See you on the flipside: Canberra's biggest skateboard store looking for new owners

They’ve been personalities of the Canberra region for the past 17 years, but the owners of Trilogy Skateboards have decided now is the time to roll on to other things.

David and Irene Donoghoe are looking for “someone to take over … Canberra’s longest-running skateboard store” on Lonsdale Street, Braddon.

“Being a part of the skate community has defined our lives,” the couple posted to social media last week.

“Moving on will be incredibly tough, but it’s time for a new chapter … To our amazing customers, thank you for all the great years.”

It all started with the ultimate love story.

“I’ve been skating since I was about 13 years old,” David says.

Queanbeyan had just opened its first skate park and, undaunted by the fact he knocked a tooth out and broke a wrist on his first day, he discovered it was a “big passion”. He was back at it the next week and soon met his girlfriend, now his wife.

“I had a couple of mates who had opened up small skate shops around Australia, so it seemed like a no-brainer for us to get into the business too.”

What started with a small loan for a shop on Crawford Street in Queanbeyan in 2006 blossomed into a move to the Hyperdome in Tuggeranong the following year and then a second store in the Canberra Centre in 2013.

They successively closed both and settled on Lonsdale Street in 2020.

Inside, you’ll find “everything skateboarding”.

“All the components and accessories that go with it, including the fashion – the fashion is quite a big part of the business.”

David says skateboarding remains a bigger business in Sydney and Melbourne, but “it is quite popular here”. It might not be the same sport it was in the 1990s and 2000s, and there was a lull for a while, but he says interest has picked up in the past few years.

“It’s always had quite a niche following.”

Irene has since taken on another business, and David “just turned 40 last year”, so the couple deem the time right to “explore other challenges”.

“We’ve made lifetime friends and seen customers since little kids who have grown up and had little kids of their own,” David says.

“A lot of people are pretty sad to hear the news we’re not really going to be the owners of Trilogy, but they’re happy for us at the same time.”

The couple stress it’s not goodbye.

“We’re not going anywhere just yet! We’re starting the hunt, but business is as usual!” the Facebook post reads.

“If you love the skate scene and want to be part of it daily, reach out!”

Contact Trilogy Skateboards via email (mail@trilogyskateboards.com.au) or phone 6262 6946 for more information.