After years of professional skateboarding, a youth worker in a remote Aboriginal community is turning his attention to coaching and encouraging children from Central Australia to dream of the Olympic stage.
Eastern Arrernte man and traditional owner Nicky Hayes was the first skateboarder in the Northern Territory to be accredited by the Australian Skateboarding Federation and one of the first and only Aboriginal skateboarders to have an official sponsor.
After learning to skate at age 12, he went on to become one of the only Indigenous skateboarders to compete at an elite level.
Now he is taking things one step further, training young people.
With skateboarding making its debut as an Olympic sport at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Mr Hayes is dreaming big, hoping to see young Territorians — particularly those from his hometown of Santa Teresa, or Ltyentye Apurte, east of Alice Springs — compete on the world stage.
"The reason I wanted to work with kids is to give them the opportunity to do anything … I never had that," Mr Hayes said.
After helping to set up the First Skate Park in Alice Springs in 2004, Mr Hayes started a campaign to get a park built Santa Teresa in 2017.
"When you bring something different, it's kind of like a big scary thing as well, especially for remote communities where it's all about the football," he said.
"It doesn't come easy, not at all. [It requires] hard work, dedication, passion and drive.
"That's the main thing for these kids or these young people. If they want to succeed in anything [that's what they need], that's my advice."
From the desert to the city
Mr Hayes is preparing to take a group of youngsters to Brisbane in 2020 for their first interstate skateboard competition.
Art auctions, fundraising events and an online crowdfunding page have helped the group raise almost $20,000 to pay for the trip.
One of the travellers, nine-year-old Ruot Flowers, said he was excited to meet other skaters from across the country.
"Were going to Brisbane to skate — it's crazy, I'm excited," he said.
Next year will also see Mr Hayes start his own "brand", a project he has dreamed of since he first picked up the skateboard at age 12.
"I'm not done yet. I've still got a lot to do," Mr Hayes said.
