Development gets its skates on

A former professional skater, he has about 35 years of experience and knows exactly what is needed in a good skate park.

And so, as director of Lennox Head-based company Oasis Skateparks, he’s the perfect person to design the village’s new skate park.
Work on the long-awaited facility started on Thursday, and could be finished within three or four weeks, depending on the weather.

One of the perks of Mr Clancy’s job is that he’ll probably be the first person to have a go at the 1.5m-deep bowl which is the feature of the Lennox Head skate park.
He can call it ‘quality control’ of his product, but he admits it will be fun, too.

His crew are working hard to finish the skate park as soon as possible.
“We know everyone has been waiting a long time for it,” Mr Clancy said.

“It’s great to be able to build a park in our home town.
“This skate park will be about 350sqm, so it’s on the smaller end of the scale because of the geographical constraints.
“But it’s still going to be excellent.”

With its banks, ledges, grind rails, quarter pipe and clover-shaped bowl, he said it will provide something for all levels of skaters, from beginners to advanced.
“The bowl is really the stand-out feature,” Mr Clancy said.

“We are trying to put in a balance of features.
“We’re trying to cater for all styles.”
While Mr Clancy said it was great that Ballina Shire Council has funded an activity for youth, the 46-year-old is just as eager to get on as the younger skaters.

“I still love to skate,” he said.
Oasis Skateparks has built about 14 skate parks around the country.
Lennox Head’s skate park is being build as part of the new community centre precinct in Park Lane.

The community centre includes a main auditorium meeting rooms, the library and a playgroup facility.