BATO Yard, the region’s biggest and best Skate Park, will play host to the first ever Australian Skateboarding Federation (ASF) sanctioned Australian Championships of Street Skateboarding on April 28.

 The event will be run as part of the Shredability King of Concrete series, which also includes a bowl event at BATO Yard on February 10.

 Council A/Director Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Bileen Nel said that the national accreditation was a coup for the skateboarding community and an opportunity to showcase local talent leading into the 2020 Olympics.

 “We have an incredibly strong local skate scene and a competition at this level will draw national and even international competitors and spectators, offering Central Coast riders the occasion to compete against the very best”, Ms Nel said.

 “With skateboarding confirmed as an official Olympic sport in 2020, we are proud as a Council to be able to offer pathways of opportunity within this sport”.

 “Importantly, hosting this event also means bringing people to our local area, boosting tourism and our local economy.”

 Mayor Jane Smith concurred that the national accreditation brings formal endorsement of BATO Yard as a world class venue for competitive skating.

 “Input of the local community was instrumental in the design and build of the Park and we should be very proud of what it is achieving,” Mayor Smith said.

 “Sport connects and brings people together, and as a Council we are committed to providing avenues for community wellbeing – this venue and competition are a great demonstration of that.”

 Registered competitors will vie for a $12,000 prize purse along with the opportunity to gain points toward an ASF national ranking.

 The event categories for competitors include Open Mens, Open Womens, 16 and Under and 12 and Under; with a last-chance qualifier taking place at 10am on April 27 at BATO Yard.

 The event is supported by Central Coast Council and presented by APM Youth Employment Services in association with 101.3 SeaFM, The Entrance Leagues Club and Toowoon Bay Holiday Park.

 In addition to the King of Concrete series, a range of clinics and competitions will be offered over the coming months.

 For more information about this and other upcoming events at BATO Yard, visit  centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/batoyard