Radicool Roebourne: Songline Skateboarding to host skating competition on Saturday

Australia’s first all-Indigenous skateboarding team will travel to the Pilbara to take part in Roebourne’s skating competition and workshop for children.

Songline Skateboarding have ventured from all different parts of Australia and created a workshop for children at Roebourne’s skate park on Saturday, dubbed Radicool Roebourne.

Dunghutti man and skateboarder for Songline Kieran Reilly said the workshop aims to get the kids “motivated” and “out and about.”

“We’re going to be doing a few skate workshops with the kids, we’re also helping run a little skate comp for the kids as well, which will be good,” Mr Reilly said.

“Also Songline will be doing a skate demo for the kids where we will just knuckle down and show off a few of the tricks we can do.

“We will also be doing an open skate with everyone, where everyone is invited to come down and skate with us all.”

The 29-year-old skateboarder from NSW said the goal of these workshops is to get the children “off the computer games” and into something more productive.

“Hopefully we can get the kids motivated and into skateboarding and stay off the computer games, and get out and about,” he said

Songline, a team of 10 all-Indigenous skaters, have spent the past three years travelling all over Australia to run workshops for kids.

With the goal of getting kids off the street and into active sports, Songline is working to build stronger relationships with communities to make their events an annual program.

“We just try to build those relationships with the communities so we can make this a yearly thing and keep coming back, and making them bigger,” Mr Reilly said.

“We want a positive outlook on life for the kids, and keep them motivated, and then also learn skills and that as well.

“We want to get them out and about, and active. . .also when you’re down at the skate park you meet a lot of new friends.”

Mr Reilly said skateboarding has changed “a lot of our lives,” with Songline now hoping to bring about that positive change for other children across the nation.

“I’ve travelled all over the world with skateboarding and have even had my own DC shoe made with the Aboriginal flag on it, and I had artwork designed by my grandfather and uncle that’s on the inner sole of the shoe,” he said.

“If it wasn’t for skateboarding I wouldn’t have gotten to see half the stuff I’ve seen.”

Mr Reilly said Songline looks to “inspire” and “motivate” the younger generations of First Nation children and creates workshops to achieve this goal.

“We want to keep them off the streets, and keep them with a positive outlook on life like if we can do it, anyone can do it,” he said.

The 29-year-old said representing his people in the first all-Indigenous team means “everything” to him.

“ I get to represent my culture, my hometown where I’m from, all my family.

“And to do it with all my brothers is amazing.”

Radicool Roebourne — family-friendly free event — starts from 10am and all are welcome to join.