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Half-pipe dreams come true in Goa
HALF-pipe dreams came true when a skateboarding expert from Wakefield organised India's first ever boarding contest.
It was dubbed the Rumble in the Jungle – but this time competitors did battle with their feet, not their fists, in a concrete skatepark built in a back garden in Goa.
Nic Powley has been skateboarding for 20 years and is a judge for the UK Skateboard Association.
He said it was a great to introduce the sport to a new audience: "It's a really western phenomenon at the moment.
"It's kind of crazy because it has been around in England since the 60s and for there still to be countries where they don't do it – it's mad." The two-day event took place at India's first skatepark. It was built by a Brit in his back garden and labelled SK8 GOA.
Fifteen skateboarders from across Europe and the US took part in the competition, battling it out in the 20m by 50m venue to produce the best trick.
Stunts
They beat the heat – over 90oC in the daytime – by skating after sundown.
Nic, 34, works at The Works indoor skatepark in Hunslet. He said the locals turned out in force to watch the stunts.
"They are really into extreme sports over there – into all the brands, but not really doing them. They don't have that leisure lifestyle yet."
The event was effectively a trial run to see how many people would be prepared to travel to India to compete. Nic said: "Next year we are looking to make it more of an international event."
Nic added the big skateboarding equipment and brands were keen to see events take place in places like Goa because they wanted to expand their market across to countries so far untouched by the craze.
Kevin Parrott, chairman of the UK Skateboarding Association, said the event was good news for residents and was another example of Brits leading the way.
He said: "Whether it is showing a new sport over there, or a sport that has been seen before, but people had no access to – anything which opens up the accessibility of it – that's a great thing."
Goa is a magnet for holidaymakers and backpackers and already offers adrenaline-packed activities like jet-skiing, paragliding and kite-surfing.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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