A Sutton Coldfield father and former skateboarding celebrity says teaching his son to skate is far better than the alternative of him getting into trouble on the streets.
Bobby Male, 38, who was a skateboarding sensation in China a decade ago, has built an impressive skate ramp in his back garden to share his passion with his 10-year-old son, Ernie. He believes engaging children in activities like skateboarding is crucial for keeping them on the right path.
From Chinese Celebrity to Backyard Coach
Bobby's own skateboarding journey took an unexpected turn when he visited China in 2006 with the extreme sports display team, Team Extreme. He loved the country so much he decided to stay, making a living as a skateboard coach.
His skill led to TV commercials and he amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, becoming a minor celebrity. After returning to the UK, he won the Shanghai international excellence award for his skating prowess.
Now, he's channelling that experience into fatherhood. "Any activity, any sport, I'd encourage them to do," Bobby stated. "I'd rather see kids riding scooters than doing wheelies in the middle of the road with their silly balaclavas."
A Father-Son Bond Forged on Wheels
His son Ernie started his skating career extraordinarily early, standing on a board at just nine months old with his dad giving him a push. By the age of two and a half, he was skating independently.
Ernie told BirminghamLive that he loves the non-competitive nature of the hobby. "You don't have to try and compete against anyone. You can just have fun and chill," he said. His father agrees, highlighting the sport's independence: "You don't need a team, you don't need to rely on anyone, you do your own thing."
Bobby admits his son's talent is rapidly surpassing his own. "I've lost loads of confidence because, the older you get, the more you fear dying," he joked. "[Ernie] is more confident and agile. In two years, he'll be better than I've ever been."
Skateboarding as a Positive Outlet
Bobby is passionate about providing positive outlets for young people, citing a lack of affordable youth clubs today compared to when he was younger. He believes keeping kids busy with sports is a vital community service.
"Kids should be active and doing stuff," he urged. "Any sport activity. Keep the kids busy. They will be naughty still - but they won't be robbing grannies."
While he thinks skateboarding's popularity has waned since the Tony Hawk boom 20 years ago and a post-lockdown surge, his commitment remains. "When my knees are feeling good, I'll always be on my board," he said. More importantly, he hopes to share that passion with Ernie for years to come, dreaming of hanging out with him at skate parks when he's much older.
