Skaters of all ages flocked to grind, ollie and kickflip their way around the Creswick skatepark this week at a free, all-day skate YMCA workshop.
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"Creswick skatepark is a great place to learn, it's small and there's a great variety of obstacles," said The Victorian Skateboard Association instructor and board member Richard Flude. "The best thing is seeing kids' minds open when they get a trick they thought was impossible."
Siblings and Creswick locals Patrick, 7, and Stella, 9, were among the first to get to the park at 11am, eager to make the most of the end of school holidays with a day of learning.
"My newest trick I've learnt is to ollie and revert on the ramp," said Stella. "Creswick is my favourite skate park."
Stella has two years of skating experience under her belt, inspiring her brother Patrick to also start learning.
" I guess there's not as many female skaters in the country-side as the city .... but women can feel comfortable to meet each other at these skate things."
- Hollie Houlihan-Mckie, skateboard instructor
The day started with a girls-only session, led by 18-year-old instructor Hollie Houlihan-Mckie.
"I think these sessions help more women skate because they see female skaters as coaches. I guess there's not as many female skaters in the country-side as the city, but women can feel comfortable to meet each other at these skate things and make their own skate crews and then encourage other women to try."
The YMCA's All Aboard Skateboarding Sessions are a rotating series of free workshops across Victoria, including all the parks in the Hepburn Shire.
Supported by the Victorian Skateboard Association and Skate Australia, All Aboard plan to recruit parent volunteers to facilitate sessions alongside technically skilled skateboard instructors in the future, Mr Flude said.
The Daylesford Skatepark Competition on Stanbridge Street held the follow up event on Saturday.