Napier teen scooter champ off to Australian competition

Thirteen-year-old Zion Kiripatea practising at Bay Skate ahead of the Australasian Scooter Association National Titles competition in Sydney this month. Photo/Warren Buckland

A Napier teenager's scooter skills will be taking him to Australia this month.

Thirteen-year-old Zion Kiripatea, from Maraenui, is competing in the Australasian Scooter Association National Titles in Sydney on April 21-22.

Zion qualified for the competition after winning his section and becoming number one in the under 14 age group in the New Zealand Scooter Championships in Christchurch in January.

The scooter star is feeling excited ahead of the upcoming challenge in Australia and is not feeling nervous, because of the hours spent perfecting every move at Bay Skate in Napier, he said.

"I'm basically there every day."

Zion can do any sort of jump imaginable and loves them all too much to have a favourite.

Some of the moves can be quite tricky but usually only take a day of concentration to master, he said.

He hopes to do well in the competition and plans to qualify again next year.

Zion Kiripatea taking a break during a hot afternoon of jumps at Bay Skate. Photo/Warren Buckland

He is also aiming to gain sponsorship at this tournament and be able to scoot with professionals.

The teenager's love of scooting started when Zion was about nine years old and his uncle put $2 at the bottom of a 12-foot half pipe at the former Sk8 Zone on Marine Parade saying that it was his if he managed to drop in from the top.

His determination eventually got him the gold coin and sparked a love of the two-wheeled sport.

He would spend hours at Sk8 Zone and when Bay Skate opened in 2016 he would clean the equipment and sweep the grounds in lieu of the entry fee.

He has entered many Hawke's Bay competitions and won his first MGP scooter at the age of 10 when he attempted his first backflip and landed it.

Zion Kiripatea in mid-air while mastering one of his moves. Photo/Warren Buckland

Zion is raising money for the trip, which will be his first overseas, and a new scooter to for the competition through Givealittle.

His fundraiser can be accessed here:

Help Zion Represent NZ In The Australasian Scooter Championship Competition In April 2018

He fundraised to get to nationals in Christchurch earlier this year by doing sausage sizzles, raffles and selling ice blocks to fellow scooters and skaters on hot days.