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A video of Australian skateboarder Kieran Woolley performing amazing tricks has gone viral, as viewers compare him to skating legend Tony Hawk.
Woolley uploaded the impressive video to his Instagram page, where it has been viewed more than 270,000 times, and simply said: "This was a lot of fun." He credited fellow skater George Richards with filming the viral video.
The clip of Woolley skating at McVicker Park in Lake Elsinore, California, was also uploaded to Twitter by user @LaxMadUglie who shared the video and said: "Nah but this is crazy." His tweet amassed more than 130,000 likes and the video has been viewed more than 1.2 million times.
Viewers were impressed with his skating skills and compared the video to a feat they are only able to achieve playing video games. Danny on Twitter said: "Me in 2002 trying to get 30,000 points in 1 minute on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3," and Fidel said: "Man's going for a high score in Tony Hawk Pro Skater."
Others joked that Tony Hawk himself better watch out, like Jordy P who said: "Tony Hawk has been really quiet since this video came out," while Andrew said: "I know nothing about skateboarding but this was on another level. Tony Hawk kind of level."
The 17-year-old professional skater is from Minamurra in New South Wales, Australia. Woolley works with Santa Cruz Skateboards and according to The Boardr, his global rank is 149.
He has only been skating since he was 10 but says that his surfing experience helps his skating, according to an interview with Grass Fires magazine.
Woolley has been considered a skating star from an early age, as he was nationally ranked at just 13. At the age of 14, Australian media outlet South Coast Register wrote that Woolley was considered "one of the most talented junior skateboarders in the country."
Woolley has persevered with his skating despite experiencing injuries. In February 2020, the young skater told Illawarra Mercury that he had suffered two fractured wrists, with one injury occurring during an Olympic qualifier in Rio de Janeiro.
According to the Illawarra Mercury, Woolley once described himself as "a never-ending ball of energy that is always up for a challenge".
The video was shot at McVicker Canyon Skate Park, which opened in June 2019 and cost Lake Elsinore city $1.12 million. The park opened as a replacement to a park that closed in March 2002 as it was prone to vandalism.
When the park opened Nicole Dailey, assistant to the city manager, told The Press-Enterprise: "That is our largest and most extreme skate park yet," adding, "We have a significantly sized bowl that will challenge any skater."
Dailey also said that the McVicker Canyon Skate Park was expected to attract skaters of all skill levels and to become a venue for regional and statewide competitions.
Newsweek has contacted Kieran Woolley for comment.
