No limits for young skateboarder

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JULIA WADE

A local young skateboarding prodigy is emerging in Mangawhai, rolling up to competitions often as the youngest on the ramp and bowling over competitors and audiences alike.

Skilled skater, 10-year-old Monty Graham, has been doing amazing feats around the North Island skateboarding circuit in recent weeks, competing and winning against older and more experienced rivals.

The Mangawhai Beach School Year 5 student has recently returned from the Bay Skate Comp 2020, held in Napier’s Skate Park on November 28, taking out first place for the Under 15s, as well as coming second in the Open Division ahead of skaters who had been boarding before Monty was even born.

At the Bay of Islands third annual Vert Jam skateboard competition in Kerikeri on November 21, which attracts experienced skaters from all over the country, the young-guns took out many of the top prizes and despite Monty being the youngest competitor, he still claimed third place in the Under 16s division.

Naturally father Blair Graham is beaming with pride, and says skateboarding is an encouraging sport because ‘the older guys want to be beaten by the younger ones’.

“He just loves skating, he does it because he’s passionate and loves the vibe and energy of the comps, the buzz from being around like-minded people, his mates, and catching up with the crews at the events… for him it’s the whole package,” says Blair.

“Although he prefers the bowl, he also now loves the vert… he’s got so good in the Mangawhai bowl nothing is scaring him now.”

Adds Monty: “Me and Dad go camping on the comps to different places around the country, we have so much fun, it's awesome. I love everything about skating… there's no other words for it, it's just the best sport, New Zealand skateboarding is alive.”

‘Rolling around on a skateboard’ since he was only six years old, Blair says his son first competed in Mangawhai’s Bowl Jam in 2019, and in the 2020 event was placed seventh out of 18 competitors in the Under 16.

He later went on to compete in New Zealand’s national skate comp, Bowlzilla, held in Wellington, winning himself sixth place in the same Under 16 division as NZ champion Niwa Shewry.

“He doesn’t go in to win though, and doesn’t get bummed out if he loses, he’s just going in to do his best. I don’t put any pressure, it’s all him… it’s all his gig.”

Monty is now officially sponsored by new local skate, surf and scooter store No Limits, who opened their doors on November 27, and is co-owned by experienced surfer Nicole Seyle and her partner Evan King, proprietor of other local businesses Village Wines and Wood Street Pizzeria as well as Lumsden Freehouse in Auckland.

Transformed from an old engineering workplace into a welcoming industrial-styled shop by designer Maria Hull, No Limits is adorned with colourful surf and skate boards, filled with a range of equipment and apparel, and has an inviting couch area to talk shop.

An open room for sourcing skater shoes is located upstairs as well as a set-up for enthusiasts to create their own boards with guidance and advice offered by renowned pro skateboarder Umberto Skinner.

While providing quality gear, both Seyle and King say No Limits is also designed for anyone who is an enthusiast of surf, skate and scootering, as ‘a hang-out place for kids of all ages’.

 

With all that air time, you’d think Monty should be racking up the Air Miles. Here he is impressing watchers at the recent Bay Skate comp in Napier. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

 

Talented young local skater, Monty Graham, doing what comes naturally and winning big. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

 

“I love everything about skating… there's no other words for it, it's just the best sport.”

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