9 May 2025, Issue 1259
Passing on his passion We’re told he’s there nearly every day. Guiding Bay of Plenty youngsters – like he is pictured here with Olly Selfe, 6 – on how to perfect their skills on a skateboard. Ollies, grinds, slides and flip tricks ooze out of Destination Skatepark and the 31-year-old is in the thick of it – always. Shaun Boucher grew up at the Mount
and fell in love with the sport at the age of 11 when he swapped his rollerblades for a skateboard. Fast-forward 20 years and Boucher is now a role model and mentor to the community for his passion both on and off the board. He has competed professionally overseas, helped to design his hometown’s new
Destination Skatepark, and he recently became New Zealand’s national champion skateboarder after winning the ‘street’ and ‘park’ categories in the 2025 National Skateboarding Championships in March. In the last few years he’s also founded Mana Skateboarding, teaching kids and adults alike the art of skateboarding to share his passion
with the next generation. “I teach young kids from primary school to intermediate to college,” said Boucher, who now channels his love for skateboarding into his mission to redefine the way people experience the sport. Read more on pages 12-13. Photo / Brydie Thompson