Motueka’s skatepark was a vibrant celebration of wheeled activities at the Tasman Youth Jam earlier this month.
The event was supported by the Tasman District Council and organised by Skate Nelson Bays, and participants of all ages and skill levels, from BMX riders to skaters, took part.
The skatepark underwent a significant upgrade at the end of 2023, which has allowed more events like this to take place in Motueka.
“The upgrades to the skatepark made a significant difference in facilitating such events and providing a space for people of all ages and skill levels to come together,” Moutere/Waimea Ward councillor Dan Shallcrass says.
The day saw skateboarders, scooters, bikes, and rollerblades hit the track. Motueka Youth Council also put on a free sausage sizzle.
“It was a stunning Motueka autumn day, and it was fantastic to see all walks of life and the wider community coming together. We had kids as young as two and adults in their 50s, so it was a day enjoyed by a wide range,” Dan says.
Cooper Girvin, 12, who has recently mastered a BMX move called the ‘tyre tap’, participated and said he thoroughly enjoyed it and hopes there are more events like this to come.
“The day was awesome, everyone was so welcoming, nice, and inclusive, and even if you didn’t have the best tricks or skills people still got prizes, which is great,” he says.
“I enjoyed practicing the ‘tyre tap’, it’s fun to try something new.”
