Cardiff Met-supported skateboarders set for National Championships

Two skateboarders supported by Cardiff Met Sport will take on some of the best riders in the country this weekend as Lona “Bon” Gordon and Jowan Joyce-Richards compete at the 2026 Skateboard GB National Championships.

The Street National Championships take place at the iconic BaySixty6 skatepark in London on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, bringing together the leading men’s and women’s street skateboarders from across the UK.

Bon heads to London following an impressive year which has already seen her crowned Women’s Street champion at the 2026 Skateboard GB Scottish Open in Glasgow.

Since the end of 2025, she has been working closely with Cardiff Met Sport Strength and Conditioning Coach Dai Watts, developing her lower-body strength, explosive power, landing control and overall physical robustness.

Following her Scottish Open victory, Bon spoke about the impact that work had made on her skateboarding, saying she felt “sturdier” on her board and more confident when landing tricks.

She will now have the opportunity to test that progress on one of the biggest stages in British domestic skateboarding.

Joining her in London will be rising Welsh skateboarder Jowan Joyce-Richards.

The 14-year-old, who is supported through the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS), has also enjoyed a strong 2026 season. He claimed gold in the Best Trick category at the Skateboard GB Welsh Park & Street Open at Spit & Sawdust in Cardiff in January and continues to establish himself as one of the country’s exciting emerging talents.

Both athletes form part of a growing relationship between Cardiff Met Sport’s performance services and skateboarding, with specialist strength and conditioning support complementing the technical work the riders undertake on their boards.

The weekend begins with the women’s and men’s Street semi-finals on Saturday, followed by both National Championship finals and the awards ceremony on Sunday.

Results from the National Championships also play a role in Skateboard GB’s wider performance pathways, making the weekend an important opportunity for both established competitors and the next generation of British skateboarding talent.

Cardiff Met Sport wishes Bon and Jowan the very best of luck in London.