Malmesbury Abbey Skate Festival 2013 - Amazing outreach opportunity
When: Wednesday 13th Midday – 9:30pm Friday 15th Feb 2013
Where: Malmesbury Abbey, Holloway, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 9BA
Website: www.christiansurfers.co.uk
Malmesbury Abbey Skate returns for a fifth year in a fortnight’s time, with hundreds of young people flocking to a 12th century Benedictine Abbey that is transformed into a 21st century skatepark by an army of volunteers, between Wednesday 13th – Friday 15th Feb, in the middle of the half term holidays.
This year’s skatepark festival includes the ramps, quarter-pipes, grinding boards and trick boxes that have proved so popular since 2009, and with this year’s event there is a full programme of live music from a range of local young singers, musicians and bands.
On-line bookings are now open and, with as many as 600 youngsters taking part in sessions from midday Wednesday, February 13 to 9.30pm Friday, February 15, demand is always high and places are limited. The event culminates with a competition on the final evening.
The skatepark is run by volunteers in the Abbey congregation in partnership with the national Christian Surfers and Christian Skaters UK organisation. It’s a fantastic opportunity to serve the local community as well as those from the skateboard and scooter communities.
This year, live music will play a more important role than ever before. The festival will showcase the cream of the young talent in Malmesbury. Among those performing over the three days are Luckington-based singer-songwriter Emily McGrory, Malmesbury singer Alana Cook, Frankie Le Bon, who performed last year, and a set from Akoustaline, a folk band from Malmesbury School.
Rev Neill Archer, the vicar of Malmesbury Abbey, said he was looking forward to this year’s event. “The Skatepark is evolving every year and involving more and more young people in providing what is a great event for our community, working in partnership with Christian Surfers and Skaters UK.
“At the heart of the event is the message to the young people of Malmesbury that the Abbey is as much a building for them as it is for everyone, and that God and the church community loves them,” he added.
Phil Williams, national director of Christian Skaters added ”it's a fantastic opportunity to partner with Malmesbury Abbey, and to provide a great facility to practically serve the communities of skateboarding that do not normally enter a church building, the partnership has developed over the years, and we are looking forward and praying into a fantastic three-day Festival. Every year lives are changed as a result of the event, and the gospel is shared in numerous ways”
For more information or to arrange interviews / photo opportunities, contact Tristan Cork, press officer for Malmesbury Abbey Skate, on 07715 770238 or email tristan.cork a_t btinternet d_o_t com, or for more information about Christian Surfers or Skaters e-mail phil a_t christiansurfers d_o_t co d_o_t uk www.christiansurfers.co.uk
