Having returned from his life in Germany, Joe Hill couldn't believe that despite his time away there was still nowhere to skate in his hometown of Derry.
Having been on a skateboard 'since he was no age', Mr Hill said he decided that he would take matters into his own hands, building and opening Derry City Skatepark at the Altnagelvin Industrial Estate on the Trench Road.
The indoor state-of-the-art park offers Joe the chance to teach beginners some of the tricks of the ever-growing sport, while also introducing young kids to his passion.
Read more: Derry band Lavengro release a new single set in popular leisure complex
Speaking to MyDerry , Joe, 34, said: "I've been skateboarding for 24 years and I recently returned home from Germany and thought there was nowhere to skate in this town, the weather was bad, as it always is in Ireland, and so I decided to build something, for myself, but for everyone else as well.
"When I started skateboarding there were no skateboarders in the town. There was me and one other guy who lived in Culmore Point and since then it has slowly gone up and down like everything else, going through phases, but right now it's popular everywhere in the world.
"It's getting to the stage where everyone accepts it and the kids are waiting to do it. It's getting bigger and bigger, and it's only going to get better."
Joe said that despite the popularity of football and Gaelic football within the local community, since opening last year, he's beginning to see more parents bringing their children along.
"There's a boxing gym next door and football pitch here aswell and when the kids hear the skateboards they come down and the parents will start asking questions about what we do here," he continued.
"Some of the kids have never tried it, but we have everything they'll need. We have scooters, skateboards, skates and everything for them to rent here, and I'm noticing that more and more people are keen on trying it out.
"Skateboarding was always cool to me but now it's cool in the public eye and that's how it's generating more interest.
"We are supported by the government and the council now because it's an Olympic sport. And that's what I'm telling people, I've got the set-up here that they can start at any age and level.
"I offer lessons one-to-one and I can do group lessons or people can come along and work it out for themselves. The best place and way to learn it is to come along and have someone that knows what their doing show you a few tips.
"I'll go step by step and make it all easy. If you go straight in and fall on the big ramp, it's going to put you off. But if you come in and go step by step, it's super easy and fun."
You can contact Joe about getting involved in skateboarding HERE .
READ NEXT:
-
Derry man reflects on noticing Parkinson's symptoms aged just 24
-
Derry business owner determined to get back to work after cancer diagnosis
- NI mum on how autistic son inspired new higher education qualification
To get the latest breaking news from Co Derry straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
