Thumbs up for Cork skateboarding park from pro Tony Hawk

A north Cork councillor has said the visit of world famous skateboarder Tony Hawk to Mallow's skatepark has created an opportunity to promote the amenity, which was only opened two years ago. 

The San Diego born skateboarder, now 57, was holidaying with his family in Ireland recently and according to a post on his Reddit account, found the skatepark in Mallow to which he gave a top rating, having spent two hours there.

Possibly one of the world’s most well-known skateboarders, Tony Hawk's visit to Mallow went virtually unnoticed until he posted the video on his social media accounts. One of the party had been videoing the skateboarding star as he rode the rails and executed 'ollies' and other tricks on the park’s gentle slopes – gentler inclines than when he was trying the 900 – a two and a half revolution (360 x2 +180) thought to have been impossible until he completed it after 12 attempts in his heyday in 1999.

On his Reddit account Mr Hawk, whose skateboarding console games Tony Hawk Pro Skating sold over 1 billion copies, was full of praise for the facility in Mallow.

"In these situations, my role is strictly facilitative. fFnding a decent park, providing transportation and on-demand follow-cam. When they finally got their clips, I handed my phone to Miles to chase me around one time. We had the whole place to ourselves for nearly two hours btw. 10/10 would skate again."

Mallow based Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Hayes, who was on the council when it originally approved the plan to build the facility in the town, wants to jump on the opportunity presented by the publicity generated by the visit of Tony Hawk.

“It’s fantastic that he came and that he and his family got so much enjoyment out of their visit to the skate-park,” said Mr Hayes. 

“I think we should take the opportunity now to market it and even organise some events there, such as training sessions in how to safely use a skateboard and the like.” 

The skatepark located on the Park Road in the town was part of wider public realm development work in the town and was opened in October of 2023, becoming a popular venue for local skateboarders whose previous activity on the town’s streets had prompted complaints.