Skaters get taught by world’s best

Skaters at the Bunbury Skatepark got a welcome surprise last Tuesday, when world number one female bowl skater Poppy Starr Olsen shredded on her deck.

The 16-year-old visited the popular teenage hangout as part of an impromptu visit to the South West, where she was promoting skating and her artwork, before finishing in Albany where she will competed in a tournament.

Poppy, who is from Newcastle, is one of the best up-and-coming skaters in the world, winning the WCS Vans Girls Combi Classic Women’s Pro division and Australian Bowl-Riding Championships Open earlier this year.

But skating is not her only talent, with the teenager having started her own art company five years ago, going from designing greeting cards to making jewellery and other accessories.

Poppy said the art venture helped support her pro skating career.

“I started making my art into greeting cards and jewellery when I was 11,” she said.

“It helps fund my trips.

“I started off making greeting cards and I have just expanded.”

Poppy said skateparks across the world were all different.

“The ones here are a little smaller than I am used to,” she said.

“But I love skating at all the different parks so I can get used to different areas.”

Poppy’s mentor is legendary skater Tony Hawk, who inspired her to become a skater.

“When I first started skating, he came to Bondi Skatepark, which was my first skatepark,” she said.

“And he was really nice and I remember looking up to him.

“I have seen him around ever since and we have become friends.

“He is really cool.”