neil - danns
skateboarding
What was your sport and how did you get into it?
My sport was skateboarding. I got into it by watching a demonstration by the Holby team in Liverpool city centre back in the late seventies. There was a lot of hype around this new sport that had come over to the UK from the US, this big new craze, and that was really when and how I got into it.
Tell us about the highlights of your sporting career?
The highlight of my career was becoming Brtitish champion, not just once, but twice. Also becoming European champion and competing at the highest level and getting to travel all round the world. Being asked to take part in the Laureus Sport Awards in Monte Carlo alongside such high profile sporting starts and doing a demo with Team Extreme - a company I owned - was special as well.
What were some of the challenges you experienced and how did you overcome them?
Injuries were a challenge throughout my career. I had some bad injuries over the years, I broke the tibia and fibia in my right leg, I broke my wrist, my hand and injured my knees, I had lots of different setbacks. Overcoming these injuries was the hardest thing for me.
Also, I had lots of people from my area who doubted me and said I shouldn’t be doing something like skateboarding, asking why was I doing a kids sport when I was a grown up?
What have been your highlights while working at the Trust?
Working on all of the programmes has been amazing, particularly getting to mentor young people on the Get on Track and AQA Unlocking Potential programmes. I love to see the change in the young people as you work with them, particularly on the AQA programme as you spend almost a year working with them, watching them grow, see their resilience get better and their confidence grow. Get on Track is also great as you can spend full days with the young people, help them get active and improve their wellbeing.
What do you do now alongside working for the Trust?
I am a director of my own company called Wheels Extreme who I also coach with. It’s a personal development Community Interest Company (CIC) and we go around coaching young people in BMX, inline skating and skateboarding and we make it a point that we never charge anyone directly for coaching.
I also work with Skateboard GB, I coach the coaches across the UK to try and bring the standard of coaching all over the country up to the same level.
What life advice would you give a young person?
Find something that you’re really passionate about. And if you’re passionate about it, you’re more than likely to love it. There was never a lot of money in skateboarding, so I wasn’t doing it for that but I loved it and I’m really proud of where the sport is now, particularly being part of the Olympics. I was never involved in the Olympic Games, but I do believe I was one of the innovators in the sport back in the day and being one of the faces of the sport, I feel I’ve really helped it to progress. So find something you’re passionate about and give it 100%.
What experience do you have of working with corporate organisations?
I used to own a conpany called Wheels Extreme, and I did all the selling which involved working with lots of councils, organisations and corporate partners.
What does Being Me mean to you?
I believe in trust and honesty. I believe in giving everything 100% of my ability. I believe I can make a difference in young people’s lives and I teach from the experience I’ve had. Being Me means being the best version of myself I can be.
Competitive Record
1988
European Champion
1986
British Champion
1985
British Champion
