BMX fanatic Tom is a real high-flyer

BMX-MAD Tom O'Boyle has taken his bike further than most people have travelled in their lifetime.

The 27-year-old from the Bestwood Estate has ridden on world-class skate parks as far away as Shanghai, New Zealand, Australia and the US in the last five years.

He has clocked up more than 90,000 miles with his trusty bike visiting 15 countries.

He said: "It is as serious or as much fun as you want. You can push yourself or just have a laugh with it."

Now Tom is calling for better facilities to be built to help nurture the talent of hundreds of skateboarders and BMXers in Nottingham.

"There are parks in Nottingham but they are poor excuses for skate parks," said Tom, from Gainsford Crescent. "I have been all over the world riding skate parks.

"I have seen how things can be done right. There is nothing of the same standard in Notts. I don't know why.

"There are places for it and money to do it, but it has not been done right."

Tom, who has featured several times in Ride UK BMX Mag, has also criticised a lack of consultation with the BMX and skateboarding community over Nottingham City Council's plans to build a new facility between Bestwood Estate and Top Valley.

South Glades Skate Park, to be built on Southglade Park, will cost up to £170,000.

Tom says more feedback from enthusiasts would have helped shape the type of park the council would build, which would cater more for youngsters' needs. He said there needs to be a range of difficulty of ramps in different areas of any park, to allow beginners and experts to practise at the same time.

"There is a big need for a skate park in the city," said Tom. "There are big communities of skateboarders, BMXers and inline skaters.

"You are not going to get the next David Beckham practising on a bumpy pitch."

Tom, who works in administration, adds: "It is a big growing sport. But I think there were more places to go ten years ago than there are now.

"There is a massive opportunity for Nottingham that's not being taken."

But Bestwood councillor Brian Grocock said the council had consulted with local youngsters over the new facility. "As far as I am aware we did a wide consultation," he said. "We went out to consultation with local clubs and local people. I do applaud it being built.

"If we do have kids that progress into it as a profession or a sport I am sure that our leisure services will take that on board."

Tom's favourite is the SMP Skate Park in Shanghai, the world's biggest. He said it give riders a lot of freedom. "It has every single obstacle you could imagine," he said.

Tom says it is a tradition for local enthusiasts to take visitors on a tour of the city's best areas for BMXing and skating.

In each of the cities he and friends make DVDs, filming themselves doing tricks on their bikes. They also take photographs.

He funds the trips by saving money from work and survives on a shoestring budget, staying at hostels and buying food from supermarkets rather than eating at restaurants.

chris.birkle@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk