MEET THE COACHES

SKATEBOARDING FOR FUN

Coach Mat

COACH

MAT CHIGWIDDEN

MAT CHIGWIDDEN IS THE PROUD AND PASSIONATE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF CHIGGY’S SKATEBOARDING. HE IS A PROFESSIONAL SKATEBOARD COACH AND HAS BEEN OPERATING CHIGGY’S SKATEBOARDING SINCE 2013

“I started skateboarding in 1999. My family and I grew up on the Central Coast in New South Wales and I began to skate at the local park The Entrance. We moved to Coolum on the Sunshine Coast in 2003 and my parents built a house on the property about 10 minutes from my new local Coolum Skate Park. A couple of years later, I was lucky enough to score a 14ft vert ramp from Billabong, used for demos around Australia. Looking back, I am so grateful; it would be every young skateboarder’s dream to have that wooden masterpiece right in your own backyard. Skateboarding has been my biggest passion for as long as I can remember and I have been lucky enough to have travelled the country and overseas skateboarding for fun and competing with enormous support from my sponsors, fellow skaters, family, partner and friends. Skateboarding has given me the most awesome opportunities to meet the coolest people and have the best time just skateboarding together.”

Caoch Kai

COACH

FREDDIE HAZELTON

Hi my name is Freddie Hazelton. I’m 15 years old and I’ve been skateboarding for around 11 years. I was born in Sydney and grew up in the northern beaches where I started skateboarding with my dad and my brother. When I was 9 years old, my family and I travelled around Australia for 2 years skating heaps of different places. Since then, I’ve been living in Airlie Beach where my dad, brother and I built our own 12 foot vert ramp in our backyard.

The thing I love about skateboarding is that you always have new things to learn and perfect, while having fun! Skateboarding is a great way to meet new people and just have the best time doing it.

I can’t wait to share my love for skateboarding with you all!!

Coach Hayden

COACH

HAYDEN HOWSE

Hey my name is Hayden Howse or Howsey.

My skateboarding journey started 20 years ago and it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made!

Apart from being a healthy outlet for me, it has also given me everything I have, from lifelong friendships, endless memories and heaps of job opportunities.

Mat (Chiggy) and I grew up going on skate trips up and down the coast and those times for me were some of the best days of my life.

It’s an absolute privilege now as a skate couch to be able to give back and share that stoke of skateboarding with the next generation…. its honestly the best feeling in the world!

Coach Haylie

COACH

HAYLIE POWELL

Hi my name is Haylie Powell. I’m 18 years old and I have been skateboarding for about 10 years.

I was born and raised on the Sunshine Coast and learnt how to surf and skate from a young age. Chiggy was my first coach when I was 7 years old.

I received my first international skateboard invitation at 14 for Dew Tour. I then went on to compete at SLS, XGames and the Olympic qualifiers. After lots of highs and lows, I was selected to represent Australia at the Olympic Games in Paris.

To compete on the world stage is an amazing experience and I have learnt a lot from these experiences as well as made lifelong friendships.

I am super excited to be working with Chiggy and his Skateboard Family. I look forward to sharing my passion for skateboarding and to support and inspire the next generation of skaters.

Chiggy Coach Luke Benson

COACH

LUKE BENSON

Hey, My name is Luke Benson. I was born and grew up in England.

I’ve been skating since I can remember, it’s one of my biggest passions besides surfing and playing music. I feel very lucky to have skating to be a part of my life, it’s taken me all over the world and I’ve got to meet such great people from it.

I’m incredibly excited and blessed to be welcomed into the Chiggy’s Skateboarding family and can’t wait to share my skateboarding knowledge and passion with you. Yewww !

Maddox O’Reilly

COACH

MADDOX O’REILLY

Hey, my name is Maddox O’Reilly. I was born in New Zealand but have been living on the Sunshine Coast for over 10 years now. 

Since I moved over to Coolum, skateboarding has been the centre point of my life and I love every minute of it! I’ve been lucky enough to travel to some amazing places to skate and have made lifelong friends along the way.  

The best thing about skateboarding to me is the feeling of landing a new trick, nothing compares to rolling away from a trick you have been trying for weeks or a trick you’ve been too scared to try. The stoke and hype is unmatched. I’ve been skating with Chiggy since I first moved to the Sunshine Coast and have always admired what he does for the local community and skateboarding community. 

I’m super stoked to now be apart of the Chiggy’s Skateboarding family and be able to share my passion and knowledge of skateboarding with all of you!

 

Coach Nelson

COACH

NELSON MARKETO

Hey my name is Nelson Marketo, but you guys can call me Nelo!

I’ve been skating on and off for the past 14 years and was originally introduced to skateboarding by Chiggy when I was a grommet.
I’ve been lucky enough to travel to different parts of the world on skateboarding adventures and have met plenty of legends from different countries along the way.

I love being active and have always been involved in team sports whether I was playing or coaching. But I would say the skateboarding culture is the coolest and most inclusive by far. No matter your age, gender, shape, colour or skill level. If you’re truly a skateboarder you know it’s all about encouraging each other and having a good time!

I’m super keen to be apart of the Chiggy’s Skateboarding family. Looking forward to sharing my 14 years of knowledge with the younger generation and letting the good times roll!

Coach Vince

COACH

VINCE YOUNG

I first started skateboarding 20 odd years ago.

After seeing a family friend riding a skateboard I begged my mum for one for my birthday!

After a few days at the local skatepark, I began to meet new kids that have gone on to become life-long friends. We have spent decades skateboarding, learning life and making great memories together.

That’s what’s so special about skateboarding. It’s not just that it’s the most fun thing to do any day of the week, it’s the community that comes with it. The support, the love and the care everybody within skateboarding shows towards each other regardless of age, ability, gender or race it’s all good vibes.

I’ve spent the past decade coaching surfing and now feel so excited to be a part of the Chiggys Skateboarding team to share my passion for skateboarding with you all!

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