The youth-focused skate event was launched earlier this year, with athletes from as far as Sydney and Queensland joining in the competition.

The funding will mean two local young people, Toby Frost and Daniel Perry, will be employed to prepare a bigger and better festival for 2010.

Nambucca Valley Youth Services Centre coordinator Chris Hewgill said the day would include mini-games of other sports, including cricket and soccer (which are also housed at Coronation Park).

It would see the launch of a new mobile café initiative, which has been created in partnership with the Men’s Shed.

As well as the skating events and other sports showcased, there would be a focus on the Youth Services Centre’s ‘Party Smarty’ program, teaching teens how to party safe, Mr Hewgill said.

The day itself would be completely alcohol-free.

After a very strong response to this year’s competition, Mr Hewgill said he was confident the 2010 event would be well supported by locals and visitors.

Since the skate park opened about eight months ago, Mr Hewgill said older skaters had been working with the less experienced to try to teach them safe practices on the skate park and give them new tricks.

Youth worker Peter Lea, who supervises at the park several times a week, said there was a lot of cooperation and camaraderie between young and mature-aged skaters that would lead to a better level of competition in the future.

Nambucca Shire Council has been running a ‘skate safe’ program, focused on basic skills for young skaters.

Mr Lea said he saw skaters aged three to 50-years using the skate park.

“You never know – some of those young skaters might go on to be the world champion,” he said.

In the lead-up to the 2010 youth week skate festival, another skate competition was expected to be held at the Coronation Park site.

The focus would be on getting some of the local boys some competition experience, to try and get more of them to take home the prizes on the day, Mr Hewgill said.