Figure 1.--A favourite pastime is skateboarding which is enjoyed by children of all ages. In New Zealand many schools, such as the boys here at Huntly School, have to be safety concious.
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Figure 1.--A favourite pastime is skateboarding which is enjoyed by children of all ages. In New Zealand many schools, such as the boys here at Huntly School, have to be safety concious. |
We are going through a period of popularity with these two items and certainly the large flat tar area of playground lends itself well for students bringing these items to school. We do ask that a helmet is worn at all times and that the students concerned do not use these items in corridors. A part of the playground has been set aside for their use.
Greymouth Junior High School
Palmerston North has come up with a rare talent in the area of
skateboarding, Richie Hamlin. As a good friend of Richie I have come
to know him very well and his skateboarding simply amazes me. Richie has only been skating for two and a half years and his ability is improving everytime he steps onto his skateboard. Whether it be on a bank, pyramid, halfpipe or anything that looks appropriate to take to with his board he will rip it up.
Richie first started skating when friend Karl Anderson started, totally inspired by his new found hobby Richie decided to skate along with him and got hooked into it straight away. Now you can find Richie skating almost everyday in the Square. If not there he will be at one of the many skate spots around the Manawatu if he has not been kicked out of it already.
Richie’s inspiration and love of the sport comes from his fellow Jedi skaters especially Temata Terangi and Earl Jae Tanoa. Preferring street rather than ramp skating Richie can pull off some radical manoeuvres, with his best trick being a frontside 180 kickflip down the Square steps caught on camera and used as part of his section in the Jedi 98 video. I asked Richie a few questions about his skating:
Question. Favourite skate spot? Answer. Awatapu school
What do you think of the new skateboarding laws? Pretty stink
Favourite pro skater? Eric Koston
Favourite shoes? DVS
How long would a deck last? Two months (if not snapped)
How much money do you go through every six months? About $300
Have you had any major injuries? No, but sprained ankles put me out of skating sometimes.
Richie is looking for sponsorship by any skateboard company. He is
being helped in his quest by Sk8Sno Shop owner Mike Takarangi. There was some talk of Richie being sponsored by the DVS shoe company but whether the deal came through or not he does not know. Richie, a natural born skateboarder who will go a very long way if he decides to keep his skateboarding going. There is no doubt in my mind that in years to come Richie will be up there with the best of Aotearoa skateboarders.
Rueben Nicklin, Off the Record, Palmerston North Boys High School, September 27, 1999
On Monday 7 December, we went to the hall for a roller blading session. Everyone came in and sat down. The instructor told us about the safety gear and items to put on. We had to get wristpads, elbow pads and knee pads and a helmet before we were allowed to put on our "inline skates". Then we roller bladed around in a circle in the hall. Lots of people fell over which was funny. No one was hurt because of the safety gear. I thought the whole experience was awesome.
Joel Billet, Room 7, Greymouth Junior Highschool
Staff have focused on providing a range of lunchtime activities this term. A plan to use a Hillary Commission person to help with playground games has fallen through but teaching staff have introduced a range of activities including having the Computer Room open, Roller Blades, Walking Group, Board games group, Trampoline group, Gutter ball challenges and Technology catch up in fabric/Food or Wood classrooms.
Greymouth Junior Highschool
A group of students is very involved every lunchtime at present, dismantling a Toyota car that a member of staff donated to the school. Rust has destroyed this cars chances of getting back on the road and the student group, armed with spanners and screwdrivers and wearing their overalls, is making short work of it. If you would like to look at a 1200cc motor then pop into the school and see what is left. Going Cheap !!
Greymouth Junior High School
