DOZENS of youngsters signed up to the Guernsey X-treme Sports Association, which was officially launched yesterday. The north arm of the Albert Pier was packed to capacity as skateboarders and BMX riders from the Eastpak Transition Tour 2004 put on a demonstration to raise awareness of the sports.

Deputy Mike O’Hara joined skateboarder Paul de la Mare and BMX rider James Harrison to form the new group. Deputy O’Hara said the visit of Eastpak was an important part of their quest to see a permanent skateboard park built in Guernsey.

‘It’s important for us to keep the association buzzing and have it well formulated so we can hold events and competitions,’ he said.

Approaches had been made to the Environment and Culture and Leisure Departments with a view to gaining their support, he said, and the initial responses had been positive.

‘I believe we need facilities as soon as possible to get this type of sport off the streets. We won’t get it completely off the streets, but the sooner we get the facilities, the better.’

Representatives from Eurosport, the X-treme Sport Channel, Overload TV and Channel Four were all present yesterday, along with journalists from magazines.

Guernsey was the seventh and final date of the Eastpak tour that aims to raise awareness of the sports wherever it goes.

Eastpak marketing co-ordinator Nick Street said there was hostility towards skateboarders in many places because people did not understand it.

‘Skateboarding is the fastest growing extreme sport but it has no recognised governing body,’ he said.

‘Skateboarding is a huge sport and Tony Hawk [a competitor] is one of the 10 richest sportsmen in the world.’

BMX riding was also becoming increasingly popular, he said, and BMX racing would be included in the next Olympics.

People of all ages attended yesterday’s event, at which Mechanical Lobster and Thee Jenerators provided live music.

About 500 people had signed up to the Guernsey X-treme Sports Association prior to yesterday and Deputy O’Hara estimated that about 2,000 turned out to support the show.

This compared with the UK where up to 700 people watched.

‘People have been signing up today 10 to the dozen,’ he said.

‘One thing which has been obvious from the early days is that we have to give skateboarders and BMX riders credibility.’