Ventnor Blog

It seems that there are knights in shining armour roaming the street of Ventnor.

A couple of weeks ago, we were walking past the skate park down on the esplanade and noticed a guy casing the joint. Simon made a quip about him looking like he couldn’t decide whether he was going to skate or not - although with all due respect, he didn’t really look the type (more likely his grandchildren).

Anyway, he explained that the skate park was looking for donations in order to carry out much needed repairs to the ramps. One quote had already come in at £3,000, so he decided to take a look at what needed to be done and rather than give cash, he’d send a couple of his lads down to do the work.

As we carried on our walk we both agreed that this was a brilliant way to make a contribution. In a place where money isn’t always available for such projects, it goes to show that a difference can be made without it.

I haven’t been passed since then, so don’t know whether the work has started yet, but if anyone has more info on this and the name of the guy who has volunteered his workers for the job, please let us know.

Image courtesy of Fabrique

As many of you will know, up until a year ago, I lived in London - infact I was born there, grew up there, worked there, met my gorgeous husband there and gave birth to my daughter there.

A few people (this is the exception rather than the rule) have expressed disgust at me … a Londoner … who has decided to make Ventnor my home, ‘How dare I?�

I can understand how people from the Isle of Wight want to keep it to themselves - many of those reasons are why people are attracted here - but the reality is this planet belongs to no-one and everyone. Just as I believe that people from the world over should be able to travel to the UK and decide to live here if they want (and vice versa), I believe that I should be able to find somewhere that I love and make my life there. Regardless of where I was born.

This is particularly apt considering I was actually born in a bus stop on the Western Avenue. Somehow, I can’t imagine setting up home there! Might be a tad uncomfortable (not to mention a bit noisy).

Anyway, enough of the personal details. Being a Londoner, every so often I like to see what’s going on in my home town and was gutted to see that this weekend I missed Clapham Common being turned into a skateboarding, bmx and breakdancing arena.

Sponsored by Sprite (corporate sponsorship is everywhere these days - although an ice cold lemonade does go down well in 33 degrees), there was all sorts of stuff going on, including a £40k prize for the most talented!

Any of you who’ve visited MySpace will know of my love of breakdancing and might have taken the time to watch this totally amazing and inspiring video.

Back in March, I stuck up a video of a skateboarding dog, (video has since been deleted) asking for anyone to come forward if they knew of similarly talented canines in Ventnor.

Sadly, no-one came forward but as you’ll see on the front cover of this weeks County Press, Shanklin are able to boast their own surfing dog.

A two year old labrador called Sherrie has been surfing since she was six months old and practises every day down on Dunroamin Beach.

So are we going to let Shanklin top us? If you have a pet who can perform an unsual feat, get in touch and we’ll cover it on the blog.

Image credit: Chris Thwaites (IW County Press)

Citizen journalism Lives!

boni face, has reported to the VentnorBlog forum about the meeting last night at Niton about the concerns on many sides about the skatepark. While we really regret not being able to get down there, it’s great to see such a balanced report coming from one of VentnorBlog readers/contributors.

good on everyone who turned up to lend support and put across ideas:

The guys living down allotment road, that backs onto the rec, have had a really raw deal with trouble. it doesn’t appear to be locals at all but their view was that the skate ramp attracts people outside the village that turn up and cause damage and noise during the day and late at night (we’re talking fires, smashed bottles, vandalism, driving cars and bikes on the skate ramps … the list goes on). understandably they have had enough and feel that if the ramp is removed and they get pc plod on the scene they’ll move on elsewhere …

the trouble is whilst this would work short term it would deprive all the guys that have worked hard to build and maintain the skate ramp … and gives them nowhere to skate other than the roads … plus it simply moves the real trouble makers onto to some other poor innocent village ….

the answer isn’t easy and is certainly not going to happen overnight …

some good views that were put across suggested we all try to communicate more with each other - build bridges - perhaps organise a few free bbq’s up the rec - show a bit of love (and there’s plenty of that in niton) - show respect for one another- even invite the ‘outsiders’ along … and by building a loving community this will have a knock on effect in general…

like i say it won’t happen overnight and it will require a lot of effort on all sides.

the skate ramp won’t be taken down for the time being - but we’ve all got to pull together on this one - because if things don’t start improving, councillors are going to be swayed towards the short term solutions and we’ll be in danger of losing the ramp….

bigupthelove

Thanks to ‘Boni Face’ for bringing this issue to our attention on the forum last week …. given the arguments heard so far I would urge anyone in support of the skate ramp to go along to a meeting being held tonight at Niton Primary School at 7.20pm.

.. i don’t know the full story .. but this is what i’ve heard so far ..

just to fill you in … the ‘rec’ is a recreational ground - a place of community - it is mainly a cricket pitch with club house (and a large one at that) - it is on a rather impratical slope - but great in the summer - loads of cricket matches, teas and serves as an excellent gathering place for the community.

at the base of the rec is a skate ramp built a few years ago - by money raised by kids in the village - it’s tucked neatly into the corner of the rec. There used to be a playground as well - but much of that has already been removed (all down to insurance etc.) and there is opposition in having that replaced too.

i must point out that the ramp is no hinderance to the cricket pitch.

a couple of (older) residents living on the road that runs close to it have complained about the noise from the skate ramp… and a couple of councillers have joined in with them.

This is why it is important that people come to this meeting - to put both sides across and see who really supports it and who is against it and the real reasons why.

personally i’m really sad that the village want to take something away that had so much effort put into it. The village is for everyone … young and old and in between…..

For the purpose of balance and to avoid being accused of scapegoating (yeah, thanks for that) here’s another view of the situation from a ‘Guest’ on the forum

so what if a few local councillers want to take it down and replace it with a cricket ground- good on them, and there isn’t need to scapegoat these people by placing a front page article on a blog.

definately a sport that will benefit the local community (look at Ventnor Cricket Club). i’m sure after sensible dialogue between the two parties, relocation of the skate park can be agreed.

Hopefully balanced and constructive discussions will result in an agreeable solution where everyone will be happy. If you need transport to Niton, feel free to use the forum to find car shares.

Great to see the community coming together last Saturday in Ryde, following the
news of imminent closure of the Skate Park.

After the protest, David Knowles, Vice Chairman of Ryde Town Forum and IW Councillor promised that the IW Council would make all efforts to secure funding to keep the skate park open.

Let’s hope the Council sticks to the promise they made and it doesn’t end with just efforts, but real results that will keep the skate park open.

Following the story last week of the imminent closure of Ryde Skate Park, I heard part of a report on IW Radio today. Didn’t catch it all so if you know more, stick up a comment and let us know.

So, who’d be on the radio but John Cattle, talking about how members of the (forgotten proper name) “iow skate people getting together to cut some shapes forum”, have all joined forces in order to make repairs to the skate park so it passes safety rules.

Excellent news, so what happened about the insurance? Has someone else covered that also?

Thanks to Simon for this news he heard on IW Radio today …

Ryde Skate Park ’set to be dismantled’
The future of Ryde Skate Park is looking uncertain. The facility - which is behind LA Bowl - is currently locked as it’s deemed unsafe because many ramps are loose. The annual insurance is also about to expire. Ryde’s Development Trust and the Skate Park Users Group met on Tuesday night to see if a solution could be drawn up to save the park. But members acknowledged they cannot pay for the £2,000 a year insurance and it’s likely the ramps will be removed by the end of the month.

Surely IW council should be stepping in here to save the skate park? Every time I’ve been past, it is always busy there. Where will the skaters go if it’s closed … up and down the esplanade?

Places like skate parks keep the kids off the streets and doing something constructive, with rumours of funding for youth clubs being cut, this looks likely to be another nail in the coffin for the youth of the island. Maybe someone from the youth council might be able to lobby the council on this.

Let VentnorBlog know if you have more news on this issue or feel free to comment on the forum.

After being rained on in the morning and having to take to bed for the afternoon, my dear husband went down to the Cascade to shoot some video of the crazy folk who are willing to risk rather nasty injuries in search for the buzz of extreme sporting.

Watch video of three crazy men on boards
Watch video of two crazy men on bikes - they make it look so easy, but I’m sure it’s not.

He also managed to get an interview (listen here) with Nigel Howell, organiser of the event and upcoming WhiteAir Festival 27-30th October being held in Yaverland. If you haven’t got your tickets yet, jump to it. Four days of Kitesurfers, Windsurfers, Surfers, Skate, BMX, Mountain Boarding, Thundercat Racing, Mountain Bike Cross Country, Mountain Bike Trials, Duathlon, Parkour, Kayak Racing, and music by The Motion Pictures and The Bees Sound System!

The competitors, not ones to wimp out of anything extreme, made a run for the sea after event. Rather them than me I say.

Muchos Gracias to the guys from Sweetlife for the excellent T they gave to Alpha for her help in sweeping up. Check them out at the main festival, where you can buy limited edition festival t-shirts and other fine wares.

Set up’s now complete and trials are well under way. Road conditions dry …. but some finding it hard to get round the switchback without crashing or sliding into haystacks.

Just took a quick trip to the cascade and the Whiteairguys are now setting up and hope to start trials around 3ish. Check back later for pictures and vox pops.

A new event to the White Air is the ‘Gravity Racing’. Street luge, Butt Board, Skate, Mtboard and Gravity Bikes make up the disciplines, and these will race head on in the finals of the UK tour at the Ventnor ‘Chicane’. This beautifully landscaped area provides the venue, a perfect course for the riders, and superb spectator viewing areas.

Spectacular racing over the second weekend with see all the top UK and some of the Worlds best riders compete over the two days with Friday and Saturday nights hosting the Gravity party time at the Mill Bay Inn!

WightAir link

The weekend starts early in Ventnor, as tomorrow sees the return of the UK Gravity Sports Association Gravity Racing down the cascade in Ventnor. Trials start at noon and the races take place on Saturday and Sunday between 11am-5pm.

Having only just moved to Ventnor a few months ago I am uber excited about the event, although given my cranky old bones, I won’t be taking part myself. Let’s hope the weather holds out, as outdoor parties hosted by Red Bull are planned for Friday and Saturday night.

So dust down your knee pads and get yourselves over to the Ventnor Cascade this weekend, there will be much fun and jollity for all.

News of this event was bought to our attention by the excellent weekly, The South Wight Chronicle, a must have for any locals, and keenly priced at 30p, well worth every penny.

More info about the White Air events