I am originaly from England, I first made a skateboard out of a peace of wood and half a roller skate, which I used on a incline near to a bus stop, the amount of times a bus went over it and I had to make a new one.
I moved to Grand Cayman in 1988 and since then I have joined the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. My interest is making a difference in young peoples lives. To me thats what it is all about inspire them to keep out of trouble, it gives me less to do with them, however the job never stops.
In 2003 Mr. Mike Bell an Entrapreneur broke ground on a skatepark,nobody really knew how big it was going to be; was it going to be a bowl or a couple of humps to ride over (nobody knew). I use to go with my kids and the wife, Sean 3 years old then rode a big board on his knees, however he had no fear and rode down all the heavy ramps.His mother stopped going because she was scared to see what he was doing. Brian was 12 years old and he was learning the basics. Anyway the park continued to grow until one day that was it, it stood before us. If anybody comes to Black Pearl guranteed it takes your breath away. We have had Tony Hawke, Burnquist, Scheckler, Bam, Darin naveret, Sam Hitz, Pete Hewitt, Mark Appleyard, Steve Nesser, Dayone Song, Brian Patch, Patt Duffy, Jimmy The Greek, Steve Olson, and so many others including Mike Vaellely skate the park, THey are all impressed by what the park has, EVERYTHING>
During my time going to the park I did not realize what I had right in front of me; I am always trying to find ways to get through to kids. I once went to the boys home in Grand Cayman and I was having a difficult time getting through to them, so I mentioned skateboarding. They all suddenly changed from being nervouse to talking enthusiatic, I asked them if they would like a movie night they all agreed. The next week I took Sean and Brian and a pro skateboarder. the pro told them what he does for a living, where he is building a house (Brazil) and where in the world he has been. These kids were listening and we had there input also. We watched TWIGGS by Element and they were glued to their seats.
After the evening finished I asked them would thye like to visit Black Pearl, they all agreed. So the next Saturday we went and I had the kids at the park who skate help these non skaters, I was amazed to see them working together, I was satisfied when I saw the smile on their faces when they rode down a ramp with out falling. One kid was even trying fly outs and he had never been on a skateboard before.
The local Tv station and News Papers did a story on the event which to me was a great success.
After seeing the reaction of these kids I decided the best way to go on was to research building a ramp. I saved some money (a lot as things are expensive hear). And with the help of Mr. Philip Berry the mose respected skater at the park even the pro's show their respect as believe me he can skate street with the best. WE decided on a spott my back yard, Philip I must admit did most of the work as he knew exactly what he was doing. The ramp was completed and my kids skated it, I invited local kids round to the house and I gave boards to the ones who did not have their own. Some time after Lost Clothing came to the Island shooting a movie. I spoke to them showed them pictures of the ramp and it was set they would skate it. They came to the house and we had local kids there as well. At the time we had a trampoline and the kids (I Meen the pros) had a great time. Patt Duffy, Brian Patch, Jimmy The Greek and others showed off their moves, however the one who took the day was Juliana my daughter the skateboarding baby she was under 8 months old going up and down on the ramp. All this was on film later it was shown on Fuel TV, they even put me on the websight as the chief of police, I did say Sorry to the Boss.
The Cayman Compass did a big story which was good publicity for skateboarding.
Some time after Mike Vallely and Mark Jeremias came to Black Pearl to do a movie called DRIVE I spole to them and showed them picture of our ramp; which by the way has the best back drop THE CARIBBEAN OCEAN. And they both liked the idea of including the ramp, they also asked me if I could do an interview as they were intrigued to see a cop promoting skateboarding ( imagine a COP who skatebaords and supports it). ON the Saturday Mike V and Mark came to the house , he had a mini ramp session with the local kids and the skateboarding baby came out again and showed off her moves. The funny thing was Mark had to re do the shot so I put juliana on the board and she was going up and down and some body said something is wrong as her head went towards the board, she fell asleep and I caught her in my arms. Mike then Interviewed me in Full uniform on the ramp, it went pretty well, however it was really hot I got sunburn. The local media came to the house also and did there part to promote which was good.
Recently we had Addict skateboards doing some video footage for Havoc.com at the house. Packy who skates for addict, an amateur called Aryeh Kraus who works for a skate shop in Cali and Keith Johnson ( Aryeh did a DVD called RIGHT STATE OF MIND) if you can get that dvd you will be stoaked it is fantastic skateboard footage, I have never seen a manual that keeps going like the Energizer Bunny.
They came around and did there stuff. A couple of weeks ago I got a copy of DRIVE FIELD OF DREAMS from Mark and I made copies and shared it with Department of Tourism who told the UK office they got in touch with me and asked me to do a BIO and story about skateboarding. Local News Papers did a story, radio Cayman interviewed me. CITN local TV did a story and showed 45 seconds of Field Of Dreams, they bigged up MIke V, Mark, and FUEL TV.
A law enforcement association in the US have asked me to do a presentation on what I do with skateboarding. Concrete Wave also asked me to do a story Skateboarding From the point of view of a COP>
Field of Dreams came out on 8th April 2007 and has been shown regularly on Fuel TV. The show will aire also in May 2007 so if you have not seen it check it out.
Cayman Compass came to the house and did another story which was in the news paper on Tuesday April 17th 2007 it featured me the kids and also one of our friends who visits us with his parents from Colorado Alex Brunelle who skates the competition circuit in the US he is 14 years old and he is very good at skating.
So we have action in the Cayman Islands.
I am sharing this with you all as I do have a message to share. It does not matter how old you are,what colour you are , where your from,what sex you are, if you are religouse or not, the colours you wear. Skateboarding crosses boarders. Any kid who picks up a skateboard is a winner as they are following pioneers, people who sacrificed, Blood, Sweat, Broken Bones, to make the sport what it is today, nearly every TV programe has skateboarding in it so it is now main stream and getting bigger.I feel Bob Burnquist has paved the way for the Olympics as he carried the Olympic Torch on a skateboard through the streets of RIO.
I am doing my part to make a difference, do the same in your community.
I live on an Island 27 miles long and 8 miles wide I am making change in more ways than one, which is being heard around the world. Cayman is not even on some maps and yet the voice of one who has a dream is being heard. If you have seen Drive, Field of Dreams you have heard my passion, I intend to share this with others so they are inspired to do the same.It Takes ONE TO CHANGE.
Remember one thing Like the late BOB Marley said in song "ONE BLOOD" that is what we are so if you are one who does "HATE" STOP THE HATE!!! SKATE FOR LIFE !!! SKATE FOR CHANGE>
