The love of skating radiates from places where skaters gather.
It’s these meeting places that allow skaters new and old to learn from each other and make memories in a venue that likely already has years of rich skating history (or the potential for it). Many of them are places where owners, managers and patrons are all united in wanting to support the skating community.
That’s why these places are important.
There are less than 40 rinks in all of Australia and for years they’ve been closing more often than opening. This leaves scars in skating communities, often forcing people to travel hours out of their way to meet up with other skaters, gather at places with unfamiliar and sometimes dangerous terrain, or hire halls that can be expensive and difficult to secure regularly.
So often I’ve spoken to older skaters about closed rinks and they’ve wistfully recalled the happy memories they made there. First jobs were had, partners met, competitions won, and limbs broken (Okay broken limbs aren’t great, but memories all the same). These places meant something because they were dedicated venues for skaters to gather.
My hope for this blog is to delve deeper into each rink, highlighting the unexpected and proving that they are worth visiting before they disappear.
What do I mean by ‘skating dedicated venues’?
Rollerskating is enjoyed all around Australia, whether it be at rinks, skate parks, netball courts, halls, even old showground pavilions. All it takes is a bit of (relatively) flat ground and the right wheels.
But the primary focus of this blog is not on casual skating venues like a hall hired once a month for a special event or a Facebook group that organises the occasional meetup.
These are great ways to catch up with other skaters, but they are often unpredictable, limited and sometimes not welcoming for all skaters.
My goal in travelling around Australia is firstly to document all the places that:
- Offer a smooth surface maintained specifically for rollerskating.
- Are meeting places for skaters of all skill levels.
- Are regularly open to the public.
These are the meeting places I believe are most valuable to supporting the growth and continuation of inclusive, welcoming skating communities within Australia.
If you want to read more about rollerskating rinks in Australia, subscribe to Rollerskating Travels below or check out the Rollerskatingtravels Instagram where I post more regularly.
