Helping our youth ride towards success

Former pro BMX rider spreads positive vibes to local kids at the skatepark.

TIPS AND TRICKS: Chinchilla youth spent the afternoon with former professional BMX rider Josh Fountain, enjoying an afternoon of tricks and talks. Picture: Zoe Bell

IT CAN sometimes be seen as a career that has a negative environment full of drugs and partying but for ex-professional BMX rider Josh Fountain, he is trying to change that by creating positivity in the skateparks.

As part on the Western Downs Life church's Ignite Conference 2019, Mr Fountain spent last Friday and Saturday afternoon at the Chinchilla Skatepark teaching kids tricks but more importantly listening to what they have to say.

"I grew up riding in skateparks and have a background in doing professional riding shows which I travelled for,” Mr Fountain said.

"My hope is that especially in regional Australia, it's not often someone gets to ride with someone of a certain skill level and it's also not often they get to have someone who will listen, talk to them and spend quality time with them.

"We just want to leave our input, a mark and show them a positive way of living the skate park dream and lifestyle and also give them a positive role model to aspire to.”

Originally from Dalby, Mr Fountain had a great Dad growing up, however he found there was plenty of negative role models at skateparks for him and not many positive ones.

"My own family have seen ramifications of drugs and what it can do someone,” he said.

"So for me it became a real passion for when I hit about 20 years old that I wanted to inspire, motivate and help the next generation because I didn't have a lot of that.”

"I had to figure it out myself and I did go through all the stages, like everyone does of rebelliousness and I was desperately trying to be tough and cool.

"I just want to teach people that you can be a positive person that leads a good life and is a good role model at the same as being good at the sport.”

This was Mr Fountains second time being a part of the conference and he loved seeing kids who have come out in previous years and also meeting new youth as well.

"It's all been a highlight for me,” he said.

Passionate about youth because he believes they are our future leaders, Mr Fountain says that it's important to remember to never under estimate the difference you can make by just being around for them in town.

"My encouragement is be the change you want to see in your community, don't wait for someone else to do it,” he said.

"There's a lot of people here who need positive role models and all it takes is for you to change your comm- unity one step at a time.”

Originally published as Helping our youth ride towards success