Skate Australia is pleased to announce the return of a dedicated pathway series for Street and Park skateboarders, starting next month with the BMD Southern Rumble.
The series aims to foster the growth and development of skate groups and communities throughout Australia. Following the success of the inaugural competition, additional events will have the opportunity to join the sanctioned league in 2024.
Working in collaboration with the event organisers of established leagues and competitions in Australia, Skate Australia can provide additional support including greater access to funding, safeguarding frameworks and pathways for organisers and talented skaters alike.
Skate Australia Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Caitlin Honey, said the opportunity for event organisers to become a sanctioned event is a positive development for the sport.
“We are excited to provide more event organisers with an opportunity to join the Skate Australia’s competition series” said Honey.
“We now have three tiers for skateboard event organisers to register their events. They join a growing number of the community who are utilising this league as a way to promote and connect skaters to competitions around the country.
“Importantly, we have added a minimum prize money standard for our bronze, silver and gold events – we want to support our skaters who work so hard to compete across the country, and we know that this is a positive step in the right direction.
“Those skaters entering these events will now have a clear talent identification opportunity as they will be ranked on a national leader board.”
Rumble Head of Partnerships, Donny Fraser, said the minimum prize money standards will create accountability for event organisers to invest in development longterm.
“The BMD Rumble tour has been developed and will continue to be developed as a premier Series for Australians and our neighbours abroad in the Pacific,” he said.
“We have worked extensively on a committee with Skate Australia to make sure a pathway exists for our skateboarders, which simplifies understanding of these pathways and creates clarity for every skateboarder wanting to pursue these opportunities.
“We are particularly pleased that our request for minimum prize money standards has been adopted by Skate Australia, this is a huge step forward in supporting skateboarders at events and on their journey. It also creates accountability of organisers, like ourselves, to invest in the talent long term and provide skateboarders with better economic opportunity.
“We will continually liaise with Skate Australia on this journey to assist them in a ranking system that further develops talent identification and improvements for skateboarders in Australia.”
All established skateboarding events in Australia have the opportunity to apply to be part of the Australian Skateboarding League, application process can be found here.
Skate Australia is the peak body for skate sports in the country and is recognised by Sport Australia, the Australian Olympic Committee and the international federation, World Skate. With six disciplines - skateboarding, roller derby, hockey (inline and rink), artistic, and speed - Skate Australia is developing lifelong engagement for all rolling activities throughout Australia.
