Rewind '23: Kelowna skateboarder in running to meet Tony Hawk

We've selected some of our best stories of the year and are bringing them to you over this festive season.

These stories encapsulate the inspirational, uplifting, quirky, or the just downright fun that makes Kelowna10 so different.

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Update: After his blindfolded 'boneless' blew people away, Kelowna's "Poppa" Nuge garnered enough votes to send him flying into the semi-finals of the Skatepark Hero contest.

Nuge has promised to up his game with a drop into the bowl at Ben Lee Park, once again donning his blindfold.

Online voting for the Final Eight ends Thursday July 13th at 7 p.m. PST.

You can find Nuge’s voting page here.

A Kelowna skateboarder is hoping to make moves all the way to the $10,000 prize and a chance to meet legendary American pro-skateboarder Tony Hawk.

Nuge Bird, 27, popularly known as “Poppa” Nuge, has made it into the quarter-finals of the online Skatepark Hero contest, which has seen thousands of entries whittled down to a final one per cent, according to organizers.

“Who doesn’t want to meet Tony Hawk?” Nuge told Kelowna10 on a very hot morning at Ben Lee Park. “He’s everyone’s childhood hero, he got me into skateboarding, his video games. It would be awesome to bring my family to go see him.”

The essence of the skatepark hero is inclusivity and that’s not lost on Nuge.

“You’ve got to raise everyone up, it’s all about the hype of the skatepark, we’re here to have fun,” he explained. “Learn, develop your skills, make new friends and build good habits.”

Nuge, who hails from Saskatoon and Regina, said he grew up in rough areas but loves Kelowna and the skateboarding fraternity.

“There’s nothing better than being cheered on by peers when you land some trick you’ve been trying for an hour…and I’ll take time out of my skate session to help others progress safely. Honestly, it’s such a great feeling to help someone land their tricks.”

Nuge is something of a radical when it comes to pushing the envelope. While Kelowna10 was filming him he insisted on performing his latest move …the blindfolded ‘boneless’ down the ten-step. It is certainly not for the feint of heart.

He needed a fellow skateboarder to give him a verbal countdown as he approached the top step.

He said he does that trick as a tribute to the blind and partially sighted skateboarders who are out there doing their thing.

When all is said and done, one talented skateboarder will be chosen by the public to win $10,000 and a skate session with Tony Hawk in the online contest.

Hawk will also pick one skilled skater with the most creative boardslide or lipslide to come skate with him at his facility.

Hawk's foundation raises funds for developing skateparks in under-served communities.