A big crowd and a buzzing vibe set the scene as some of the best skateboarding, BMX and scooter talent showed off their stuff at the finals of the Bluntside Skate Park Series on Sunday.
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About 50 competitors from all around the Central West – with the crowd about the same size – took to the ramps and rails at the John Lomas Skate Park to duke it out for a ticket to state tryouts and a trip to some of the biggest events in their sections.
Tim Johnston, Bryce Niass and Saxon Cole took out the top three positions in the Open Skateboarding section, while the high-flying Cameron Gedes took out the BMX section.
Gedes found some serious air in his routine, regularly reaching high into the clear sky above the skate park, taking out the inaugural title ahead of Blake Gander and Corey Sandrey.
It helps parents get some lights shed on their community as well, like we’re not a bunch of street rats that just hang out at the skate park.
- Blake Gander
Sandrey had more success in the scooters title, taking out first place in the opens section ahead of Anthony Barber and Tim Babbage.
Orange local Druz Dutton took out the under 12 BMX and scooter sections, while Austin Maverick won the under 16 scooter title.
Gander was also MC for the day and is one of the organisers of the event alongside Ricky Konza, and said it was a “really good” day.
“It’s awesome to see heaps of people out here,” he said.
“I didn’t know what to expect, very happy with it – I don’t really do competitions that often so a bit nervous with a lot of people watching me, I’m not used to that.”
The vibe of the event was incredibly supportive and friendly, which Gander enjoyed.
“It’s very good to see such support and everyone coming together like a big community,” he said.
“It helps parents get some lights shed on their community as well, like we’re not a bunch of street rats that just hang out at the skate park, we’re here for a reason and that’s to skate.
“We usually get a lot of families coming to watch to support their kids and whatnot and to see some cool stuff happening but I was expecting a few people to come out and spectate but nevertheless I didn’t expect this many.”
Gander is “Orange born and bred” and aside from a stint in Molong has lived in the city his whole life.
He’s been on the bike for a year now after growing up on a skateboard.
He said he’d loved every minute of the skate series over the summer and was looking forward to coming back next year.
Organiser Konza, who also dusted off the board and had a whirl in the skateboard section, said it was a brilliant experience for everyone involved.
He’d been nervous about how the day would go, but said it went off without a hitch with family and friends of competitors making a “fantastic vibe”.
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