mr Chigwidden was determined to keep the dream alive.

Mat Chigwidden has called on the community for extra support of his indoor skatepark after rising costs made for an uncertain future.

He said income was generated from third-party companies renting the space out as well as paid memberships, which allow unlimited access to the park, discounted retail goods and early bird access to lessons, camps, tours and events.

To keep the park open, Mr Chigwidden said the business would need 200 new $25 weekly memberships by the end of the year.

But after he called on the community for help, Mr Chigwidden said he felt “confident” he could reach the goal.

“If I keep pushing and putting on these free events and reaching out … if I can keep this kind of movement happening right now, I’m pretty confident with our community, we can do this,” he said.

“I had a mother … call me in tears telling me just how grateful she is for everything I have done.

“It’s so heartwarming and overwhelming.”

The skatepark runs up to four three-hourly sessions every day, and is open to skateboarders, scooter riders, BMX riders and rollerbladers and rollerskaters.