Its time to face facts people, skateboarding is not a fad it will not die out and slink off into the night.

Its has been over 25 years since skateboarding first took off, and after a lull period during the mid 80's it is an industry that has only grown stronger. We are talking multi-million dollar industry, skateboards, shoes, clothes and music, every part of popular culture has at some point been influenced by skateboarding. Queenstown, known for adventure activities and extreme sports, is sold on this day in day to attract the young and old travelers. Well guess what, if your into extreme sports there is a high possibility your into skating (or in-line).
So why is there such a debate over the skateboarders in this town? I've heard all sorts.. skaters have no respect.. skaters cause trouble .... skaters are all a bunch of druggies ... skaters are dirty .. skaters are dangerous .. well, I'm sorry to say, but its not just skaters. Ive meet 40 year old business men who have no respect, Ive meet 27 year old woman who like nothing more than to cause trouble, Go to any major city in any country in the world to find druggies, I can't say everyone i have meet has good personal hygiene, and as for dangerous.. would you rather be hit by a skater on the pavement at 3-4 km per hour, or at 100km by a car driven by a well educated man (or woman) who has a few too many and isn't responsible enough to call a cab? Take a trip to Melbourne or Sydney and watch the young professionals who in their business suits skate to and from work.
Embrace skating, its environmentally friendly, it gets people off the couch and it encourages interaction and there is a market to be sold too (any sponsors for the skate park). As for the skatepark, skaters don't want to be hidden out of the way, they want to be seen, they want people to watch them skate, they want to be included. One may say the recreation ground isn't the place for a skate park, the argument of 'it disturbs the green area' i can understand but 'encroaching on the rugby pitch' is ridiculous, are we trying to send a message of 'hey sport and being active is ok and you can do it anywhere.. unless its skating'. Double standards one thinks.

People need to start realizing that the guys who started it all are now in their 30's and 40's still skate and love it. Just think, one day the Prime Minister may just be a skater. Lets look at the bigger issues and leave people to enjoy their sport in a fun, safe, encouraging and ... dare i say it ... public environment.

Post edited by: regan, at: 2005/12/15 10:37

Post edited by: regan, at: 2005/12/15 11:17

Taken from here:

My way, or I won’t play - more rec ground antics
This Friday’s rec ground hearing has been postponed until February… putting the possibility of a new skate park getting built on the backburner again. Mountain Scene, experts at getting the people behind the story, reports that organizer of the National Sevens Rugby tournament, Richard Anderson, will pull the event if the skaters get their park. Before he grabs his toys and stalks out of the sandpit, maybe Anderson should consider sharing his play space. After all, sharing’s caring.


I'm sorry, but who the hell do you think you are? 'My way or the highway'? Tell ya what, whoever gave you control to choose the venue needs there head read more than yours for giving you that privilege!

Your response to the potential Skate Park location borders on pathetic and that is an under-statement. A rather immature response from someone with such a responsibilty.

Go on then, take your tournament elsewhere. How about taking it back to Palmerston North cause thats where it was before it came down here. Better yet, go sample some other locations that have bugger all infrastructure like Alexandra, or even Roxbrough. (No offence to either of those 2 locations)

Do us all a favour and grow up. You sound like a spoiled child with no more toys to throw out of his cot, apart from the cot itself.

P.S. Believe it not, I skate, and I don't want the skatepark at the Rec ground, but thats beside the point.

Post edited by: natedog, at: 2005/12/21 13:28

As per my article in the sport section, the council has chosen to not build the skatepark in the Rec Ground. I say great stuff as it was a stupid location anyway.

But the council has now picked 7 new potential locations for the skatepark which indicates their desire to get one built. The money is there, so we need to get together and pick a new location.

Submissions are open until the 27th of April and a public hearing will also be held at 5pm on that date at the memorial hall. All those intersted should pop along.

I hope that this time we wont have to listen to all this 'anti-skating' nonsense and get on to the issue at hand: Picking the best location for the skatepark.

This should be renamed 'Queenstown's Coldest Sporting Topic.

We've heard nothing on this recently, even the email to the guy at QLDC was unanswered. Time to email him agian.

Wish me luck.....

people who hate skaters are only like that cause they cant skate and dont understand it, people fear the unknowen man ! lol
and some skaters get angry with pedestrians cause the pedestrians hate on the skaters , anger creates anger

everyone just needs to chill out and be friends ,
and skate! ha







xoxo