By David Nagel
The head-spinning journey from The Shed Skatepark in Cranbourne to producing ‘world-first’ tricks on the biggest stage in his sport is now a pinch-yourself reality for Rhys Rogers.
The 19-year-old summoned all of his brave qualities to deliver pure perfection, under the most intense of pressure, to win the Scooter Best Trick competition at the 2022 Nitro World Games at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
In action or extreme sports – it doesn’t get any bigger than this – with thousands flocking to Suncorp to watch the world’s best FMX (Freestyle Motocross), BMX, skateboarders and scooter riders attempt to break world records and do tricks that push their minds and bodies to the limits.
Rogers lived out his dream, qualifying for Nitro’s in May last year, but Covid forced the postponement of the event for 12 months.
This year he won the Victorian state title, and finished third in the nationals, but there is one event that was always on his mind.
“I qualified for the world championships in Arizona, but decided to focus on Nitro, and it’s paid off because it was the best experience of my life,” Rogers said.
“I just couldn’t believe that I was at Nitro World Games to begin with.
“I got to meet Travis Pastrana, and got to meet everyone I’ve looked up to, and then I was going up against Ryan Williams, who is the one who got me on a scooter to begin with.
“I was watching his videos for so long growing up, it was surreal to compete against him and then win…it was the greatest experience in my life.
“I still can’t believe it, even when it’s mentioned now those words still won’t sink in because I can’t believe it myself.”
Typical Queensland storms looked like putting a dampener on the whole event, with Saturday and Sunday both being washed out, leaving Monday – the reserve day – to decide the champion.
Each rider had three runs, with only the best run counting.
Rogers was attempting a world first, his triple-backflip, no hand jump, but failed at his first two attempts.
“I had been training for a year, knew it was my last jump, and just wanted to land it,” Rogers said.
“I hadn’t landed it twice, I was in tenth position, so it was either land it or stay in tenth.
“I said to myself at the top, ‘I don’t care if I crash’, I’m still happy that I was here, meeting everyone that I got to meet, and the experience was crazy.
“But deep down, I really wanted to land it.”
Rogers jumped onto his scooter and took off, launched high into the air and just seconds later had landed the biggest jump of his burgeoning career.
“I landed it and it was just the best feeling, I put my hand up in the air, I was jumping around, I’ve been to so many comps but nothing can beat that,” he said.
“It’s crazy to me, I still can’t believe it, I look up to all of them guys and to be competing on such a big stage, and winning, it’s the biggest moment ever and nothing will ever better it.”
Williams, Rhys’s childhood hero, was banished to second place.
“He was like ‘you cheeky little bugger’, but deep down he was happy for me because I trained at his training grounds in Queensland, called RWilly Land,” Rogers explained.
“He’s got the same sort of ramp as Nitro, so he had me come out a couple of weeks before the competition and I was just so thankful to Ryan for taking me in like that.
“My dad got me to Queensland, but Ryan was so accommodating for letting me train like that.
“They (his competitors) were so happy for me, said I deserved it and that all the hard work has paid off.”
Rogers said that after two failed runs, the thought had never crossed his mind to take a backward step.
“They wanted the biggest tricks and that’s what the judges are looking for,” he said.
“If you don’t land it the first two times, then land it on your last jump, the judges are going to reward it, how can they not do that.
“It’s the basis of what we do…to push the boundaries.”
Life has moved quickly since Rogers held his trophy aloft – with Williams and another hero Dylan Morrison standing by his side – with a recent promotional trip to Japan just one of the benefits of putting his name up in lights.
But the kid from The Shed in Cranbourne will never forget his beginnings.
“I’m doing this because I want all of the kids to start on a scooter and to experience what I’m experiencing,” he said.
“These kids need to know that if you follow your dreams, and chase your goals, you’ll get to the top eventually if you keep chasing them.
“When I was younger, I would ask people a lot better than me how to get better, and they just said ‘practise’, they wouldn’t really help.
“I thought then that I would never be like that if I make it to the top.
“If a little kid wants a photo, or a signature, or something else, I’ll do my best to give it to them.
“One kid at Nitro’s asked if he could have my knee pads, so I signed them and gave them to him.
“I want to give back to the little kids, because I know what it feels like to be on the other side and not be taken seriously.”
People are taking you serious now Rhys Rogers…how can they possibly not!
