“Hey all, day 6  of our trip up north was the day we headed from Broome to Derby, our final stop. We left Broome late in the morning and arrived in Derby late afternoon. After checking into our accommodation and stocking up on food supplies we had a cruise around town, the port and scoped out the skatepark. Day 7 we took a drive out to Windjana Gorge and trekked around there for about two hours. We were able to get close to fresh water crocodiles, see bats, lizards, fish and heaps of birds. From there we headed to Tunnel creek, a natural tunnel about 1km long with a creek running through it. Walking through in complete darkness with only our small torches to see with was just great. In some parts we had to walk through knee high water, and to see shrimp, catfish and frogs all in abundance was such a fantastic experience. The drive back to Derby was 2 hour night drive in such a remote part of Australia, but we got to see the nocturnal wildlife like owls, wallabies, snakes and lots of Cows. The day was an incredible time in nature. When we returned to our accommodation we could not believe the day we just had.

Clockwise from left – The Derby region is famous for its massive Boab trees – Crocodiles at Windjana Gorge – Billy and Dylan in Tunnel creek – Dylan jumps no foot can can on a low tide at the Derby Port

Windjana Gorge was remarkable

Day 8 in Derby was filled with some exploring the town and hitting up some spots down at the port. Derby is known to have 11 metre tides, the second biggest in the world and on this day it was low tide, so the jetty at the port was really high. There is no swimming at Derby either as there are salt water crocodiles about. We had a fun time as the port and found a few things to hit up. In the afternoon we headed to the skatepark to hit up the coaching session and throw down some trickery. The young dudes at the park were super stoked to see us rip up the park and when Dylan through down a backy over the hip they went nuts. We hung out at the skatepark till 8pm just chillin and mixing up with the locals and getting them super stoked on some new skatepark skills. Derby was a great time.  

Billy hitting a small kerb jump at the Derby Port while the low tide is out. At high tide the water is at the top of the jetty in the background.

Clockwise from top left – Shaun carving at the Derby Port – Derby youth at the coaching jam – Dylan throwing down on the rail at the Derby skatepark – Wild Bill, a long stick and a Goanna that doesn’t want to be moved

The next day, Saturday, it was time to leave Derby and start out journey back to Port Hedland, our destination was Eighty Mile Beach. Not long out of Derby I saw what I thought was a crocodile on the road, so we doubled back and it turned out to be a massive goanna just chillin and getting the warmth off the road. We thought it was best to get it off the road but it did not want to budge even with it being nudged with a big stick from Billy. Just when we thought we were beaten a local guy stopped and took him off the road by picking it up by its tail. The drive to Eighty Mile beach was a long one and we arrived at the caravan park later in the afternoon. Checked in and headed to the beach. It was amazing to see so many shells on the beach. To be able to stand at the beach where when you look in either direction and see nothing but beach for as far as you can see, no one around and the most amazing sun set ever, was just epic. That night we went for a late night beach walk to catch the low tide. It was so dark we could not see where we were going without our torches, only the sound of the ocean to walk to. It was about a good 500 metre walk to the water edge, that was on its way back in again, and doing so fast. The abundance of marine life we on the sand was just mind blowing, crabs of many kinds, sea slugs, jelly fish and a sea snail orgy taking place. 

Eighty Mile beach sunset, breath taking.

Dylan hits the Port Hedland skatepark one more time before flying back to Perth

Day 10 it was time to get back to our starting point, Port Hedland. Upon arriving at Port headland we had a quick ride at the Port Hedland skatepark, a short swim at Pretty Pools and then head to the airport to pack and board the plane to head home to Perth. The trip was so amazing and it felt like we were away for ages, as we packed so much into every day. The North West of Australia is like nowhere else I’ve seen before and I cant wait till we can return into that part of the county again. Get out and travel, explore and get educated, keep it still, don’t be ill and rock the casbah.”  

To look at more photo’s from the trip you can check them out on the Freestyle Now Facebook page here.

“Hey all, just letting ya all know what’s been happin on the up north trip. We flew into Port Hedland on Friday morning. Got to our accommodation at a mine camp and then went out to explore the town for some spots. Friday arvo we hit up South Hedland skatepark for a coaching session. Was a good feeling to help out some young shredders learn some new skills. We then headed over to the Port Hedland Skatepark. This was amazing to ride, totally lit up like daylight with a full roof over head. We all had a mad session at the park well into the night. This park is awesome. The next day we slept in and then headed down to the festival sight to organize the set up for the bmx stunt shows Port Bound youth festival, the reason we came up north. The stunt shows were rad with a good crowd rockin. The 6:30 and 7:30 shows were by far the best. We had a mad autograph session after with a stack of Freestyle Now T-shirts being sold and signed. Sunday came around fast, it was the last day for Laurence. We took up the invite to ride the Port Hedland BMX track. From there it was time to hit up a rad street spot we found although I was the only one to ride it as Billy, Dylan and Laurence were knackered from riding the BMX track. From there we went to this spot called pretty pools, a tidal inlet that is great to swim in,refreshing to say the least. One more stop was to be had at the sculpture we saw on our way into town on the first day. Laurence busted out a flair and then to the airport it was. Laurence was on his way to Perth and we were on our way to Derby for another coaching jam. Our first stop was in Pardoo about 100kms north of Port Hedland as we were staying there Sunday night.

Laurence Bakewell sculpting a flair in Port Headland

Top – The race is on??, Bottom right – Good times, Bottom left – The sun rise in Pardoo

Monday morning it was up at the crack of dawn and off to Broome a good 6 hours drive. Upon arriving in Broome we scoped out the town for spots, not that many but some. Checked into the backpackers and then off to the skatepark. Tricks were done, clips were taken and then time to swim. The beach in Broome is great. We went at a low tide so it was a good 150 metres of beach to walk. Broome has 6 metre tides. That night we went for a street ride and then later it was off to the beach for a late night swim. Next day Tuesday was a explore Broome day. We got to a beach spot to find the beach covered in tiny crazy crabs, they were everywhere, like ants, it was the most amazing thing to see. We then ventured out to Gantheaume Point for more exploring. Dylan and Billy went rock jumping into the ocean while I took the opportunity to ride some flatland on some of the smoother flatter rocks. More riding around the Port, more clips, more good times and then back to Cable Beach to watch the sunset. Again that night it was a late night swim at the beach.

Clockwise from top left – Dylan tucks it at Broome skatepark, Billy nosing near the sun at Broome skatepark, Shaun rock riding – photo billy brooks, Dylan rails at the port.

Broome’s sunset and Shaun’s backyard – photo billy brooks

The trip so far has been unbelievable with so many good sights seen and random riding spots. Day 6 of our trip we are off to Derby so I will send in another update to let ya all know how the rest of the trip rolls. Stay rad and have good times always”

Clockwise from top left – Laurence Bakewell, mid double whip – Dylan Schmidt 360 tail whip – Billy Brooks letting the style flow while the sun sets – Dylan throws a backy for the lovers.

Left – Sam got a shirt and had it signed and then the photo was done, the full fan treatment – Right – Laurence doing some ink work

This guy will be ripping it up in the North West, fresh back from his fractured foot at Huckfest, Dylan Schmidt.

Rockingham skatepark competition – 21^st April 2012 – Round 11 F.N.W.A.S.S. – Official results

Scooter Newbie – 1^st Dylan Muir, 2^nd Max McRicker, 3^rd Conner Avery, 4^th Baily Horlock, 5^th Ty Rogers, 6^th Justin Pullin, 7^th Dwight Beckersley, 8^th Callum Day, 9^th Damon Smith, 10^th Ethan Jones, 11^th Joshua Avery

Scooter Stud – 1^st Mason Hawira, 2^nd Todd Jamieson, 3^rd Kyle Russell, 4^th Josh Perterson, 5^th Morgan Avery, 6^th Reece Jobse, 7^th Nigel Heidt, 8^th Dylan VP

Skate Newbie – 1^st Allen Elliott, 2^nd Alexander Yates, 3^rd Chonchoe Lasvendous, 4^th Amil Lake, 5^th Ben Terry

Bmx Newbie – 1^st Xavier Morgan, 2^nd Jordan Mitchall, 3^rd Euan Bradford, 4^th Jarrod Evans, 5^th Brett Myles, 6^th Sean Neal, 7^th Connor Avery

Bmx Stud – 1^st Luke Snelling, 2^nd Garrett Honsa, 3^rd Greg Lamond, 4^th Louis Johnstone, 5^th Dan Davis

Clockwise from left – Jordan Mitchall taking out 2^nd place in the Newbie bmx class, no foot cancan – Conner Avery smashing it out for 3^rd in the scooter Newbie class, he also rode in the bmx Newbie and did very well – Xavier Morgan transferring and getting flat – Dan Davis is a young shredder, whipin the spine.

Willetton skatepark competition – 20^th April 2012 – Round 10B F.N.W.A.S.S. – Official results

Scooter Newbie – 1^st Zack Stiles, 2^nd Mitchell Anderson, 3^rd Tyler Marinovic, 4^th Sam Brown, 5^th Tristan McGrunddy, 6^th Nic VanHalteran, 7^th Rhys McGruddy, 8^th Lochy Young, 9^th Hayden Wirrell, 10^th Mitch Steacy, 11^th Benjamin Dunleauy, 12^th Tyson O’Hara, 13^th Christan Colgan, 14^th Dwayne Vidich

Scooter Stud – 1^st Kyle Page, 2^nd Billy Watts, 3^rd Josh Sharp, 4^th Christian Cole, 5^th Brad Kersten, 6^th Jack Brotchie, 7^th Sam Koutsoukis

Skate Newbie – 1^st Jordan Pigg

Skate Stud – 1^st Zac Clinkers, 2^nd Sophie Williams, 3^rd Rowan White, 4^th Harrison Riddell

Bmx Newbie – 1^st Shae Ritalik, 2^nd Kyle Page, 3^rd Tom Nikolic, 4^th Billy Watts, 5^th Jayden Flynn