Old school skateboarder shows off new skate park at Noble Park Sports Fest on Sunday

THE designer of the new skate park at Ross Reserve will show off some old-school tricks at Noble Park’s Sports Fest on Sunday.

Pro-skater Jon McGrath will be showing the kids his moves at the Greater Dandenong Counci

JON McGrath still remembers the days when Noble Park was a hotspot for skaters who would come from far and wide to ride the stormwater drains near the train line.

The Noble Park 49-year-old has been involved in the skating world for the past 42 years and has watched the sport change dramatically.

“Thirty-five years ago there used to be 50 to 60 kids down there on a weekend all skating and people would come from all over Melbourne to go there,” he said.

“When I first started skateboarding we were riding in bare feet and it was on small little boards, so it’s very different now.”

At 14, Mr McGrath won the Australian junior championships and went on to compete in the US in the Pro/Am series.

In his early 20s, he started a skateboard manufacturing company, and 10 years ago he joined the Melbourne Old School Skaters program, a group of veteran riders who raise vital funding for communities in Swaziland to gain access to clean water. This Sunday, Mr McGrath will be demonstrating his skills at the 2014 Sports Fest at Ross Reserve in Noble Park, which is also the location of a new skate park he has designed.

The new skate park will feature classic and iconic elements moulded within a contemporary plan, according to its ­designer.

Mr McGrath said the new par, incorporated skating elements with other related sports such as BMX and scooters to suit a wide demographic, from pre-teens to over-50s.

“Within the skateboarding culture there are different genres such as technical street skating, vert skating and general all-rounders,” he said.

“The design consists of three elements known as a plaza, snake-run and bowl.”

The Sports Fest, from 10.30am to 2.30pm, is focused on choices for healthy eating, activity and lifestyle, with local sporting organisations showcasing the diverse range of sports on offer in Greater Dandenong. To find out more about the history of Victorian skateboarding, see www.vicskatehistory.com

FAST FACTS

The new skate park is part of stage 3 of the $21 million redevelopment the Noble Park Aquatic Centre — a joint initiative between council and state and federal governments.

■ The Plaza/street course:ledges, rails and banked walls, which mimic the urban landscape

■ Snake-run: The design starts shallow and progresses down gently

■ Bowl/pool: Bowl riding, also known as vert skating, involves riding up a curve to a vertical wall