30 Mar Spanner Rolls Into Southsea – A Day to Remember
We’ll be honest, we didn’t quite know what to expect and all the hard work in the build up… but when Sunday came around and the community showed up to Southsea Skatepark in force, it was clear this day was going to be something very special. For the team at the skatepark the level of support for this event was simply overwhelming, and as a volunteer-led charity, days like this remind us exactly why we do what we do.
Spanner Arrives!
The morning kicked off with hints of sunshine and a skatepark buzzing with energy. Famous scooter rider and YouTube sensation Spanner was on-site and absolutely ready to put on a show. For the first hour or so Spanner really delivered with an epic demo that left jaws on the floor, landing tricks over the ramps to enormous crowds of young scooter riders who could barely believe what they were seeing in person. YouTube, Instagram reels…all great to watch but absolutely nothing beats seeing it go down in real life.
Such was the energy in the park that the demo overran into what had been planned as exclusive riding sessions. Spanner was in his element, and nobody was complaining. He even pulled off a skatepark-first trick, a Triple Inward Bri-flip and a genuine piece of Southsea Skatepark history made right in front of the crowd.
Rad Energy and A Meet & Greet Never to be Forgotten
As the session evolved, it became clear that Spanner genuinely wanted to connect with every single person who’d come to see him. What started as a structured event transformed organically into a full-on Meet & Greet, with every rider, parent, and fan getting some one-on-one time with their hero.
The queues were long, but the atmosphere was brilliant. We can’t say enough about the patience and commitment everyone showed: parents queuing diligently while their youngsters kept on riding, and riders staying focused despite the wait. As the weather started to turn and the first spots of rain appeared, it didn’t dampen spirits one bit. People were passionate, dedicated, and genuinely thrilled to be there.
We handed out stickers by the hundreds, gave away on-the-spot prizes for riders landing rad tricks, and were lucky to be able to soak in every moment of it. People had travelled from Worthing, Guildford, Southampton, and even further away, a testament to what Spanner means to the scooter community.
Spanner absolutely loved the park and the crowd, and the feeling was entirely mutual. He really made it such a special day that the young riders will never forget, and we’re grateful he gave so much of himself to every single person visiting.
Our Team at Work
The skatepark staff and trustees had got there bright and early and were working with the queue to get people their wristbands as fast as possible. They then marshalled in the park to ensure everything was as safe as possible, and also supported with first aid and kindness when needed. The staff spoke with and helped the crowd when needed, encouraged the young scooter riders with their tricks and helped in the skatepark store. We’re really proud of the hard work Effraim and the team did with warmth and enthusiasm, from start to finish throughout the day.
Speaking of the skatepark store, you would have noticed a special group helping out all the way from the West Country, Dogg Scooters. We have a Dogg mini store in our store and the guys were helping, supporting and in particular changing griptape through to long after we had officially closed! A big thank you to them.
Keeping everyone fuelled with food and drink was Little Coffee Southsea and The Club House vans, who did a sterling job on-site. No small task so a big thank you to them. We’re hoping to work with them more in the future.
A huge shout-out to Toby, who was on-site all day capturing the action through photography and film. A full video from the day is coming soon, keep your eyes peeled.
Spanner also filmed his own YouTube video throughout the demo, and we’ll be sharing that as soon as it lands on his channel, so watch this space.
What We Learned
We’ll be real with you: an event of this scale, with this much excitement, teaches you things. We worked hard to get everyone through the session as smoothly as possible, and we’re taking away a few lessons that will help us move even faster at our next event. Every time we do this, we get better, and we’re committed to making the experience as slick and professional as possible, for everyone involved.
Whats Next?
The weather couldn’t touch the warmth and commitment of everyone who came. We’re already on the lookout with Spanner for a return visit later this year. Would you be up for that?
Stay tuned to our social media and website for more photos, videos and for future event updates. Lastly a HUGE thank you from the trustees of the charity that runs Southsea Skatepark and the big team of management and staff, to every single person who came out on Sunday. Together with Spanner, we made memories that’ll last a lifetime.
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