DYLAN Bates is going places on his scooter that he never thought he would go.
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The Horsham College student secured the Australian Scooter Association under-16 state championship on Sunday and qualified for national titles in the process.
A victory at the state titles saw Bates finish the fifth and final qualifying event on top of the state rankings ahead of the April 22 championships.
The 16-year-old said he would have to put in a lot of training to carry his strong form into his first national competition.
“There are some really good riders in all the other states,” he said.
“I’m down at the skate parks riding every day except for Tuesdays and Thursdays when I have footy training.
“Footy training certainly helps keep me fit.”
Bates has only been riding competitively for a little over a year.
He said it had been a big step up to compete in the ASA events after starting out in State Park League events.
“These events are 10 times better and more important,” he said.
“Last year I was just travelling to compete in competitions in my area but this year I’ve been travelling to Melbourne a lot more in order to qualify for the national titles.”
If I wasn’t on a scooter I wouldn’t be going to Sydney.
- Dylan Bates
In order to reach nationals riders had to finish the state’s top ten after competing in at least two of the five qualifiers.
Bates made his way to Melbourne to compete in four of the qualifiers and regularly travels down just to practice.
“Most professionals train by riding indoor parks which have resi mats and foam pits, whereas all I’ve got is concrete,” he said.
“I can still try to do all my biggest tricks but it’s a lot easier just to travel down to Melbourne where it’s a lot safer to take the bigger risks.”
The freedom to express himself without a coach telling him what to do was what initially attracted Bates to the sport.
“You can develop your own style but it all started as just something to do when I was bored,” he said.
“For me it has changed from being just something to get around on into something that allows me to compete.
“I’m really looking forward to going somewhere for nationals where I have never been before – if I wasn’t on a scooter I wouldn’t be going to Sydney.”
He said he needed to thank his sponsor, Havoc Pro Scooters, for helping him get to all his competitions.