Mooloolah skater's Olympic dream

Our skating superstar

By Sonia Clark

Mooloolah’s 13-year-old Haylie Powell is currently ranked Queensland state champion in the open women’s division of street skateboarding.

A keen supporter of women in skateboarding, she has travelled the country promoting the sport. With the 2020 Olympics rapidly approaching, Haylie has set her sights high and is currently gaining points through the international qualification system.

Recently the skating superstar returned from the US after competing in the Dew Tour Long Beach 2019 competition in California, where 28 women from 14 countries competed but only 12 achieved their Olympic point earning potential. Haylie qualified third in the competition and has made it to the quarter finals.

Her mum Heidi said that due to Haylie’s outstanding performance, there was a strong likelihood she would be invited to future events.

These competitions form part of an Olympic pathway for Haylie and contribute to her world ranking status.

She has been invited to the next Street League competition, which is also an Olympic qualifier, in Los Angeles at the end of this month.

Haylie was initially introduced to the sport by her dad around seven years ago and she picked up her skills by watching and learning from older kids. However, Heidi said that these days Haylie’s talent totally surpassed her dad’s!

“Because of Haylie’s age she is ineligible for any sports academy support and while we would love to support her to attend these qualifiers we have to raise significant funds to get her back over there. She is a great ambassador in relation to skateboarding and women in sport,” Heidi said.

The family is currently trying to raise around $5000 to help with flights and accommodation and has put the call out to local businesses and individuals to help.

If you can support Haylie in any way please reach out via her Instagram page www.instagram.com/microhaylie/.