The 31-year-old has lived in Port Macquarie since he was 19, and now has four children with partner Tamar Gaul.

Dave was a strong advocate for the new skate park near Town Beach. He was one of three special committee members liaising with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to ensure the dream park became a reality.

Dave is stoked to see the park, which was more than six years in the making, so well used today.

He also teaches young people how to handle a board through his company, Stomp, and through free skate clinics in collaboration with the council.

Growing up on the NSW Central Coast, Dave remembers his dad, Warrick, giving him a board.

“He used to hog it, though,” Dave says, fondly. “And he’d show off by doing handstands in front of kids in the neighbourhood.”

When he turned 14, Dave picked up his first sponsor, Flip. At 17, he went to the US to try his luck on the international circuit.

Based in California for three months, Dave then headed to Florida to compete in the renowned Skatepark of Tampa amateur competition.

“If you make it in that, you go pro internationally,” Dave says, recalling how he placed 60th in the 300-strong field.

Skating against some of his major idols was a daunting experience for Dave.

But the nimble teenager gave it his best shot at his dream of global skating domination.

After a while, though, the young Dave became homesick for Australia and returned to our shores.

At 25, he tore his ligaments and was off the circuit for eight months, a lifetime in skating terms. In the end, the injury forced Dave to retire as

a professional, but he kept skating for enjoyment.

“Now I’ve got a family of my own, I do it for fun,” he says. “I can give back to the community.”

Dave focuses on teaching kids to be courteous while using the state-of-the-art park in Port Macquarie. As the team manager of Inner Vision Skate Team, Dave is hoping to bring competitions to the town soon.

Tamar and Dave adore their beautiful children, daughters Crystal, 16, Frangayla, 7, and Luna, nine months, and son Penny, 10.

Skating is a passion for Dave because it keeps him fit and active.

“As an individual sport, it’s all about challenging yourself,” he says.

As a trainer, Dave and his team are working to give young people something engaging and active to do.

“Older people walk past and wonder how they all work around each other,” Dave says. “It’s controlled chaos.”

Dave dubs our facility as world-class.

“I don’t think it will be outdated for a long time and it’s set the standard for other parks built in the region,” he says.