SKATEBOARDERS in Wangaratta will have the chance to learn from a former national and world champion and Olympic judge when Renton Millar visits this month to provide free lessons at the Edwards Street and Mitchell Avenue skate parks.

Lessons will be held at Edwards Street on Friday, November 25 from 4.15pm to 5.15pm and 5.30pm to 6.30pm, followed by lessons at Mitchell Avenue on Saturday, November 26 at 10am to 11am and 11.15am to 12.15pm.

Then from 12.30pm on the Saturday, there will be a competition overseen by Renton, offering locals the chance to show off their best tricks on skateboard, scooter or BMX, with all levels of ability encouraged to take part.

Renton, who has been skating for 36 years, said he was looking forward to visiting Wangaratta to check out the skills of locals, and to offer some tips.

The former World Cup vert champion and four–time Australian bowl and vert champ, who has just returned from hosting the world championships of vert skating in Argentina, has a passion for teaching skateboarding and running competitions through his Shredability organisation.

A senior world skate judge who works on Olympic qualifying events around the world, Renton innovated no–handed flip tricks on vert ramps, such as 360 flip 5–0s and kickflip nose grind shove–its, and was known for his big ollies and smooth style.

After founding Shredability in 2014, the following year saw him create King of Concrete, Australia's premier national level series of bowl, park, vert and street competitions, sanctioned by the Australian Skateboarding Federation.

He brings to coaching a wealth of experience drawn from the United States, China, Europe and Australia, from an Olympic coaching course in Istanbul and judging seminars in Brazil, Australia and Turkey.

Renton has judged five world championships of park and vert, and was the head judge at all Australian Olympic qualifying events in 2020 in the disciplines of street and park. He has also helped design some of the most prominent skate parks in Australia.

"I still skate all the time, and it's good to be able to pass on the knowledge I've gained," he said.

"I know loads of shortcuts that can help people avoid the pain; the aim is to make sure learning is as pleasant and fun as possible, and for people to leave the lessons with more skills.

"The key is to take it step by step, and not to jump too far ahead of your skills.

"I've been lucky enough to do this for a job.

"It's amazing, and while I've definitely worked hard, I love the feeling you get from skating, the satisfaction you get – physically, mentally and socially, it's really good for you.

"It's given me everything in my life.

"For me, the most important thing is to keep skating, and coaching; there's such a good energy around it."

With skateboarding now part of the Olympics, which saw Renton serve as a judge for Tokyo 2020 and will see him take the role of head judge at the Olympic–qualifying world championships of park skateboarding in January, he said he'd seen huge growth in the sport in recent years.

"There are so many rad skate parks around," he said.

You can register for the Wangaratta coaching sessions by booking at shredability.eventbrite.com

While there will be some boards available at the Wangaratta coaching sessions on November 25 and 26 for those who don't have their own, participants are asked to bring along a helmet due to COVID prevention measures.

"Rock up and enjoy skating, no matter what your ability," Renton said.