Skateboarding has always been somewhat supercool. The phenomenon started in California in the Fifties when surfers began to switch from water to land.

Brighton is a major skateboarding fraternity. The problem is, unlike many other cities and smaller towns across the UK, it does not have a decent skatepark.

Boarding started in Brighton in 1976 and the main places to skate then were the slopes that run down to the beach along the promenade and what is now Churchill Square shopping precinct.

Slalom, freestyle and relay events were held and shop-sponsored teams were chosen to participate.

The skateboard gatherings held at Churchill Square got so big they were often interrupted by police who tried to stop them and confiscate boards.

This meant skaters had to look for other places to go, including the roof on Brighton market which, being zig-zag in design, offered great opportunities.

This led to more confrontations with the police, earning Brighton the nickname of Pig City among skateboarders.

The skatepark at The Level was built in 1979 with council cash and since then parks have also sprung up at Black Rock, Woodingdean, Knoll recreation ground in Hove and Preston Park in Brighton.

While Brighton and Hove City Council is keen to see new and improved venues in the city, it doesn't have the resources to fund any new skateparks or even maintain those it has.

Unlike the USA, where skateboarding is big business and stars can earn millions in sponsorship deals, skateboarding attracts little business interest here.

As a consequence, the facilities at The Level are somewhat lacking, with wooden rather than concrete ramps.

One mini-ramp has even been condemned, according to Richie Sexty, manager at Brighton skate shop Fat Mamas.

He says: "It's rotten at the base but there would be so many disgruntled skaters if it was taken away and not replaced, that's why it's still here."

Taking on the responsibility for bringing the skatepark at The Level up to scratch are former skateboarding professionals Pasty, aka Justin Ashby, and Macca, aka Andy McDonald.

"We want to move the skateboard to a bigger area of The Level that's already floodlit," says Macca.

"It would mean skateboarders could use the facilities at night.

"Then we'd like to sink a concrete skatepark into the ground with half-pipes, bowls and a snake pipe."

A halfpipe is a big object that skaters zip up and down and flip when they reach the top.

But what's a snake pipe? "It's a bit like half-pipe but with curved walls," says Macca.

"It would help develop the already high standard of skaters down at The Level and attract more world-class skaters as well.

"It's very important for Brighton to have a world-class, centrally-located skatepark. It would reflect the kind of city we are."

A sum of £500,000 is needed to fund the venture, the first step towards which is the Flippin Level event.

As well as attracting local skateboarders, the event has sparked interest from the likes of British professionals Andy Scott, Ali Carins, Pete King and Dave Allen and international stars Rune Glifberg and Ali Boulala, who ride for Flip Skateboards crew.

There will be spectacular displays of tricks, a competition on the existing street course, a BMX demo and a best trick competition.

Also on the agenda is a graffiti demonstration, barrel jumping, mini-ramp jam (where skateboarders ride together for 15 minutes on a halfpipe and are judged at the end) and possibly a slalom event, which is where skateboarders weave in and out of bollards.

Finals of all events will take place on Sunday, after which punk veterans Peter And The Test Tube Babies will play at the Brighton Gloucester, Gloucester Place, Brighton, at 8pm.

Admission is £4, with all proceeds going towards The Level skatepark fund.

Call Justin Ashby on 07984 481385 or Andy MacDonald on 07941 708059.

Preview by Jack Forester and Louise Ramsay