Have you always watched people on skateboards wishing that you could do what they were doing? Are you a keen skateboarder but want to learn more about how you can improve or enter bigger competitions? If any of these are true you need to read our interview with Kevin Parrott Chairman on the UK Skateboarding Association. So if you want advice, tips or information on becoming a skateboarder this interview is for you.

What is your role in the UKSA?

I am the chairman. I look after the regional reps, the news team and reply to most of the correspondence. I'm the one who gets the bigger picture stuff done and kind of guides the UKSA through everything. I'm the person on other folk's backs to make sure we come up with what we need to, to further all things which we can relating to skateboarding in the UK.

How big is skateboarding in the UK?

To everyone involved - Very big. Our team are all lifelong skateboarders. It's all they think about. To joe public - probably the biggest it has ever been. Accessible contests shown on TV as well as household names being made of professional skateboarders has pushed our little corner of the world more into the limelight in the past few years than ever before. The actual act of skateboarding is all helped by accessibility. This is one of the UKSA's key tasks - to open up accessibility. To make sure the money spent on our skate parks is spent in the best way possible and ensure that parks offer not just something fun and challenging which meets the needs of modern skateboarding, but something which offers sustainability for the user. We want folk to come back. To get sucked in. To enjoy what we see as a great way to spend your time.

How accessible is it for young people in the UK?

I think it is more accessible than ever before. The number of parks which actually meet some sort of standard has gone from a handful five years ago to a plethora in some areas now. We are nowhere near where we need to be - but we are en route. I think people are starting to wake up to the fact that they don't have to put up with second best. It's a very British thing to look at someone else's park and say 'We'll never get one of those in our town' and leave it at that. People would not even try to educate the councils and funding bodies as to what is actually expected from a park for it to work. Now things are changing. We are trying to put the information people need in their hands so to make this work. On the flipside and because street skating is very important to us, too we have lots of places which are now embracing street skating, also. I think Southbank, London is the best example of this. It was pushed out from the Undercroft in the mid 1990's. Drunks, drug addicts and other nefarious types took over. The place was an eyesore. Thankfully, some forward thinking from Royal Festival Hall realised that skateboarders are the only people to be using their site for its original intended purpose. Royal Festival Hall was built after the war to celebrate freedom. The idea was a site for people to interact and enjoy the freedoms this country provides. No other group use it in such a way. Now, if you go there they have removed the chain fences, they are talking to us and other skateboarders about the future of skateboarding at the Royal Festival Hall. They have provided ledges to skate. It's amazing and creates something which the public seem to love to sit and watch, too. I think this thought is something which can be pushed as an idea for other underused public spaces. Street architecture/furniture can lend very well to skateboarding. Why not think about these sort of spaces with some sort of dual use in mind?

When you start off what equipment do you need and how much does it cost for the full lot?

A good setup will cost you about £120 from a good supplier. That's all you need to go.

What's the best way to learn how to skateboard?

Pigeon steps. Ha. Start slowly. Learn how the board responds to your movements. Keep it nice and basic and get comfortable pushing and rolling.

To be honest, learning the basics isn't too difficult. If need be, there are skateparks which offer assistance. The fun thing about skateboarding is learning. I've been skateboarding for nearly twenty years. I still try to learn something new every time I skate. There is so much diversity no two skaters are the same, and certain things come easier to one skateboarder which may be a lifetime away from another more talented person.

How can you go about finding where your nearest skateboard ramp or park is?

www.sk8m8.co.uk have a really good directory of parks. We can also help out. People can drop us a line about anything skateboard related. We try our best to always point people in the right direction.

What qualities do you need to have to be a great skateboarder?

Big smiles. Undying love for having a go. The ability to say hello to a total stranger just because you are both pushing around the same spot.

Extreme sports are continuing grow in popularity. Where can skateboarding take you are there are any national / international competitions and how do you go about getting invited to these events if there are any?

For the national competitions - there are several. All you need to do is show up and sign in on the day. For the international ones, such as World Cup Skateboarding, generally you need to qualify beforehand - either with World Cup points from other events or from local qualifiers.

As for where it can take you - skateboarding doesn't totally revolve around competitions. You could end up with a pro board out as well as other equipment. Your own shoe. The limits are sky high. Top professionals have mobile phone sponsors, car deals, million dollar contracts. In 2002, Tony Hawk was the highest paid athlete in the world. No joke - that's above Formula One drivers, Boxers, Golfers, Footballers. It's all from endorsements as by this time he had retired from competition.

How good are we here in the UK compared to other countries at skateboarding, do we have any world champions?

Underinvestment in Skatepark - no scratch that. Underinvestment in sport in the UK of which I am sure we are all in agreement with, means that currently we have a lack of skaters doing well on the world stage. The new generation are looking very, very good, though. With accessibility becoming easier I think we are going to be back up there within the next few years.

We do currently have a few who are doing well, though. Geoff Rowley is unknown in his hometown of Liverpool. He has lived in California for over ten years now and is one of the biggest names in skateboarding with his face on huge billboard campaigns as well as appearing in several video games and endorsing some of the best product out there.

World champions aside - we do have some very well respected skateboarders noted for their very 'British' take on skateboarding. Blueprint are definitely the pack ahead here and gain a lot of international support through their films.

What advice would you give to anyone interested in learning how to skateboard?

Buy yourself a decent setup from the start. Inferior equipment hinders. We have interviews with several skate shop owners on our website. The contact details are there and they can all offer advice to make sure you are on the right track from the beginning. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Watch other skaters. See the foot positions. The routes they take around spots or parks. Don't think that people are going to laugh at you for not being to a decent standard. Everyone appreciates someone giving it a good shot no matter the level.

And finally how can we find out more about the UKSA?

The website (which is going in for a redesign early next year) has a wealth of information. It also has contact details for all of our regional reps, too. The entire program is voluntarily run with everyone working full time outside of this so we are limited by some of our resources but always give it our best shot to make it happen. However, drop us a line with anything you feel we can help you with or you can help us with.

To find out more information go to:

www.ukskate.org.uk