An Interview with Nicky Hayes at 8CCC
Nicky Hayes or ‘Skateboard’ Hayes as he’s known in his Eastern Arrernte home of Lytentye Apurte/Santa Teresa, is an iconic figurehead in the Australian skateboard scene. He is the founder of the first Indigenous skate brand of its kind, Spinifex Skateboards. They make skate decks and apparel while facilitating youth skateboard clinics in his community, and First Nations skate tours. He is also a member of Songline Skateboarding, a crew of Aboriginal skateboarders from different Countries around the continent, who also specialise in youth engagement. Nicky also won an NT NAIDOC sports award for his youth engagement and entrepreneurial skills.
I took Nicky for a tour of the 8CCC store and cafe, to see his Spinifex stock on display for sale. And after, he sat with me in the studio to discuss stocking his brand nationwide, unveiling the first concrete skatepark in a remote Indigenous NT community, and his interstate travels as a revered skateboarder.
Words/photos/interview by Greg Barnes.