My Evolution in Skateboarding: With Troy Beard
The skate scene in Warrnambool has changed over the years with the evolution of the skate park, skate shops coming and going and the ebbs and flows of competition skating and events. One thing that’s been consistent is some of the local faces that are still dropping in at the skate park.
One of those locals is Troy Beard. He’s been skating for over 30 years and was part of the Warrnambool Skaters Association, a core group of skaters that banded together in the late 90s to run events, support the local skate community and be a driving force behind the development of the Warrnambool Skate park as we know it today. Troy was not alone, core members like Colleen Hughson, and Council Youth worker Bonita Church were key figures in running local events and campaigning for the development of the local skate park. They even put together a petition which gathered over 1400 signatures (one of the largest ever recorded in the area) to oppose initial plans to relocate the skate park. The local BMXers also played an integral role in the development of the current skate park which is reflected in the parks design.
The local skate scene was thriving in the late 90-2000s with skate events, live bands, festivals and a dedicated community of people that kept the passion alive. These days the local skate scene & park, whilst still prominent, has a different vibe about it. We spoke to Troy about his love for skateboarding, the evolution of the local park and his thoughts on how skating has evolved over the years.
A compilation of images from the OG park in Warrnambool provided by Colleen Hughson
Q. Your born and raised in the Southwest Victoria, when and how did your love of skateboarding start?
I was born in Warrnambool in the early 80s and I had seen skateboarding on some 80s movies (Gleaming the cube & Thrashin). Instantly I wanted to do it, only problem was I lived on a dairy farm 10kms from Warrnambool and there wasn’t even an official skatepark there at that time. So, I made the most of what I had- a skinny, rough as hell footpath that lead from the house to the hills hoist, or the single car garage. I would take my skateboard anywhere I could (this was the 80s so this was a huge wide board with rails, a single kick and massive wheels). If we were visiting relatives or friends places I would always have it, I was hooked!
Q. When did you first have access to a skate park and how did this change your perspective on skateboarding?
I first had access to a skatepark at around age 11, it was in Dennington next to the football oval in Steve ‘snow’ Hoare’s grandparents backyard. My first time there was with another kid from primary school. We jumped up and over the 6ft fence and landed on the platform of a wooden half pipe and was instantly confronted with older kids and even adults that were there skating. I was as scared as I’ve ever been and I couldn’t stand still for long, so I just went over and dropped into the half pipe. I landed flat on my back and had the wind knocked out of me, I got a bit of attention from the locals, as they sat back and laughed, but I kept trying until I got it. Leaving there that day I was even more hooked. It changed my perspective so much, I started building ramps with whatever was lying around on our farm as all I wanted to do was skate ramps and transitions. Street skating wasn’t my favourite thing to do but always had a go at it.
Teenage Troy at the skatepark. Mid 1990s
Q. What are your earliest memories of Warrnambool skate park and how has it evolved over the years?
My earliest memories of the Warrnambool park were watching it getting built, we used to sneak in there after school and skate the sections that were built, sketchy as! Lots of good memories of skate comps that Southern Guns held there all the time, Gary & Eva were supporting all us young guys so much with awesome prizes. The park evolved over the years getting bigger, but I never expected it to get so big I guess, as it started pretty small. Most other towns just build multiple parks around the suburbs, but we just got this huge park instead. It’s really rough in some parts and pretty slow in that sense. Waurn Ponds in Geelong was built around the same time, that has been fully demolished and re built just a few years back, I reckon it was in better condition than the Warrnambool park as well.
Q. You lived in Melbourne for many years, how much skating did you do there and where was your favorite place to skate?
I lived in Melbourne for around 12 years, like I said previously, nearly every suburb had a skatepark that was nice and new. I was in heaven. Work commitments and a few really bad injuries slowed me down. My ankle and fibula is held together with plates and screws, which stopped me for a few years and has really affected my ability. Fitzroy Bowl and Northcote are my favourites I’d have to say. Fitzroy is even better now with a new park built there a few years ago.
Living in Melbourne I met some pretty cool people in the skate industry, just one to mention is Danny from ‘Blank’ he’s now a great friend, who I get tattooed from in Frankston at his store and still talk to about the old days in Warrnambool, he has some cool stories when he brought the team down a few times in the late 90s.
That skate team and brand was the best of the best back then, they were like royalty when they arrived to a comp or demo. That brand still lives on which is cool.
OG image of Troy coming out of the bowl
Q. How is the skate scene now compared to say late 90s, early 2000s?
The skate scene now is great. Skating is more accepted now - back when we were younger it was like a crime to be skating, I think the Olympics and the Tony Hawk pro skater game (especially in the 2000s) has made a big impact.
Q. A new park has been built in Port Fairy, VIC recently that’s very popular and has fantastic flow and transitions. How do you think the Warrnambool park compares and does it cater for all levels of skating? How could it be improved?
I think the Port Fairy park as awesome, the small mellow transitions are the best, the bowl is nice and shallow and user friendly, it definitely caters for all abilities. Warrnambool is a different type of park, it’s mostly built big and full on, made for BMX if you think about it. It’s not for everyone. I think if you grew up on a new smooth park somewhere, your impression of the Warrnambool park wouldn’t be that great. If I had my say I’d build another park somewhere out of the wind, not just keep making it bigger.
Troy getting some Air at Port Campbell Skate park. Image: Robbie Morrow (RIP)
Q. Do you have any advice for those wanting to get into skateboarding, tips to get started, progress, equipment etc?
My tips would be keep practicing as much as you can, don’t feel embarrassed starting out because we’ve all been there! Flat ground basics are best to start off with learning to turn and balance properly. Equipment (from The Slab Lab, wink, wink) to suit your size and age. Get tips from YouTube or a skate coach, it’s hard to work it all out yourself really. It just takes hours of practice and hurting yourself a lot!
Q. What does the future of skateboarding look like for you?
The future for me looks great, my son is starting to show interest in skating so I’m not slowing down at all at the age of 44. I’m currently in the process of building a half pipe at home and will hopefully start skating more and more in the years ahead!
Story by Kylie Palmer @kylie_cant_surf
Words by Troy Beard @beard_81
