KUCHING: Four skaters from Black Troop Inline Academy are set to compete in the open category of the CanRoll Pro Action Sports Festival this weekend, a bold step for the academy’s youth development programme.
The three-day festival, running from May 23 to 25, gathers participants from across Malaysia, offering a competitive platform in various extreme sports.
With no junior category available, the academy sends two juniors and two seniors into the open division to gain valuable exposure.
Coach Haidy Fogarty, who founded the academy just over a year ago, expressed confidence in the team’s preparation.
“We’re only sending our best. It’s all about gaining experience, especially for the juniors. Hopefully, they’ll do well,” he told Sarawak Tribune during an interview at Kuching Waterfront on Friday.
The juniors, Chris Moh and Jensen Bong, both 10, will face older, more experienced competitors.
Haidy noted that athletes as young as 11 or 12 have already reached Youth Olympic levels, making early exposure essential for their development.
The senior competitors, aged 24 and 26, not only represent the academy in the event but also serve as mentors for the younger skaters during regular training sessions at Batu Kawa Skate Park.
“They are competing seriously while guiding the juniors. It’s part of building a strong foundation,” said Haidy.
Black Troop is part of a larger network that includes Black Brigade Skateboard Academy and Black Knight BMX Academy, all focused on cultivating Sarawak’s extreme sports scene.
The academy trains over 100 skaters, with a focus on aggressive inline skating and preparing athletes for national-level competition.
“We teach both aggressive and recreational skating, but our main focus is on aggressive skating.
“For those who want to pursue it seriously, we train them specifically for that,” he said.
