A Wairarapa town claims some of New Zealand's gnarliest skating moments, and it is now home to the Wellington region's biggest skatepark.
Masterton's skating history dates back to 1876 when its first indoor roller-skating rink opened.
Wairarapa Archives librarian Michelle Clausen said the interest only grew from there, with one newspaper reporting that people struggling to feed themselves during the post-war depression would still turn up at the rink.
Clausen said it was a similar story during the 1918 influenza epidemic.
"It was basically another lockdown," she said.
"The Wellington District Health Board had closed down all businesses and all places of entertainment and amusement, including skating rinks, but one of ours actually kept going."
The skatepark moved to its current location in 1959 and was even visited by World-renowned skateboarder Tony Hawk in the late 80s.
Peter Maxwell and Maree Loader knew that skate scene well.
The siblings are internationally recognised roller skaters, whose family moved up from Christchurch because of the North Island's skating facilities.
"Masterton was very dominant," Maxwell said.
"Very good track, very good skaters up here, and there were a lot of events in the North Island so that made them really, really good."
In fact, the 1980 world speed-skate championships were held in Masterton, with the siblings taking gold and silver.
Loader said it was difficult to remember a time when she was not skating.
"It was part of our life, well, it was our life," she said.
"We lived it, breathed it, ate it, slept it. That's what we did."
Masterton's revamped skatepark opened in February.
Masterton mayor Lyn Patterson trying out the skatepark when it opened in February. Photo: Screenshot / Masterton Skatepark
Steve Nicholson has been skateboarding for 17 years. He had driven over the hill from Wellington to check out the new park.
"I'm really liking it, the distance between obstacles is really good, there's lots of space for other people to be around you," he said.
"You don't really get in other people's way and they don't get in your way, which is a nice change from other skateparks for sure."
Nine-year-old Faith was at the park on her scooter.
"It's a bit challenging and I've almost fallen over twice, but that's what makes it fun."
Meanwhile, the local council and police face their own challenges, with reports emerging of young people behaving inappropriately at the park.
This afternoon Masterton District Council announced it would give police the authority to trespass people who were badly behaved.
