VIDEO: Skaters flip out at park

Skateboarders from the West Rand now have their own skating heaven right on their doorstep.

Early on a Saturday morning the news met up with two local skaters to talk about the skateboarding craze and the new arena at Key West shopping centre.

In the past skaters had to go as far as Johannesburg CBD to find a decent venue for skating, but now since the opening of the skate park at Key West in December they have one much closer.

Skateboarders from six to 35 years old are enjoying the new concrete heaven.

Andrè Krüger and Awie Range have been skating the streets of Johannesburg for nearly 10 years.

Andrè finished first in a local skateboarding competition at the Johannesburg Library Gardens late last year.

The Key West skate park now gives aspiring skateboarders the opportunity to skate in a safe environment away from the streets, and it is for free.

“People associate skateboarding with rebel-like behaviour, vandalism and drugs. But skateboarding is far more than that; it is not only a hobby and a sport, but also a lifestyle,” said Krüger.

These two skateboarders told the news how they prefer to have an early morning skating session before other skaters arrive. The news asked the two if they teach the young skaters some tricks of the trade, to which they jokingly replied, “The youngsters have become so good, they teach us.”

The boys demonstrated an Indy180 tail, Indy Axle Stall, Crooked Grind and a Frontside Boardslide to the news.

“Skateboarding is a positive movement and teaches young people discipline.

“You also get to meet new people from all walks of life so it also is considered a social movement,” concluded Krüger.