A Westgate teenager has been crowned winner of the national Skateboard GB championships – for the second time.
Tay Cunningham, 16, is the first person to take the title twice, last winning it in 2023 when he was just 14.
He scored a massive 92.57 – 11 points ahead of the next highest competitor – out of a possible 100 score from the five judges.
The heats for the male Park event featured 14 competitors at the Concrete Waves Skatepark in Newquay.
Concrete Waves is one of the largest and well-known skateparks in the UK and the home to British Olympian, Lola Tambling.
The Park competitions take place in a skatepark bowl, with athletes performing tricks out the top of the pool and on the coping surrounding it.
The competition featured the best skateboarders from across the UK, including members of the Skateboard GB National Team but it was Tay that smashed it, bringing cheers of delight as he performed.
Former King Ethelbert student Tay is ranked 50th in the world for his sport and aims to be on the GB team for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
He already has a spot in the Olympic qualifiers and also travels the world for competitions and training, most recently in California with upcoming trips to Italy, Portugal, Brazil, Bali and Japan.
Tay said: “I train around four or five times a week, sometimes every day. Recently in America we were doing two sessions a day, three hours in the morning, lunch, then another three hour session.
“It’s about getting more consistent on the board. I’ve always found it fun, learning new tricks, going fast, getting to see the world and being with all my friends.
“The goal is the Olympics so I’m training like an athlete and eating like an athlete.”
Tay’s dad Ted said: “The Olympic cycle starts next year so he is preparing for that constantly now.”
The youngster is also awaiting planning permission to create a vertical ramp at Westgate’s Lymington park to sit alongside a, hopefully, revamped skatepark.
Ted said: “It will be the only one in Kent. He has bought it himself and it now needs refurbishing. It’ll be for others to use, we have some really good girls at the moment – Rose and Ashleigh- and lots of kids will want to use it.”
A fundraiser will be launched to help with refurbishment costs once planning permission is granted.
Tay started skating at the age of 4 and entered his first jam aged 5 where he won in the U7’s category.
In 2022 he was one of the baton bearers in The Queen’s Baton Relay. showing off his skills to skate the baton around the bowl at Folkestone’s F51 Skatepark. He is now an ambassador for that skatepark.
He says: “I hope my skating inspires younger riders to keep pushing, keep learning and believe anything’s possible.”
See Tay in action at the national championships and find out more on his Instagram (@tay_cunningham_)
Images immi photography
