Teen scooter hopes to flip his way to the Olympics

Scooter Josh Popham is gearing up for the biggest year of his career.

The 16-year-old from Bridgend won the over-13s category at the UK's national scootering championships, Scoot GB, in October.

Now he is preparing for some of the most prestigious events on the scootering competition circuit, culminating in the world championships later this year.

But his success, he said, was not only a personal triumph but also a testament to the growing recognition of scootering as a serious sport.

Josh's love affair with scooters began at about the age of eight, after a chance trip to a local skate park.

"I remember my parents brought me to RampWorld, Cardiff, and from there I just loved it," he said.

It was not until Josh was 12, however, that he started taking the sport more seriously.

"It was scary at first, looking at the older boys and seeing them do all the big tricks," he said. "But it was nice to see improvement in myself and show myself what I can do."

Competing at a professional level in scootering requires a unique blend of technical ability and performance.

"You get judged on style, the way you land, the tricks, how big the tricks are, and how you use the park," Josh said.

He feels his strength lies in his "flip combos" – technical aerial tricks that showcase his control and daring.

"I love being able to do tricks that others can't," Josh said.

The teen began competing in the last two years, quickly gaining medals such as his second place in the Welsh scootering finals last year.

But his dedication was put to the ultimate test in October, when he competed in the intermediate 13+ category at the UK championships, held at Adrenaline Alley in Corby, England.

"I went in feeling confident and believing I'd come top three, but I didn't think I'd win," Josh said. "It was one of the nicest feelings I've ever felt."

As with most athletes, Josh has a huge support system behind him.

His dad Philip Popham initially had hopes of him pursuing an interest in football, but he quickly realised his son's true passion lay elsewhere.

"One rainy Sunday morning, he said, 'I'm not going to football, dad', and that was that," Philip explained.

"A couple of months later, he came back here and he's never looked back.

"We wouldn't have dreamed he'd be capable of doing what he's doing."

When he's not out on the ramps, Josh is also learning digital marketing at his father's security company.

Due to that and supporting Josh's scootering, "we get to spend virtually every day with our son, which is amazing from a family point of view", Phil added.

Josh believes he owes much of his success to the team at RampWorld, in Llanishen, Cardiff, where he trains three times a week.

The indoor skatepark, which operates as a charity, has become a breeding ground for emerging talent in extreme sport.

Manager Nathan Yanez has witnessed some of these progress to competing at international level, such as Team GB's 20-year-old BMX freestyler Holly Pipe, who began her career on scooters.

With the park catering for BMX riders, skateboarders, and scooter enthusiasts, Nathan believes the popularity of extreme sports in south Wales will continue to grow.

"When we first moved into our building, we didn't think we'd be much of a thing," he said.

"It's insane to have helped produce athletes like Josh."

Josh is now focusing on the international stage, where he will be competing against some of the world's best riders.

The next few months will see him travel to FISE Montpellier in May and Extreme Barcelona in October, while he waits to find out where the world championships will be held later in the year.

"I've got a sponsor now [Grit Scooters], which means I have to compete at a higher level in junior professional, but I've got a lot to look forward to," he said.

Beyond competing, Josh has ambitions of building a sustainable career in scootering and with social media playing a growing role in extreme sports, he understands the importance of branding and sponsorships.

"I'm really hoping [scootering] makes it to the Olympics," he added.

"More sponsorships, more exposure—it's mean you can make a living from it, which I'd love to do."

Nathan echoed this, saying that the growth of similar sports such as BMX freestyling and skateboarding can only mean a bright future for scootering.

"In the past 10 years, [these sports] have progressed a lot and we're hoping they will progress much further in another 10 years," Nathan said.

"Things can only keep getting better."