No slowing down: Skater off to world games aged 60

An amateur skateboarder is set to represent his country for the first time almost 50 years after he took up the sport.

Darren Miles, 60, from Plymouth, is to represent Great Britain in the slalom event at the World Skate Games in Paraguay later this month.

Miles will take part in three disciplines as part of the team made up of a mixture of professionals and amateurs.

“When I was 10 I never thought I would be skateboarding at 60 for my country so that’s the main attraction,” he said.

Miles first became interested in the sport in 1977 in Essex where he “always had a skateboard and always skated around”.

In 2020 he “realised he was slowly losing his tricks” and took to slalom, which involves speed skateboarding around cones.

Darren Miles will be up against the world’s best skateboarders when he heads to the championships in Paraguay [BBC]

When he heads to the World Skate Games, Miles said he could be up against competitors who are in their 20s as well as those his own age.

He said “to finish and not get disqualified” would be a successful games for him.

“There’s a top 16, I don’t really anticipate getting into there, but I’ll be going there and supporting all the other guys that are racing, because a few of the English guys are in with a good chance,” he said.

“I’ll be supporting them and just enjoying being at the event.”

He said he enjoyed travelling for skateboarding events and the social aspect of the sport was a “big draw” for him.

“Sometimes you get a sport that’s what matches your personality and it can be a lot of fun with a shared danger,” he said.

“Everybody’s been really supportive and I think a little bit amazed.”

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.