When Tauranga’s Shaun Boucher picked up a skateboard at the age of 11, he had no idea what the future had in store.

The national champion – in street and park categories – for 2025 has become a big role model for skaters in the Mount Maunganui community.

On March 29, Boucher competed at his hometown’s Destination Skatepark at the Mount in the 2025 National Skateboarding Championships and achieved a historic victory – winning the ‘street’ and ‘park’ categories.

Back in the day when Boucher was young, he often visited the old Mount skatepark with his brother Lance Boucher and friends.

“From humble beginnings, this is where my skateboarding took flight,” said the 31-year-old.

He didn’t have a skateboard and was using rollerblades; he didn’t hear the end of it from his mates.

Shaun Boucher is a national champion skateboarder and the founder of Mana Skateboarding in Mount Maunganui.

Before long and out of pity, his brother and friends collected their old gear and gathered together a whole set to give to Boucher so he could skateboard with them.

He still went back to his trusty rollerblades every now and then, but before too long he’d fallen for skateboarding.

“I was glued and hooked to skateboarding… and just started to really catch the bug of it.

“There was always something new to learn or new tricks to discover. It just felt like the possibilities were endless. I spent so many hours and so much time there [at the skatepark] and was just trying to perfect the art of skateboarding.”

Shaun Boucher, 12, in 2005. Photo / Jimmy Joe

Spending every living moment at the park with Lance and friends, his skills developed and before too long he was participating in small regional competitions.

“I used to compete in local, regional contests when I was younger and then ended up starting to get into bigger contests throughout New Zealand.”

Shaun Boucher is a national champion skateboarder and the founder of Mana Skateboarding in Mount Maunganui.

Soon enough he’d grown up and out of the little Mount Maunganui skateboarding facilities.

“I was about 24, 25 when I decided to further my experience in skateboarding; I decided to move to the Gold Coast in April 2018.”

He went from being a big fish in the Mount’s small pond, to a small fish in the Goldie’s huge lake.

This didn’t discourage him, instead it boosted his motivation to learn more tricks from those around him and become the best he could be, said Boucher.

“I got immersed within the scene over there. I met a lot of good people, rubbed shoulders with some top skaters in Australia.”

Shaun Boucher is a national champion skateboarder and the founder of Mana Skateboarding in Mount Maunganui.

Boucher competed in the Australian Bowl Skateboarding Championship in 2018 when he first got to the Gold Coast.

Unable to land a full run, he placed 13th.

After lots of practice and learning from great Australian skateboarders, he went back to win the championship the following year, in 2019.

“It just goes to show that you are a product of your environment, being there around the good skaters all the time and feeding off that level. You can really build yourself up.”

After competing in larger competitions and climbing the ranks in the Gold Coast, Boucher got word of a new skatepark being developed in Mount Maunganui.

That was enough to convince him to contribute to the design of it, and return home.

Encompassing more than 3000m2, Destination Skatepark – on the corner of Hull and Maunganui roads – opened May 2024 to become the region’s go-to destination for all roller codes and modes – from newbies to seasoned pros.

Shaun Boucher now channels his passion for skateboarding into teaching, on a mission to redefine the way people experience the sport.

Boucher moved back to the Mount the same month – and had other off-the-wheel plans as well. He wanted to share his knowledge and skills, just as his brother and friends had done for him.

By the end of May 2024, his brainchild came to life and Mana Skateboarding was born, 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 passion for skateboarding into teaching, on a mission to redefine the way people experience the sport.

He teaches kids of various abilities, some who have never skateboarded before and others who want to progress and learn new tricks.

“The kids absolutely love it and I put so much time and a lot of energy and a lot of love and pride into what I have to offer because I just see so much value in learning how to skate.”

He also holds adult lessons so parents can join their kids at the Destination Skatepark.

“Since the park has been built, it’s not just the kids but we’re seeing more parents being involved in skateboarding.

“Why would they want to just sit at the skate park and watch their kid’s skate... when they too want to do something that’s fun? It’s another way to interact with your kids, getting out there and skating with them.”

Shaun Boucher also holds adult lessons so parents can join their kids at the Destination Skatepark.

Boucher enjoys his coaching and hopes to expand his classes as the hobby becomes more popular. “It’s just grown leaps and bounds from when I grew up.”