Downhill skateboarder and Hagley College Year 10 student Finn Gray-Swann is succeeding on the international stage and we couldn’t be more proud of him!

I caught up with Finn to hear about life in the fast lane.

When I asked Finn how he got into skating he replied that in Sumner everyone skates or surfs! Fair enough! He was five when he sort of started skating. When he was 12 he started to think that he would really like to learn some new stuff.

Lucky for Finn, Taylor Cook lives down the street. Taylor is an U18 world champion downhill skateboarder. Mum and Dad were reluctant but in time he wore them down and had his first crack at downhill.

I’m an amateur when it comes to understanding exactly what downhill skateboarding involves but after a quick squizz on YouTube I understood his Mum and Dad’s reluctance! Gosh!

Check Finn out here. 

Traditionally, downhill boards were longer but they are now getting shorter, I assume as technology gets better. The wheels are different and designed for speed.

So Finn got the taste for downhill and at some point decided to ask Taylor for some help. Taylor gave Finn a board to ride and he started spending his weekends practising. Four months into his practice, Finn went to Kaikoura and experienced his first competition. What stood out for Finn was how cool the people were. He loved the experience and found that people were pleased for each other's success, which made a welcome change from the competitive rugby environment that he had experienced when he was younger.

When Finn was in Year 8 he competed in Kaikoura again and had his first race overseas when he raced Bathurst in Australia. Finn describes this race as ‘gnarly’. He thinks it is because to get international skaters to travel it needs to be for a special kind of race.

Finn got 5th at Bathurst and came back pumped to keep improving and to keep getting faster. Finn recognises this race doesn't suit his strengths as he is a bit light for the straights. He also competed in ‘Tame the Taipan’ in Queensland, a race that suited him more as it involved more technique where you drift the corners. Finn finished second in that race which was in the Under 18 age group. He was 15 at the time.

Finn finalised his trip to Canada earlier this year, 3 days before he got on a plane. It was a massive trip involving flights, trains, a ferry ride and a long walk with heavy bags! Lucky for Finn he had the support of his Grandad in Canada. Before the races he hung out skating with the locals and loved how friendly they were. He also got to meet people he had been in touch with from NZ about equipment.

Finn finished his Canadian trip with some amazing results. He won two U18 races and got 10th in an Open event as well. He was the youngest on the podium and really exceeded his own expectations!

Finn recognises the contribution and support he receives from his Mum and Dad. There is an opportunity for some alternative sponsorship but his trips are self-funded and he realises that they come at a cost.

Finn has big goals; he wants to compete on the world circuit in 2021. He would like to be the World Champion for the U18 age group and the big goal is to represent NZ in the 2024 Summer Olympics where downhill skating will make its debut in Paris.

What amazed me, other than the drive and ambition for such a young guy, was that Finn has had a broken collar bone and not much else! All that practice makes it safer, he wears gloves and a helmet as the minimal requirements, and leathers when competing.

I’m conscious that there might be Year 8 parents and students reading this in anticipation of starting Hagley in 2020. Here is some advice for students starting at Hagley. Finn suggests: 

“It’s really easy! It’s like school but better! It’s easy to fit in.”

I hope you are all as impressed as I am and again here is evidence of finding your passion + putting the work in + goals and drive = success.