Will Emerton and Jesse Noonan shred the gnar at Pizzey Park
Once upon a time, cerebral palsy might have ruled out skating as a hobby for this Gold Coaster, but good old fashioned innovation has meant he shreds the gnar with the best.
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Every week for an hour, Will Emerton trades his wheelchair for another set of wheels.
With the help of his skateboard coach, Jesse Noonan and his support worker, the 21-year-old straps on a skateboard to shred at Pizzey Park.
Mr Emerton, who lives with cerebral palsy, skates with Mr Noonan through a program called skate advantage.
“Skate advantage is an initiative to help people with different challenges experience skateboarding and experience our passion and our stoke,” Mr Noonan said.
Mr Emerton has been skating for about four months, working each week towards skills like ollies, manuals, slides, grinds and sending it down towering ramps.
“I like the feeling of being in charge of my body,” Mr Emerton said.
“I feel strong and confident in my strength.”
As he tears around Pizzey Park with the help of Mr Noonan, the effort it takes to support his body on the board and maintain balance is clear.
The beating sun is relentless and the heat simmers on the sprawling concrete, but Mr Emerton is determined to nail his tricks and push himself in every session.
“Just because I have a disability doesn’t mean I limit myself,” he said.
Mr Noonan said the Skate Advantage program had been running for about seven years.
“We’ve had skaters with cerebral palsy, with down syndrome, some skaters have had bad accidents and car crashes,” he said.
“It goes from people who can’t use their bodies in the way they want to ... all the way to people who might have a gnarly mental disability that just don’t have any confidence, and we’re able to just get them going and help them feel safe.”
He said it’s all about “adapting our coaching approach to the right skater”.
At Pizzey Park, Mr Noonan and Mr Emerton know a lot of the other skaters cruising around, and everyone has a fair go on everything the park offers.
“This skate park is so inclusive now that we roll through with people of all disabilities and the whole skate park welcomes them with open arms,” Mr Noonan said.
“No one turns their head, no one acts weird, it’s like they’re fully included now which is good.
“It needs to be like that everywhere.”
Mr Noonan said the feeling that comes with watching his students achieve things they’re proud of is second to none.
“Sometimes I’m holding the tears back because I’m so pumped,” he said.
“Lucky I wear glasses.”
Originally published as Will Emerton and Jesse Noonan shred the gnar at Pizzey Park
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