Newton's Nation

Newton's Nation, originally Newton's Playground, is an Australian sports festival since 2008.

History

2008

The initial Newton's Playground festival was run by Bathurst Council. The event was the idea of Simon Rollins, he was an events person at Bathurst Council, and looking for new ways to utilise Mt Panorama (a famous car racing track). The event would centre around skateboard and luge racing on Mt Panorama. Within the Australian downhill community Mount Panorama is a special destination. It is legel to skate on the mountain, and it had been discussed many times on online forums such as Charle Dont Skate about holding an event or race. Eddie Spearing, a New Zealand skater, contact Bathurst Council about holding a slalom race on Mt Panorama. He posted on Charlie Don't Skate the original idea, and then rang Bathurst Council. He was put in contact with Simon Rollin, and the gravity games event was started. Bathurst Council was the main organiser, they contracted the sports organising bodies to provide the sports. The skateboard racing (downhill, luge, gravity bikes, slalom) was contracted to ASRA (Australian Skateboard Racing Association). ASRA was a very young sporting association, which was formed out of the Sydney skateboard slalom scene.

Sports in this initial festival included downhill skateboarding, slalom, street luge, classic luge, inline skating, gravity bike, BMX freestyle, Mountain Bike, Wake Boarding, Parkour and a skateboard mini ramp.[1] Bands such as Grinspoon provided concerts.[2]

2009

Bathurst Council did not participate in the second year of Newton's Playground due to budget constraints. Most of the downhill sports events continued.[3] The event was organized by the Australian Skateboard Racing Association (ASRA) and was sanctioned by the International Gravity Sports Association (IGSA) who designated the race as the 2009 World Championships. The Open Downhill Skateboarding World Championship was won by Kevin Reimer from Vancouver, Canada. Nick Duffield from Adelaide, Australia won the Street Luge World Championship and Andy Lally from Decula, Georgia, USA was the Classic Luge World Champion. Brianne Davies from Vancouver, Canada won the Women's Downhill Skateboarding World Championship and Evren Ozan from Laguna Beach, California, USA was the Junior Downhill Skateboarding World Champion.[4]

2010

Newton's Playground was renamed Newton's Nation by advertising firm Channel Zero.[5] Newton's Nation Unit Trust was formed with the owners of Channel Zero, Popcorn Events and Mojo Events. This festival ran from 26 to 28 November including music by artists such as Bliss n Eso, You Am I and Birds of Tokyo. Roller-suit designer Buggy Rollin also appeared.

The festival conducted a promotional road trip of various Australian cities in October 2010 and October 2011.[6][7]

References

  1. ↑ "http://www.silverfishlongboarding.com/forum/events-races-skates-series/63117-newtons-playground-australia-update.html"
  2. ↑ "http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/news/local/11456/Newtons-Playground-Set-to-Be-One-Adrenaline-Pumping-Weekend"
  3. ↑ "http://skateboardersjournal.ning.com/events/newtons-playground-igsa-world"
  4. ↑ "http://www.igsaworldcup.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=386&Itemid=470"
  5. ↑ "http://www.channelzero.com.au/Branding/Newtons-Nation.aspx"
  6. ↑ "Newton's Nation drops into Cowra". Cowra Guardian. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  7. ↑ Metcalfe, Caryn (13 October 2011). "Sky's the limit for youngsters at Newton's Nation road trip at Jamison Park". Penrith Press. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
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