Laza Morgan to set up skate park in Jamaica

Work is expected to commence on Laza Morgan's Korna King Skateopia next year.

The St Thomas-based skate park is one of several attractions the entertainer is looking to house on 13 acres of land in Port Morant.

"It's a process. People have to come and look on the land and, when that phase is over, the rest of the year will be for the preliminary designs and, hopefully, we start building by next year. It'll be a big complex, so we'll have a lot of attractions. We'll have the skate park, we'll have a place for staging events, we'll have a lot of different facilities," said Morgan.

Skateboarding had always been an interest of his, but he hasn't had much time on his hands to practise the sport.

Fan since youth

"From mi a youth, it had my interest. Where I born in Massachusetts, I was seeing it around, and by the time I was going to high school, I was into BMX and skateboarding, all those extreme sports. I was intrigued, watching the sports on ESPN and all. It's something weh mi love, yuh don't have to be a professional to love it," shared Morgan.

He didn't get much of a chance to explore that side owing to the demands of his music career. He says, "In those things, 'bruck up' must happen. So it was just that I couldn't afford to get any of that because I wouldn't be able to tour the world. But now, after linking up with some friends, mi kinda a get back inna mi skating ting," he said.

Morgan is also busy working on his own line of skateboards to be made from bamboo.

Creating a hobby and employment for Jamaican youth and even bringing foreigners to the island is also one of his aims.

Global sport

"Skateboarding is a worldwide event. When yuh see it on ESPN and see the magnitude of the sport, it's big. Skateboarding gives a certain freedom and there's a lot of practice that goes into it if you're to take it up serious. The youths in Jamaica haffi a worry bout all type of things, suh skateboarding shouldn't be a problem for them really," said Morgan.

After setting up shop in Jamaica, Morgan plans to take Korna King worldwide.

'Skateboarding is a worldwide event. When yuh see it on ESPN and see the magnitude of the sport, it's big. Skateboarding gives a certain freedom and there's a lot of practice that goes into it if you're to take it up serious.'

(from Jamaica Gleaner)