Coast skateboarding comp draws Olympic athlete

A Sunshine Coast skateboarding competition held over the weekend drew a crowd of 400 people from around Australia, including a 2021 Olympic athlete.

Professional skateboarder Tommy Fynn will be representing Australia in skating at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

A crowd of 400 people, including an Olympic athlete, made their way to Aura on Saturday for one of the Sunshine Coast's biggest skateboarding events.

The second annual Sunshine Coast Skate-A-Thon was off to a rocky start as COVID-19 and severe storms threw a spanner in the works.

But with a few changes to the schedule they pulled through.

Event organiser Donny Fraser said he started the Skate-A-Thon last year as a three-day festival of skateboarding competitions, coaching classes and family-friendly events.

"It was part of a Kid's Helpline awareness weekend," he said.

"They've been busy over COVID-19 with people struggling at home, they're doing great work and it's good to get the message out about them.

"It's also a good way to start the annual competition season with something low-key, and people here on holidays can come."

 

"Normally we would have three days of events with family competitions, for example dads and daughters can go in together, coaching programs and fun things as well as a serious competition."

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Due to COVID-19 restrictions and the recent Brisbane lockdown, Mr Fraser said this year's event was condensed into one jam-packed day.

He said there was a doubles competition with a male and female on each team as well as smaller, all-ages events.

The main events were the under 16s and opens competitions.

"We've got some pretty great people here this year," he said.

Chloe Covell, 10, and Estelle Seymour, 14, at the Coast Skate-A-Thon on Saturday

Professional skateboarder and 2021 Olympic athlete Tommy Fynn was one of those people.

The Brisbane-based skater said he had been chosen to represent Australia in this year's Olympics, should they go ahead.

"I've been skating for 18 years now, pro for six."

"I'm here to skate in this contest, have fun with my friends, and hopefully get the win.

"Skateboarding is in the Olympics for the first time, as well as surfing which is pretty cool."

"They've never had those sports in there before."

Chloe Covell, 10, and Estelle Seymour, 14, travelled from NSW and Victoria to take part in the Skate-A-Thon on Saturday.

As well as professionals, hundreds of young people and children joined in the fun.

Estelle Seymour, 14, said she had travelled up from Victoria with her mum for the event.

"I've been skating for about four years," she said.

She said a fast food had inspired her to pick up a board.

"In all honesty a KFC ad did, an ad for chicken on TV had skating in it."

After skating for fun and competing for a few years, the teenager said she hoped to begin coaching other kids soon.

KIDS HELPLINE: 1800 55 1800

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