The 30 hour marathon skateboarding event to help raise £50,000 for a permanent concrete skatepark in Ventnor attracted skateboarders from not only the Isle of Wight, but also the likes of champion and skateboarding hero, Greg Nowik.
As well as continual skateboarding on the ramps, John Cattle from Wight Trash took classes for young enthusiastic skaters. Local musicians and DJs provided entertainment and new street food producers, The Ralvins, provided one of the best pulled pork and fresh coleslaw baps we’ve ever tasted.
A brilliant £1,131.61 was raised over the 30 hours.
If you weren’t able to donate at the weekend, you can do so online now by heading over to the GoFundMe page.
Get involved
If you’d like to be part of this fantastic community effort, either a member of the repair crew, a volunteer skateboarding teacher or a committee member, head over to the Ventnor SkatePark Committee and Volunteers Group on Facebook.
Ventnor Youth Offer
The Skatepark is also part of the Ventnor Youth Offer.
You can find out more about what’s on offer for young people in Ventnor by visiting their Facebook Page. There’s a fantastic range of things to do and get involved with.
Wight Trash Pale Ale
To top it off, Ventnor’s Co-op are now stocking Goddards’ Wight Trash Pale Ale, of which 10p from each bottle goes to the cause.
Background
Originally built in 2001 with the help from local Mums and skateboarders, Ventnor Skatepark is a much-needed asset for the local youth and the community of Ventnor, Isle of Wight.
Over the past fifteen years, hundreds of volunteer hours and thousands of pounds have been spent building and maintaining the skate park, located in a stunning spot right on the seafront.
Despite some serious damage caused by storms in 2006 and 2012 and 2014 (one of which caused a massive wave to break over the park snapping the ramp in two) fund raising and maintenance works have never ceased. With the ongoing closures of other youth facilities, and the increased interest in skateboarding as an activity, the park is in more demand now than it ever has been.
The efforts of the committed Volunteers have been tremendous over the years, but due to financial constraints there have only ever been enough funds at any one time to add to the park piece by piece.
April 2015 marks the start of a 12 month plan to raise £50,000 to finally make the park a permanent structure. This would transform the park into a concrete facility, free from continual need for repairs and creating another worthy tourist attraction for Ventnor, and the Island.
It is one of the most beautiful parts of the UK’s coastline, and to be able to skate, to the backdrop of incredible sunsets, whilst looking out to sea is something pretty special.
You can help by donating now.
Image: © Laura Reid
Image: © Storm troopers at Ventnor skatepark by John Nicholson
