If there’s one thing that the Mackay community is most passionate about, it’s supporting young regional talent in the world of sports.
The Mackay region prides itself on the driving development of world-class talent, and Arisa Trew’s recent success at the Paris Olympics is a shining example of this.
At just 14 years old, Arisa, who was born and raised in Cairns, made history as Australia’s youngest-ever Olympic gold medallist in the Women’s Park skateboarding event. While her victory is a major personal achievement, this also stands as a monument reminder of the role Mackay has played in her journey at Mackay’s state-of-the-art Sugar Bowl.
This community-driven infrastructure, coupled with Mackay’s commitment to hosting events like the Rumble on the Reef has created a fertile ground for athletes to thrive.
The Rumble on the Reef began in 2018 which quickly became a ground-breaking event in Australia and it provided a crucial platform for emerging skateboarders like Arisa to showcase their skills and gain exposure.
Donny Fraser, Head of Development for Rumble On The Reef, emphasises the event's significant economic impact on regional towns like Mackay.
“We really aim to be able to support regional towns.
“We want to put Mackay on the map and we want to break that record and have the biggest skateboard attendance in Australian for a domestic event.”
Rumble on the Reef commented on the success of Arisa, stating that “historically, no event like this existed in Australia and the goodwill of the Mackay community and Sponsors is what has created these events and opportunities for people in Australia.”
Arisa’s desire to win an Olympic gold medal began when she was just eight years old, discovering skateboarding as an alternative to surfing during the cooler months. Her passion for skateboarding quickly grew, leading her to focus on perfecting her skills while studying at LVLUP, where she dedicated herself to pursuing skateboarding at a professional level.
Last week, five skateboarders who honed their skills at the Rumble on the Reef took their talents to the Paris Olympics. Among them was Arisa, who brought home a gold medal.
Arisa said “I’m so stoked still and it was just such an exciting moment and day.”
When asked about her future plans, Arisa confidently affirmed, “I’m just going to keep skating and having fun and pushing myself to get better.”