FOR years, Borneo’s adrenaline junkies have dreamed of a world-class extreme sports stage in their backyard. That dream is finally becoming a reality as the inaugural CANROLL Festival prepares to ignite Kuching’s Waterfront Central this weekend.
As I arrive at the site, the air crackles with anticipation. Burly construction crews put the finishing touches on a state-of-the-art mobile skatepark, the centrepiece of this three-day celebration of action sports, music, and entrepreneurship.
Nik Suhaily, the visionary behind CANROLL 2025, greets me with a knowing smile. I remember those long-ago days, back when we were just a couple of teenagers chasing the rush of our rollerblade tricks at this very spot. The obstacles were modest then, maybe only about three per cent of what Nik has brought to life here.
“Those were the days, eh?” Suhaily laughs, reading the nostalgia on my face. “We always talked about putting Borneo on the map. Now it’s happening.”
A podium built on passion and progression
At the heart of CANROLL is the modular, mobile skatepark, a first-of-its-kind facility in Borneo. Unlike traditional permanent venues, this pro-level obstacle course is designed for versatility and accessibility, blending street and park elements while meeting international standards.
“We wanted something that could evolve,” says Suhaily, drawing from his experience competing at FISE in France, where he witnessed how world-class parks unite athletes and fans. “This isn’t just a competition space—it’s a training ground, a creative hub, and a launchpad for the next generation.”
The design reflects Suhaily’s own journey — featuring beginner-friendly banks for newcomers and elite-level obstacles that challenge pros. “I built the features I wish I had when I was starting out,” he admits. The response? Instant acclaim, with local skaters and international athletes alike praising its flow and functionality.
Overcoming obstacles: funding, vision, and community
Bringing this dream to life wasn’t easy. As an independent venture, securing funding was the biggest hurdle. “Convincing sponsors was tough,” Suhaily recalls. “But when the ministry stepped in, it became clear — this wasn’t just my project anymore. It was Borneo’s.”
The challenges didn’t end there. Constructing a tropical-durable, competition-grade facility required innovative engineering — yet Suhaily and his team persisted, ensuring the park could withstand Malaysia’s climate while rivalling global venues.
Where adrenaline meets opportunity in Borneo’s ultimate sports revolution
This isn’t just another extreme sports festival — it’s a cultural detonation.
By day, Kuching’s waterfront erupts with world-first combos: pro skaters and BMX legends shredding a revolutionary mobile park, jetski demos slicing through the Sarawak River, and flyboarders defying gravity — all on the same stage. But as the sun dips, CANROLL reveals its true genius.
The afterburn: where athletes become entrepreneurs
While other festivals end when the ramps cool, CANROLL ignites minds. Nightly sessions connect Borneo’s youth with industry pioneers — think how-to-launch-a-brand workshops beside pro-athlete storytelling and venture capitalists scouting talent. “This is where a kid realises their kickflip could fund their future,” says Suhaily, the X Games veteran turned architect of this movement.
The trifecta that changes everything
The Mobile Park: A pro-grade, travelling skate ecosystem reaching rural talent.
The Podium: Where today’s unknowns become tomorrow’s champions.
The Labs: Nightly incubators turning tricks into trade.
“Grassroots build the dream. The podium proves it’s possible. The business side makes it last,” Suhaily sums up.
A closing act only a champion could design
Each night crescendos with a headliner performance — but not just any concert. Imagine a gold-medal skate session backed by live traditional Sape’ music, or a pop-up streetwear collab dropping limited gear mid-air during a BMX finale. This is sport, culture, and commerce fused at full throttle.
“The mobile park builds the grassroots; the podium crowns the champions; the trifecta completes the ambitious youth,” Suhaily explains. “Together, they create a complete ecosystem.”
CANROLL isn’t just making stars — it’s rewriting how extreme sports ecosystems grow. And it’s happening where few expected: Borneo’s jungle-fringed riverside.
“We’re not waiting for the world to notice us,” says Suhaily. “We’re building what they’ll wish they’d thought of first.”
The future is rolling
As CANROLL 2025 launches into motion, one truth becomes undeniable: this isn’t just an event — it’s the genesis of a Borneon sports revolution. For Nik Suhaily, the festival represents both the pinnacle of his athletic journey and the ignition of something far greater.
“We’re not building ramps — we’re building highways to the Olympics,” says Nik Suhaily, eyes flashing like pegs sparking on concrete. “Sarawak breeds warriors. Pandelela Rinong diving for gold, our Paralympians out-lifting giants, Muay Thai fighters with championship DNA. Now imagine that same fire channelled through CANROLL’s mobile parks — rolling into every kampung, spotting the next kid who’ll spin a 1080 in LA 2028.”
His words hang in the humid Kuching air — suspended like a topsoul grind over the vert lip, as tangible as the screech of polyurethane wheels biting the coping.
“The potential? Higher than Azrul’s 900s. Louder than a hubless wheel exploding through a spine transfer. And it all drops this Friday — In sha Allah,” Nik finishes off with a sigh of relief and hopefulness.
The future of extreme sports begins this Friday in Borneo — bring your passion, your energy, and let’s make magic together.
