Niels Mostert : Teenage Riot 2013
This was the 2nd edition. From where this idea born?
Patrick and I both have sons that skateboard, that’s how we have met a couple
of years ago. We both found that the skateboarding industry is very focused on
older skateboarders that have broken through as talents and not so much at the
skateboarding youth that enjoys skateboarding but might never break through.
Sometimes there are some contests where kids can participate in a special category
for all kids below 15 year old, but how can a 9 year old skateboarder shine when 14
year talents with flow deals go home with all the prices?
That’s why we said that we wanted to organize a youth-only skateboarding event
with a primary goal to make it a joyful day for all contestants. Part of that goal is
our strategy to break up the contestants into different age groups, so that more kids
can shine and win prices.
What differences have you noticed between the first and second editions
(riders tricks ,participants...)
We felt that many kids without a sponsor did not participate last year because they
would not stand a chance against the sponsored riders that are usually a lot better.
So this year we made an important change, namely to split the contestants up into
age groups AND additionally to split the sponsored kids from the unsponsored kids.
The result was amazing, many more kids showed up to participate, especially in the
category of unsponsored skateboarders.
In general, that caused a decrease of quality tricks, but that is not what the event is
about. Every single kid that we have spoken afterwards was hyped about the event.
Now everyone had his opportunity to show his skills and to win some prices!