Scott Shearer, President, Brisbane Skateboarding Association

Eat, chat, contemplate the day and think about life ...

For Brisbane Skateboarding Association (BSA) president Scott Shearer, skateboarding isn’t just a weekend hobby, it’s an all-consuming passion that has led him to challenge stereotypes and lobby for changes in Brisbane. The former pro skateboarder says he’s seen a decline in the number and quality of public skateparks across Brisbane in the last 20 years and now he’s working to promote more creative use of urban space in our city. While the idea for a skateboard lobby group had been in Scott’s mind for years, it wasn’t until he embarked on a master’s in social science in 2010 that the environmental, urban and social planner/researcher decided to put his plans into action. The BSA hopes to unite local skateboarders across Brisbane and offer a space for them to have their voices heard. The Weekend Edition caught up with Scott to chat about his idea of a perfect weekend.

How do you like to start your weekend?
Lurking the streets on a Friday evening to see what’s happening – you never know what’s out there!

What’s your favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning?
Eat, chat, contemplate the day and think about life.

How do you like to unwind?
By going for a walk.

What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
Food, sex and sun – in no particular order.

What’s something you’ve been meaning to do on the weekend but haven’t got around to yet?
I should sort out my taxes.

What’s your favourite thing to do on a Sunday evening?
Reflect on the previous week and establish goals for the week to come.

What are you looking forward to next weekend?
Judging the Best Trick Skateboarding Competition at Fairfield Skatepark this Sunday June 30.

What are you reading at the moment?
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and Invisible History: Afghanistan’s Untold Story by Paul Fitzgerald.

What inspires you?
The ability of skateboarders to reinterpret the urban environment in creative and unintended ways, and adding cultural value to cities.

What was your childhood dream?
After reading Roald Dahl’s The Twits, I wanted to be a writer.

What has been your greatest achievement?
Getting skateboarding onto Brisbane City Council’s agenda through relentless and ongoing lobbying over the last few years.

What is success to you?
Overcoming ignorance.

What are your words of wisdom?
Drip-dry before you get out of the shower so your towel doesn’t get too wet.

Only a local would know … there is a $500 fine for skateboarding in King George Square.

FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up …
Cabinessence, Paddington.
Relax … I’m relaxed wherever I am.
Dine …  King Ahiram Lebanese Food, West End.
Indulge … ShliX, Fortitude Valley.
Shop … The Village Markets, Kelvin Grove.
Catch-up … Love Love Studio, Teneriffe.
Be inspired … State Library of Queensland, South Bank.

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