Roller Skates are back! – Chatting with Sam
X Games Sydney invites little skate legend from Melbourne
September 5, 2018
Street Art vibes at Wonderwalls Festival 2019 – Port Kembla
February 24, 2019
It’s getting more and more common to see roller skates or quads taking over the streets again. It used to be a trend from the ’80s but now it looks like it’s becoming more popular again. As we are urban sports lovers constantly seeking to discover what’s going on in our sports, community and, scenes, this time we wanted to go deeper and talk with one of the girls who has been growing and skating harder in Australia, that’s Sam!. Sam thank you so much in advance for agreeing to do this interview with Flop Supplies Australia!
(Copacabana, NSW, 5-0 Grind, Photo by John Bejarano)
Sam started roller skating when she was a kid, actually skating is one of her first memories! She stopped in high school but suddenly, a few years ago she gave it a try to play roller derby (for the ones who do not know about this sport it is like rugby with skates) and that's how she came back on track! After a few years on her skates again she tried a skatepark...and that was it! She got literally hooked! Since then Sam has been challenging her self learning new tricks and loving to be on eigth wheels.
Today, Sam is living in Central Coast with her partner John Bejarano (an amazing skater btw). They moved to the Central Coast because "I’m not a big city person at heart", she said. Looking for a more relaxed environment and also, a place where allow them to skate more because it's cheaper!
Which is the Australian city with more girls skating? Why do you think that happens?
I am noticing more and more people roller skating everywhere. I think it has a lot to do with the international movement Chicks in Bowls, which is an online community of people sharing roller skating videos and photos in skateparks, mostly on Instagram. More people are seeing each other skating and getting more excited about it. Then there is a ripple effect. When you see another chick in the skatepark shredding on roller skates, you realise that it’s possible that you could do it too. So I think loads more people are buying skates and giving it a try.
Yes, spots time! Please give us your top 5 spots to roller skate in Australia.
(Bateau Bay Skate Park)
Bato Yard, Central Coast – right now this is my local park and I think hands down the best park in Aus.
Pizzey Park, Gold Coast – this park is where I am from and where I first learned so many things so it has a special place in my heart.
Fitzy Bowl, Melbourne – This little bowl is so much fun and has an awesome vibe. I’d love to be able to skate there more.
Coffs Harbour Skatepark – I’ve only been here once but I had so much fun in the bowl. It allows for so much creativity and is just rad.
Secret Spot, Sydney – I know this isn’t fair, but I couldn’t list a secret little indoor mini ramp that I love in Sydney. It’s where I spent so much time skating with my friends, and it’s always been a beautiful and supportive environment for up and coming skaters.
We believe that "Every rider is an artist"...What do you think about this concept?
"I think skating is absolutely an art form. A skater like Hayley Havick is a great example. She has a style that is so incredibly her own. Her tricks and photos are definitely an artistic expression. I’m a writer by trade, so I don’t express myself visually, but I do with my words, and I feel like skating works in a similar way. Constructing a line isn’t so different from constructing a perfect sentence. It takes time to craft and hone and it comes from some special magical place. I imagine it is similar to street art. Maybe that’s why there’s a big overlap". -Sam.
(Haley Havoc, from http://voyagela.com)
