Two days of music, games and spectacular tricks and skateboard skills will help officially open a new skate park in the south of the island.

The extreme sports festival the ManXgames, takes place on this coming Saturday and Sunday.

Organised to officially unveil the new skate park at Poulsom Park, Castletown, the event will feature some of the island’s top bands, along with the chance to have a go at various sports such as skate boarding and BMX riding.

The event has been organised by Jimmy Cubbon, a Castletown commissioner, who was largely responsible for the creation of the specialist skate rink.

The weekend will see a skate jam, hosted by the Shred House, with the chance to test out the skate park for yourself, or even try skateboarding, with up to £2,000 worth of prizes on offer .

There will also be pop-up skate shops and displays of BMXs and downhill mountain biking.

Local ska stars Buncha Skankers headline the Saturday night music line-up, topping a bill that also features Mad Daddy, The getaways, Sansoucci and the Persian Doormats, with Voodoo bandits, the Tinkermen, El Catraz and headliners Motherfunkers playing on Sunday.

Jimmy said he wants the festival to provide a showcase for skateboarding as a sport and points to the growing popularity between people of all ages.

’This skate park bowl we have built here is a world-class facility,’ said Jamie.

’Hopefully we’ll get loads of people here over the weekend and see for themselves what skateboarding is all about

’Skateboarding is growing as a sport worldwide and is part of the Olympics this year for the first time.

’The UK’s representative is a 13-year-old skateboarder called Skye Brown, which shows the appeal of the sport and how it can attract all sorts of people to it.

’We have lots of young kids coming here to practise, some of them as young as eight years old.

’We want to encourage as many people, no matter what their age, to come along and find out more.’

The festival is free to attend, and opens from midday on Saturday.

Stunt rider Steve Colley will officially open the skate park at 3.30pm.

The event will also be raising money for the Castletown Parks charity.