Lismore has secured another major national event, with the city’s world-class skate park set to host one of only four Olympic pathway skateboarding qualifiers in Australia this April.

From 16-19 April, Rumble on the River will bring around 150 competitors from across the country to Lismore for the first stop of a national series - a competition that feeds directly into Australia’s new national rankings table and ultimately the Olympic qualification pathway.

Announcing the event at the skate park today, Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg described the moment as both exciting and symbolic.

“What a great day for Lismore to be here at our brand new skate park to announce a national event,” he said.

“It’s really, really exciting for Lismore to be one of those four destinations around the country to be an Olympic qualifying event. As Mayor, I can’t be more proud of our city.”

The announcement comes just days after it was revealed Lismore would host major music festival, Groovin the Moo, reinforcing what many see as a turning point for Lismore.

“We’re not thought about as a flood town now,” Mayor Krieg said. “We’re thought of as a destination, a place where events like national skating competitions can come and be really successful.”

Behind him, young skaters carved up the bowl, some of them Olympic hopefuls who may now begin their pathway right here in Lismore.

“There is nowhere you would want to be more than right here in Lismore to hone your skills,” the Mayor said.

Pacific Action Sports General Manager Matt Wilson, who is driving the event nationally, didn’t hesitate when describing the facility.

“How good is your skate park? It’s seriously one of the best, if not the best, skate park in Australia at the moment,” he said. “And that’s a fact.”

Wilson said adding Lismore to the national tour was a privilege, not just because of the facility, but because of the community backing it.

“As I’ve engaged with the community and different local suppliers we’re looking to use, there’s a real spirit of cooperation and generosity,” he said. “Everyone wants to see this succeed.”

Entries for the event are already rolling in.

“We’ve provisioned for about 150 competitors across a number of divisions,” Wilson said. “Open men and women, Street and Park, Under 16s, Under 12s, Under 9s — and even a Masters division.”

“I’d say we’ll be pushing the maximum limits.”

Importantly, the series offers equal prize money for men and women, with $75,000 across the national tour.

Skate Australia CEO Alex Anasson described the Lismore stop as a “landmark opportunity” for the sport.

“We’re stepping into a new era of skateboarding in Australia,” she said. “For the first time, we’re establishing a domestic competition series that links directly to a national rankings table.”

Strong performances in Lismore could lead to automatic selection for World Skateboarding Tour events, opening the door to Olympic Qualifying Series events for Los Angeles 2028 and further down the track, Brisbane 2032.

“We are batting above our average at the moment in Australia,” Anasson said, referencing the nation’s recent Olympic success.

“Setting foundations like coming to Lismore and having a world-class park like we do behind us sets the path for long-term legacy in the sport.”

The growth of female participation was also highlighted, with Anasson noting young athletes are inspired by Australian Olympic medallists.

“It’s an accessible sport,” she said. “You can only get good at skateboarding by continuing to fail. It builds resilience in our young people.”

For Lismore’s local skate community, the event feels like validation. Sam James from local business 36 Chambers said the park has already transformed the scene.

“We’ve waited a lifetime for this,” he said. “The Lismore community has been so blessed by this park and what it’s brought to the place.”

Business has also seen an uptick since the park opened.

“There was all sorts of dinosaurs coming out of the woodwork,” Sam joked. “People needing a new board or fresh bearings. It’s been a welcome influx of skateboarding to Lismore.”

Beyond April’s event, Mayor Krieg outlined a broader vision for the precinct, including a future pump track and the Lismore Boulevard walkway linking the CBD through the skate park to the health precinct.

“It’s all part of a bigger design picture for Lismore,” he said.

Next week marks four years on from the 2022 floods, and the atmosphere at the announcement carried a strong sense of optimism.

“I think we’ve turned a corner,” the Mayor said.

And with Olympic hopefuls preparing to compete on one of Australia’s best skate parks, and visitors set to flow into local cafes, shops and accommodation, Rumble on the River is shaping up as an exciting event.

It’s another sign that Lismore is firmly back on the national stage, and building momentum.