rich - parker

inline skating

What was your sport and how did you get into it?

My sport is inline skating, specifically on vert halfpipe. I wasn’t particularly sporty at school, but I always enjoyed trying new things. When I was 10 I saw a couple of friends skating up and down a path, it looked like fun, so I gave it a go and was hooked. I soon became aware of skating on ramps and just spent all of my time doing it!

Tell us about the highlights of your sporting career?

I’m proud of competitions I’ve won and medals I’ve earned, including European Championships and an X-Games silver, and I’m proud of some difficult tricks I’ve managed to land, but some of the best highlights have just been travelling the world and skating with friends. My sport has such a great community and the friendships I’ve formed through skating are the highlight of my time in the sport. 

What were some of the challenges you experienced and how did you overcome them?

Injuries and fear were the biggest challenges for me. Some of the tricks I did were quite dangerous and getting over the mental barriers to actually attempt them was quite often a big internal battle. I’ve had some big injuries, one in particular, suddenly your world shrinks and you stop being able to do all the things you could before. Small everyday things become big difficult tasks. Having great friends and family is a real help in getting through an injury, but also, it’s a case of trying not to look too far ahead, just focus on doing every possible thing you can do that day to improve your situation, then do it again tomorrow. Everything eventually adds up and hopefully gets you back to where you want to be. 

What have been your highlights while working at the Trust?

Seeing and supporting young people to progress past what they thought they were capable of. Some of the people we work with are in really difficult situations, and so to see them overcome that and make positive steps forward is really inspiring. 

What do you do now alongside working for the Trust?

I have my own business as a personal trainer, I also do skate coaching in schools. 

What life advice would you give a young person?

Take responsibility for changing your own situation, even if you are in that situation through no fault of your own. Use others for support and try to offer support to others where you are able to. 

Competitive
Record

2017

European Champion

2016

British Champion 

NASS, England -1st 

Bunker, Italy - 1st 

2015

NL Contest, France - 2nd 

ICR, Italy - 2nd

X Masters, Italy - 1st 

NASS, England - 3rd 

2014

MSS, Bulgaria - 2nd 

2Roll Line, England - 1st 

2013

European Champion (also in 2011, 2012)

2011

X Games - 2nd