Rollerblading.com.au is now sponsoring Jordan Nash (QLD Slalom Skating Champion)

Talented slalom rollerblader Jordan Nash located in Brisbane, Australia has been taking his slalom skating progression very seriously.

Jordan’s progression as a slalom skater has been an absolute pleasure to witness ever since I first taught him in a series of slalom skating private lessons and group clinics in Brisbane in 2016. From that point onwards, Jordan has continued to progress and shine as a dedicated learner. Jordan also has a great attitude towards actively promoting shaded / undercover areas for QLD skaters, organising slalom skating social meetups and encouraging others around him. He has quickly progressed to a point where his tricks are being noticed nationally in competitions and hence Rollerblading.com.au is keen to help foster this dedication.

Follow Jordan on Instagram here

Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8JFprBw9BU
https://youtu.be/FlNl_YzFBcI

Keen to get started on your own slalom skating journey? Check out lessons.

Social slalom skating (Facebook) groups in SE QLD
Slalom buddies QLD
Brisbane Freestyle Slalom Skating

Rollerblading.com.au is now sponsoring Charlie Gordon ( red2roll )

Emerging young and talented rollerblader Charlie Gordon located in Brisbane, Australia recently entered his first competition – Australia New Zealand Rolling Open 2021.

Charlie’s progression as a rollerblader has been a pleasure to witness ever since his first skate park lessons at Coorparoo Skate Park in 2019. Showing a willingness to learn and a great attitude towards other skate park users around him he has quickly progressed to a point where his tricks are being noticed by other Brisbane rollerbladers.

Charlie has an excellent Instagram @red2roll account that you should follow. He is a rollerblader with a bright future.

#ANZRO2021 #brisbanerollerbladers #rollerblading #sponsoredrollerblader #charliegordon #red2roll #brisbanebladers

 

Sponsored rollerblader red2roll

Oliver Czaja interview: Meet the Australian Rollerblading Open Street Champion for 2015

Oliver Czaja ARO champion Open Street

[vc_row][vc_column][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″ src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/oliver-win.jpg”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]2015 has been a watershed year for Sydney’s Oliver Czaja. From his second year entertaining the masses at the Happy Valley theme park in Tianjin, China, to rubbing shoulders with the world’s top competition skaters at FISE World Chengdu and his recent big win in the coveted Open Street division of the Australian Rolling Open in Canberra, Oliver has fast become one of Australia’s most visible rollerbladers on the world stage. Rollerblading.com.au’s Jesse Kuch caught up with Oliver shortly after ARO for this candid interview about his life, rolling and plans for the future…

Hi Oliver, what’s up?

Not much man, just chillin’ on the porch and going over some clips from ARO.

I would ask how you’re going, but I’m guessing after ARO that’s pretty good.

Well, to be honest, it was only today (four days later) my entire body felt 100 per cent. That monster drop ledge was perfect but you truly do feel that the next day or two, man.

Yeah it looked huge. What about winning though, that must feel really good. Did you think you a chance of taking the to spot when you went into the competition?

I honestly don’t know what to feel, you know? Skating the comp, especially in the finals, I was skating and then stopping to catch a quick breath … I can hear my mates lacing tricks but I can’t see, so I’d lose it. Next minute, it’s like wait, what trick was I thinking about (laughs). Plus after hearing Robbie (Kellett) lace an alley-oop soul to alley-oop topsoul cab 720 into the bank, at the end I personally thought the results would have been different.

>> ALL THE ARO 2015 RESULTS, PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

>> ROB KELLETT’S ARO WEEKENDER EDIT[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/150081754″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Well, you definitely did something right! Is there a trick or line that you were most of proud of on the day?

I gotta say the 810 of the hip transfer. But I would have loved to do more tricks off the end of that drop ledge… I had a few lined up for sure.

You’re definitely been doing well in the competition scene year – it’s not just ARO. I watched you live at FISE World in China and I saw you won another Chinse competition, too. What was it like skating at FISE?

I’ve been trying my best at the competition scene, I haven’t really been in any since 2012-2013. FISE was amazing, hands down. Having the privilege to skate that park, especially with all those big names, was amazing. The ramps were perfect except the occasional loose panel, which you can understand … the park’s built for BMX, really, so they are not that meticulous at inspecting it.

China in general looked rad – already had a big chat to Rob Kellett about his time over there, but I’m keen to hear how it was for you.

Robbie covered it pretty well, except on my first contract at night time I’d take Ukrainian and Brazilian dancers for a ride on the scooter or Robbie’s motorbike (laughs). All up, I’ve spent close to 13 months in Tianjin. Six this year and close to seven last year.[/vc_column_text][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″ src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/oliver-czaja-china.jpg”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Wow… must almost be like a second home now. What’s it like “performing” for an audience at the theme park? Must be kinda surreal.

It was, but second time round didn’t have the upbeat feel so I was twenty-four seven skating park and street. It was a performance because the average public wouldn’t know the difference from a sweatstance to a hurricane top soul or 180 to 900, honestly. They just want to see you do rad things and interact with the crowd, which is what we did on a daily basis three times a day, six days a week. Even on days off we would be putting on free demos at street spots and heaps of people would flock us to snap pictures and to look at the foreigners. What was awesome was they were good for a barrier, so if a spot went into the road we had a sweet cushion, if you know what I mean (laughs).

Crowd control!

At its finest, mate.

Have you travelled much overseas in other places?

I spent about four months living in Brazil. I started off living in a very small country town and then made my way to the coast of Vitoria, north of Rio and Sao Paulo, where I bumped into a rollerblader who hooked me up with the locals.

When was that?

That was just before the China contract, from November 2013 to beginning of March 2014, I think. Khalil Stenning offered the contract to me mid-flight coming back from Brazil.[/vc_column_text][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″ src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Oliver-travel2.jpg”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Far out… so you’ve basically been living the dream for the last three years. 

Close to it, man.

I think we need to rewind right back to the start (laughs). Tell us a bit about where you were born, grew up and how this crazy adventure called rollerblading started.

I was born in the western suburbs of Sydney and grew up there as well. You could say in the ghetto! I rollerbladed when I was about four or five years old for a tiny bit in oversized skates until I got my own, but by that time I didn’t feel it. When I was 12, I was going on vacation care because my mum worked a lot and no one could really looked after me. They had a special day where they said we could bring a BMX, skateboard, scooter or rollerblades.

A mate there had these Roces M12s, the original ones that had the pop rivet frames, and he told me to rollerblade so I had a week to get new skates. I got some Rollerblade brand skates from Kmart, left the brake on and away I went. On the day my mate was street skating and showed me some stuff. I ended up doing a 540 on a seven-stair set first go and was launching off a ramp five or so metres in length. That was the day I said, ‘mum im going to be a rollerblader’ and started from there.[/vc_column_text][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”1000″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″ src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/oliver-czaja-sydney.jpg”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Sounds like you were born to do it…

I had a lot of inspirational people around me during my grom days … I think i can say that word now (laughs). It’s gotta be said, my family always said, ‘there’s nothing in rollerblading’ and the first time they watched an event was FISE. That made me pretty emotional, I ain’t gonna lie.

I guess it shows if you stick to what you love, it eventually pays off.

It’s taught me something – if you do something for 10 years, it will always repay the patience.

When did you start attracting the attention of sponsors and the like … and who do you skate for right now?

I’d have to say the first time I attracted any attention would have been coming third at the AROs in 2007 at Monster Skatepark in Sydney. That’s when I got onto Manly Blades just before they changed their name to Skater HQ. I was on Valo for a little bit until I had a nasty bail and that put me out for close to two-and-a-half years. That was around the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009.

Ouch. That must have sucked!

Yeah man, it was just before that big ARO where Brian Aragon put a hole in the floor from that huge gap. I was kind of training. I learnt my lesson from it, though: don’t forward 1080! Fakie is acceptable but not forward (laughs).[/vc_column_text][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”false” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″ src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/oliver-epic-air.jpg”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Was it hard coming back after an serious injury like that?

Oh yeah, man. My first comp back was ARO 2011, which I placed dead last. I still did the steeziest phillips 66 over the spine at Woden, I don’t care what anyone says (laughs).

A lot of people don’t like skating competitions, but from what we’ve talked about tonight, it seems like you do…

I’ve recently got a bug for it and I always enter because the cash goes into the sport. I’m not a vert skater but I’ll still skate it! After FISE I’ve gotten a bug where I can’t not go to a skatepark and just hit line after line. It’s just fun being able to connect it all together.

That’s what the FISE commentators remarked too – you were the first one using a lot of the obstacles on the day.

I couldn’t wait to get my skates on ‘em. All the boxes had perfection written all over them. The second you would lock you would want to ride it to the end.

Do you prefer skating park or street? Or are you a skate all day, every day kinda dude?

People call me a park-rat. That’s not a thing I’d claim because the pure fact is, I’d rather session a down rail or kink rail or something fun that is street-oriented AND skateparks to float and boost some airs. I’d skate all day, every day.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyMQ07ns244″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]You’re also hooked up with VC… is that you’re only other sponsor other than SkaterHQ?

Yeah, I was going to say that. I hooked up with VC midway through my first contract in China. After FISE I had Demon United get in touch with me, they do all types of protective gear fro gaskets to full face helmets and body armour. I’m just waiting for a package in the mail from them now.

What about outside blading? What do you do when you’re not rolling?

Ohh, that’s a tough one.

Really? Are you some kinda of international secret agent or something?

Well being a rollerblader is the best cover – I need to get in touch with an intelligence agency (laughs). Nah, right now I’m not working. I’ll work when i need to, but I’ve worked so many different jobs, from alarms to stone mason to contracting welder … I dipped my hands into mechanics for a bit. I just do casual stuff as it comes up, plus I’m trying to get my freelance photography and filming business up and running, and organising the NSW Titles.[/vc_column_text][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″ src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Oliver-Czaja-FISE.jpg”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]The cat is out of the bag! How’s that all going? I can’t remember a NSW Titles for a while…

I dropped a peep about the NSW titles at ARO. It only seemed fit because I can’t give a speech to save my life. When they asked me to speak I turned into a stunned mullet. I’m pretty sure forgot about everything I had to say. So far everything’s looking good. No dates are set as I need to find out with the other states so we don’t get any clashing. We might even make a series out of it, let’s see. I hope I’m not dropping too many secrets.

Nah.. you’re secrets are safe with us… and the internet. But seriously, it’s great you’re taking on the challenge, there are so many killer skaters in NSW.

That’s right. It would be great to state titles feeding into ARO every year.

Unity is the only way that things are sustainable.

Yeah I’ve been thinking about holding it for a year or so. I’ve given a lot of thought about what obstacles that need to be built, things like that.

Which park?

There’s three in mind that stand out, because you need a park with nice quarters, good lines and you don’t always need a jump box but it adds that extra send it-ness in a comp.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgburIAsokA”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]I think we should have enough now… is there anything you’d like to say before we wrap up, or anyone you want to thank, things like that?

Yeah dude, maybe just a quick mention about me skating my first ever competition at the 2005 ACT Titles at Tuggeranong (the same venue as this year’s ARO). I was Under-14 Vert champ and in the street comp, I remember gapping the side of the bank to the flat (where I did the 810 we talked about earlier) and cracking my Mook frame clean in half and not having any spare frames for the rest of the day.

I have to say it was nostalgic to be at Tuggers for ARO and it meant a lot to win because a recent brother of mine and the inline community passed away. Nathan Kapral was close to the main reason why I’m as good as I am today. I also have to shout out to Bill at SkaterHQ for always looking after me after all these years, even if Valo were a hard skate to find in shops … and Velvet Couch Clothing for putting the “Send” in “Send it”. Finally, just thanks to my family. They have been secretly behind me even though they can’t watch me skate. They say it’s too scary.

Thanks heaps man, it’s been great. Congratulations again on being the ARO 2015 Open Street champion!

Interview by Jesse Kuch. Photos by Hayden Golder and Gerard Ahrens.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Thomas Dalbis interview: The inside word on one of our most talented bladers and filmmakers

Thomas Dalbis

[vc_row][vc_column][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″ src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/HRG4130.jpg”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]If you’ve watched any Australian rollerblading videos in the last couple of years, chances are you’ve watched something from Thomas Dalbis. The Melbourne-based blader and filmmaker is responsible for pushing out consistent, high-quality edits highlighting the best of the Aussie scene (and he’s a pretty damn good blader himself!). Jesse Kuch caught up with Thomas recently to find out more about his life, travels, filmmaking and what The Simpsons has to do with the Kal Crew… 

Hey Thomas, how goes? What are you up to today?

Hey man, just chilling with Chris Pullar Sawyer and my girl, and we just pulled up to some basketball courts waiting for crew to get here so we can setup a P-rail and just have a sunny sesh in the middle of a Melbourne sunny park. Classic sunday chill sesh, pretty much…

Ahh, sounds awesome. Tell the boys I said wassup. You just back from another sunny place… Sydney. Checking out the edit, the trip looked like a lot of fun… what did you get up to?

Yeah man, it was loads of fun for sure. Pretty much, the idea was to go up for a week, as my mate Tomek was travelling up with his girl … Sawyer and I thought it was a good idea to go up at the same time and just catch up with all the homies, enjoy Sydney and get as much footage as possible. It turned out great. There was perfect weather every day, cool parks and loads of sick street spots. I also managed to stay at a family friends crib in Bronte right by the beach, so it was just perfect.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYmP9ffTkV0″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]They definitely look like they have fun in Sydney… not only blading but all the rest of life, too.

Yeah man, that’s for sure. There’s potential for anything outside blading … just getting around, logistics and all, was a nightmare (laughs). Sydney is so damn BIG!

Yeah it’s not a grid like Melbourne either … it can get a bit hectic. I guess we shoot back to the start. Tell me a bit about your life and rolling… Where did this crazy adventure begin for you?

Blading has been part of my life for about 14 years now. It all started back in my home town of Mantes la Jolie in France where my brother introduced me to skating by showing off his Feinbergs, doing grinds on the curb out the front of our house … I thought that it was the coolest thing ever. The next day, I got some Salomon ST1s and I was hooked! Then it was pretty much us two skating our local park and learning new tricks on easy flat ledges, until we met two other guys one day who were also blading and that’s when the KAL crew started.[/vc_column_text][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″ src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/12171383_10153155006987724_1199261660_o.jpg” title=”Backside backslide up, across the flat and down at the Vic Titles”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Oh wow… I didn’t know Kal Crew had such a long history.

Yeah. We bumped into the other two guys a few times without knowing who they were. After a few sessions, we were like ‘hey what’s up, we should blade together’. The core crew since the start is my brother, Jeremy, and the two French mates from my home town, 20sil and Dje, who Initially started it because they looked like Karl and Lennie from The Simpsons. Nowadays, this Kal thing is much, much more than that, and it pretty much is made of all the close homies I skate with … Martin Gade, Sawyer, Tomek, Kev, Matt, Josh and all the other crew I forgot to mention. It’s pretty much if you’re down with me and my bro, you’re down with the Kal.

Rolling seems so strong in France… like it never experienced the slowdown that a lot of other places did.

Yeah, it’s always been a huge scene. Back in the day we use to train it to Paris to go skate Bercy with all the locals every weekend and every time we’d rock up there would be 20-30 bladers shredding the park or the Bercy ledges. There was also loads of demos over the summer with pros such as Dom Sagona, Billy O’Neil, Rachard Johnston, Chris Farmer, Evgeniy Leonov, etc … they all made it down, and it was so cool been a grom and skating with pros, getting to talk to them … I was bilingual, unlike most Frenchies, so that made it easier for us.

Nowadays I don’t think the Paris scene is as strong, but the love is still there for sure. The level of skating (back then) was just insane. Growing up skating with the best skaters in the world at the time, in my view, was the coolest thing. We would meet up weekly with skaters like Cyril Daniel, Julien Cudot, Adrien Clairaz, Clement Milot and just shred the streets of Paris. We were all groms at the time, but was definitely a sick scene growing up. For example, when we were on tour in ’08 with all the Parisians we shot that disaster 450 backside royal at the forum ledges with Cyril Daniel. Llittle did we know that we had just filmed one of THE sickest trick in blading, ever. That’s how good the Parisians were and that scene definitely helped shape the skater I am today.[/vc_column_text][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″ src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/12175940_10153155007062724_723112130_o.jpg” title=”AO soul 360 out at the Vic Titles at Prahran”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Sounds like a life most people in Australia could only dream of… but we’ve got you now. When and why did you guys decide to move to Australia?

I decided to move to Australia around the end of 2007. (It was) mainly because I wanted a change of scene. I had lived in Paris for two years to study, so i was a bit sick of the Parisian lifestyle and I wanted to do a university course here in Australia to diversify a bit and get the best of both worlds. I also knew Melbourne had a cool little scene at the time, so that helped. It was around that time that my Mum and sister also moved back to Australia, so it made sense to meet up with them.

What did you study?

I studied Bachelor of Business with a major in Entrepreneurship. I completed in 2 years as I was able to use credit from my French diplomas.[/vc_column_text][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″ src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/12169812_10153155006922724_576023043_o.jpg” title=”Truespin topside pornstar”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Oh nice… I was expecting maybe something with video.

Nah, I pretty much taught myself video. It just came with blading, but now that I think of it, I wish!

Yeah it’s like that eh… oh well, it’s always easy to look in hindsight.

There’s always YouTube tutorials to catch on lost time (laughs).

Who need degrees when you’ve got YouTube?! These days, alongside your skating, you’re also recognised around the globe as one of Australia’s most prolific and talented rollerblading filmmakers … have you got anything in the works in the works?

Yeah man, we always have something in the works. At the moment I’ve got multiple projects I’m filming for few street sections of the homies Tomek, Martin, Scowie, Sawyer and myself. I’m also currently working on a new Razors Podcast to promote the new Waikiki skate. Hopefully we wrap that up soon to be in sync with the hype of the skate worldwide. I’m also working on a new edit for my Australian Street Edit series where I usually try and feature most of Australia, not just Melbourne … and finally, I’m also working on a ‘best of’ section with all of Martin Gade’s street clips of The Joint Tour and filming a bit for Circolo on the side. So yeah, always busy and I wouldn’t have it any other way.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/137579933″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Far out… looks like we won’t be short on content for rollerblading.com.au then (laughs). These days a lot of people put out edits… the technology is there for most people to be able to do it pretty easily… what do you think sets apart a good edit from the rest?

First of all, it’s a great thing that it’s getting easier and easier for people to put out content. As for quality in an edit, in my opinion, what really does it for me is use of tripod, multiple lenses and angles, and diversity in spots and tricks. Then there’s the high end edits that I see from people like Jonas Hanson, for example, that that are just on a totally other level … original filming, top camera, colour correction work and the choice of tricks are all super important when trying to differentiate yourself from the rest. But more importantly, he’s able to tell a story through his edits, not just trick trick, trick and see ya later. For me that’s the hardest part when it comes to setting yourself apart and it also helps make blading look good towards the general public.

Apart from Jonas, who else do you reckon nails it?

I like the E.Rod and the Dirtbox stuff, but the guys who really nail it in my opinion are guys like Austin Paz, Dom West and even guys like my mate Matt Carratelli. Those guys know how to film and make blading look good, which is what it’s all about.[/vc_column_text][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″ src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/12171971_10153155006977724_1659148282_o.jpg” title=”BS torque to true topside acid at the Vic Titles”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]You seem like you get to travel a fair bit… any adventures planned for summer or 2016?

Hell yeah man, always keen on the travel. We have spoken about doing Europe again, this time trying to hit up the competitions that we haven’t done before such as Fise, Roskilde and Blade Days … and I also want to bring my mates to comps I have loved for years such as Summerclash and Ghetto Games in Latvia. But yeah, most definitely a Euro trip, which seems to always be the best option to get out of the Melbourne winter. Also, the Soccer Euro comp is on in France next year, so there will be loads of people travelling over to Paris, which is dope. I’m always happy to welcome Aussie mates of mine and show ‘em the French way of living. Tom Sawyer and I are also planning on going back to Cali sometime next year.

Does that mean we can expect another full-length film like The Joint Tour then?

I doubt it mate, we’ll be missing our captain of the ship, FX, who will be in South America next year, so not really looking at getting a campervan and doing another 8000km tour, but who knows what we’ll come up with? As for another full length film like The Joint Tour … I’m not really looking at doing another project like that. It was a lot of work, much more than I expected. but some great memories and i cant wait to view it in 10-20 years and look back at the sick times we had![/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/123833560″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]That was kinda my question… it was such a long film, I imagine it was hours and hours behind a computer screen.

Yeah man, too long…

Do you reckon it’s sad we don’t see the full-length videos as much these days?

I dunno if it’s sad. It’s more that times are changing with social media and the internet … people get more content online than ever before.

Yeah, I guess people’s attentions spans aren’t the same these days. That said, sitting down and watching a full length video with a bit of a theme is still really next level for me… that’s why I loved The Joint Tour so much! You sound so busy with everything, whether it’s filming or actually blading itself … do you have time for anything else?

Blading and filming are pretty much my only hobbies. Nah, I’m a very active person and always keen to get out and do things, whether it’s shooting hoops with my homies, playing tennis, watching the latest shows or just hanging out on Chapel St for some arvo drinks, I’m just a regular blader that loves to travel and make the most out of life, petty much.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/136996686″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]I guess that should do us nicely man… thanks heaps for taking the time. Is there anyone you’d like to thank, or shout out, before we wrap it up?

First of all, I would like to thank my parents for the constant support and allowing me to travel to comps since the age of 14. IMYTA Amsterdam in 2004 was my first and would have never been possible without them and I will never forget that. I would like to thank my girl Lea for been able to handle my lifestyle and understanding my love for blading … big thanks to my brother Jezza for getting me into this and pushing me all these years … cheers to all the homies in the MR crew (you know who u are) for making Melbourne the sickest scene to film, hang, skate and promote … big up to Rolling Victoria for organising mad comps all year round … shout outs to all my Euro homies see you all next year … thanks to rollerblading.com.au for giving me this opportunity and keeping us updated with fresh Aussie media, and big, big shout outs to the KAL, for life! See you all at the ARO!

Thanks man, it was a pleasure. Keep the killer videos and skating coming, the scene needs you! Peace.

Interview by Jesse Kuch. Photos by Hayden Golder. For more of Thomas’ videos, check out vimeo.com/kalcrew[/vc_column_text][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”false” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″ src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/12177233_10153155007067724_1494087607_o.jpg” title=”Tom Scofield, Martin Gade and Thomas Dalbis at the Vic Titles”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Rob Kellett interview: Theme parks, The Great Wall and wanton destruction in China

[vc_row][vc_column][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Rob-Kellett-Camera.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”20″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Rob Kellett has to be one of the busiest guys in Australian rollerblading right now. The talented Brisbane local just returned from an epic trip to China, where he spent three months rolling, chilling, partying and filming with the Velvet Couch Clothing team. While he was there, he not only had the time of his life, but also witnessed the destruction in Tianjin first hand while the rest of the world watched on the news. Rollerblading.com.au caught up with the Remz and VC rider as he was putting the finishing touches on his new edit to find out more about his crazy adventure.

Hey man… How’s it going? 

Yo man, It’s going great thanks!

What are you up to?

Right now, I’m just busy editing away for my new section (see below for the end result). I’m looking forward to sharing it with everyone. It’s been a while since I’ve put out any content, so I’m a little nervous about it, too.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/141873040″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]I’m sure it’ll be fine … epic even! How does it feel to be back in Brisbane after what looked like a seriously epic trip to China?

It feels great to be back home, man. I mean, it’s a bummer knowing that the China adventure is all over, but it was the best three months I could have hoped for. So many good memories and crazy times! It is a good feeling to be back home with the family and all the homies, though.

Was that your fist time over there?

It was my second time in China. I was lucky enough to go over in 2014 to do blading shows at a theme park called Happy Valley, but this time around I was just on a self funded holiday visiting Paulie Haack and Oliver Czaja who were over there doing the shows this year. It was good to see all my old foreign friends, and not having any pressure to be anywhere at any certain time.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/79469113″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″] China looks like a crazy place… for a lot of reasons. Do you get a bit of culture shock when you first get there?

China is by far the wildest and most over-the-top place I’e ever visited. It definitely was a big shock the first year round, but after being there for 5 months last year, I knew exactly what I was in for this time around. It’s definitely more of a shock coming back home to reality, that’s for sure.

I feel ya. Tell me a bit about the trip… when did you get there, and what was first on the agenda?

I arrived in Beijing on the 2rd of July with Ashleigh (Paulie’s Girlfriend) and first on the agenda was to get straight outta Beijing. So after 12 hours of flying and a 4 hour stop over in Hong Kong, we jumped straight onto a speed train at 300km/h to the nearby City of Tianjin, which is where Paulie and Ollie were living. Ash and I had told the guys that we were coming on the 6th, so we kept everything on the DL and surprised them in their dorm rooms on the 2nd. I had also told my Ukrainian friends who were still working there from last year that I was coming on the 6th, so I got to surprise them too. Good times![/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/rob-kellet-china.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”20″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]It must be so much fun doing the trip with so many of the homies. How long did you stay in Tianjin?

Most definitely! I was there for a total of 89 days. It would have been nice to stay for another month longer, but I was only able to get a 90 day visa. I came home with $36 in my account, so it was probably a blessing in disguise to be honest (laughs).

Did you travel around much, or stayed around the area?

We travelled back and forth between Tianjin and Beijing. The first month more than the last two. Gerard Ahrens, Jamie Sims and Mitch Macrae came to visit in the first month so we spent a lot of time going back and forth between the the cities.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgburIAsokA”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]You were there during all the craziness of the explosions, weren’t you? Tell us a bit about that … obviously the whole world was watching, but you were on the ground.

Thing certainly did heat up, that’s for sure! I mean, the night it happened, we were actually in Beijing and woke up to a bunch of crazy videos and messages on our phones which had been shared through WeChat (Chinese equivalent of Facebook messenger)… And we were pretty worried! After making sure our friends there were still in Tianjin were all alright, we went to a local Seven-Eleven Store and bought some piece-of-shit masks that did absolutely nothing but made us feel a little safer; and decided to head back into Tianjin.

So the series of explosions actually happened in the city of Tanggu, which is the portside city in Tianjin. Basically, if you look at a map, you’ve got Tanggu on the coast, Tianjin city West and Happy Valley (our home) between the two. We were about 28km west of Tanggu… anyway, we got off the speed train in Tianjin city and walked outside in our masks, expecting everyone to do the same. Much to our surprise (and concern) we were literally the only people wearing them! The air was as clear as it normally is in China … and everyone was just going about their business as if nothing had happened.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q04fV4j7A1w”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]The days passed, and the more we looked at World news, Australian news, and what ever else we could find, the bundle of mixed messages was just getting bigger and more confusing. Paulie and Ollie were flipping out a little at first, especially once we heard there was Cyanide in the air… But to be honest, I was hearing all this blur of information “they’re saying this” and “the Australian news is saying this” yada-yada, and I was literally sitting in my room, looking out the window and thinking about how I’ve never seen such blue skies and crisp clean air in all the time I’ve spent in China. It was pretty stupid that the bosses at Happy Valley were making Ollie and Paulie do shows the day after the explosion, even when there had been no knowledge of what was in the air.

After about 4 days of non-stop explosion/deadly-gasses-in-the-air talk, I was well over hearing about it… Whatever was in the air, harmful or not, was definitely already in our systems; not to mention the fact that almost everyone in China smokes, and there is high levels of led found in the air anyway. I’m sure there’s a lot more the public doesn’t know about too. I wasn’t ready to jump on a plane home and end my holiday just based off some he said she said bull, when, if it was as bad as all these people were making it out to be, it would have already been too late anyway. As it turns out everything was fine, and there were no mass evacuations or anything like that. Our lives in China continued as normal and we were able to get a move on. It’s still really sad to hear about all the Families and People harmed by the blast. From what I heard, they are still (and will be for a long time) trying to get the blast zone under control. It was definitely not something I would want to be close too again, that’s for sure.[/vc_column_text][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”550″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″ src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/rob-kellett-2.jpg”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Woah… that’s so hectic. We were definitely hearing a lot of different stuff over here, but hearing your story makes it all the more real. I guess it shows the stoic the Chinese people are, to be able to go back to work the day after like nothing happened… if it happened in Australia the whole place would stop for weeks!

Word! China is pretty brutal like that … everyone is just fighting their own struggles.

We’ve been through the crazy … what about the good? What do you reckon was the highlight of the trip?

Oh man, the whole trip was one big blur of great times. Each month was different to the next. The first month, I got to see all my old friends, my American buddy AJ Stine came and stayed with me, Gerard, Jamie and Mitch were there and it was non stop craziness. The second month was a little more relaxed … everyone who was visiting had left, and my body needed a little break, so I took it easy for a week or two before getting back to filming and blading more again. It also gave me time to spend with my lovely lady.[/vc_column_text][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″ src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Rob-Kellett-Sweaty.jpg”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]The last month was super fun … the season changed, and the weather cooled down. We started getting up and out in the streets every morning before the guys had their shows. We found we would run out of light too quickly if we left it until after. So basically, I had this rad daily routine of: wake up, coffee, blading and filming street business, back to my room, have breakfast with my girl, hang with her and watch her shows (She works at Happy Valley as a dancer), watch the guys blading show, head home and get some tasty Chinese food at our favourite restaurant, watch back clips from the morning’s session and label them (you gotta stay on top of it!), then relax, sleep and do it all over again the next day. The last month was definitely the most productive.

I’d say the stand out highlight from the trip would be making it to the Great Wall with the homies. I’ve got this one spot which I found last year … this little lounge-chair shaped rock that just sits on the waters edge of this amazing lake among the mountains that the Great Wall goes through … it’s kinda unreal. Last year I just sat there for like an hour and just took in all the epicness that was happening … blading, China, the Great Wall, the lake … everything. It’s like that single moment when you just have maximum appreciation for where you are in life, everything that’s happened and the endless possibilities that lay ahead. So I was pretty stoked to make it back there this year and relive that same overwhelming vibe again.[/vc_column_text][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″ src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Rob-Kellett-rock.jpg”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]You never used to see China in blading videos, but it seems the last few years there has been quite a few of the blading community over there (and there is even paid work!). What’s the scene like in China?

Yeah China is a little strange like that. There is such a strong blading scene over there and so many people blading in each city, but because Facebook and most western websites are blocked I think it’s hard for a lot of content to get out from China. You’ve got a few famous people like Franky Zhang, who was riding for Razors, now rides for Seba. It’s definitely a thriving scene.

There is definitely money to be made from blading in China, especially if you’re a foreigner! Chinese people love seeing a foreigner, regardless of what you’re doing, and they will pay money to see it (laughs). Not only that, but there is a lot of random blading competitions with big sponsorships and big prize money regularly. Just a few days ago, Ollie went to a comp at a park half way between Tianjin and Beijing and ended up getting 1st Place and 3000 Yuan in his pocket. Boom![/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/45378539″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Haha wow… maybe it’s time to move. But seriously, when you started rollerblading did you ever envision it would take you this far?

China is good for sure, but it’s good when you know it’s just for a short period of time. Living there for good would literally drive anyone insane. Sometimes it gets a little bit too much. I started out rollerblading with my best mate James in the drive way of our houses … and I guess it just grew from there. I could only ever have dreamed of rollerblading taking me the places it has and becoming such a big part of my life, when I was just starting out.

I’m super thankful for where it has taken me and for all the amazing friendships that rollerblading has sparked. Almost all of my best friends are bladers and if it not for rollerblading I may never have met them. It hasn’t always been an easy road, definitely a painful one at certain times along the way, both physically and mentally, but it’s certainly been amazing so far … and it’s only the beginning.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/45378538″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]You’re hooked up by Remz Australia right… how did that relationship start?

Well, I’ve been blading Remz almost the entire time I’ve been skating. My first pair of blades were some TRS Access, followed by some Remz 0701’s and it’s been Remz ever since. Some people would say it’s better to try a bunch of different skates and see what works best, but I’ve always felt like remz have been, and always will be, the best skate for me … sure I’ve tried on other skates in stores and borrowed my mates blades to try out at a skatepark at the end of a session or something, but I’ve never put on another skate that has been as comfy and perfect as a Remz skate is for my feet. Not only that, but I strongly believe if you blade a particular skate for long enough, you grow with it … you learn exactly how that skate works, how it slides, how it flexes, how it will react to certain things. This takes time, but it’s definitely worth it in the end.

So to get back to the question (sorry about the sidetrack there), I have been blading Remz for almost 8 years now. I was always rocking them at the Aussie Titles and everything like that and then just before I was about to drop my first profile in 2013 I hit up Jenny (Logue) at Bayside Blades, just asking if it was alright for me to put a Remz logo at the end of the edit and she pretty much asked me then and there if I would like to be on the team. Of course my answer was a yes. It’s definitely my dream come true to be on the team. In my opinion Remz are the most unique blades on the market and they always keep it OG. For all the haters, just remember, most blades now come with some form of a v-cut (Remz did it first), some blades now come with a strap instead of a buckle (Remz did it first), skates with a skin are now starting to get rid of the un-needed plastic over the top of the foot (Remz did it first)… and they were all things that you probably bitched about before your favorite pair of USD Carbons came out with a v-cut cuff and some velcro straps (laughs).[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3foxvY-XAnQ”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]What about your other sponsor, Velvet Couch Clothing?

Coming from Brisbane, Velvet Couch has always been a massive part of the scene here. When I was younger, I didn’t really get out of my home town much, but I knew all about VC from Skatebiz, Darxyde Divisions (Aussie Blading DVD) and skate meets. In more recent years I started making it out to street sessions, competing in the right2roll street comps and hanging out with Gerard and the rest of the VC Crew. Gerard is without a doubt the raddest dude I’ve ever met through blading. He always brings so much energy to a session and always gets me juiced up to lace something. He does so much for the rollerblading scene in Australia and it’s something I’m always super appreciative of. Just before China came around last year and I was over at G’s place, he hit me up about joining the team and repping VC while over in China and bam, just like that, I was now apart of the crew I looked up to when I was a little grom … it’s funny how things happen. Now a year and a bit has passed and G-rad, the VC team and I have shared some crazy, awesome times. So much exciting VC stuff happened: jeans, hats, fresh tees and there is still so much new dope stuff in the works … so be on the lookout for that, too.

What about The Firm? It’s quite a mysterious little collective that I see you’re involved with… fill us in.

Well, basically The Firm is a blading media collective that spans across Australia, the UK and China. My homies Jake Bennett and Matt Brogan started it a few years ago now and asked me to be a part of it when I was in Europe at the start of the year. At the moment, we’ve got our facebook page and vimeo account and we just put up our blading media through those platforms. However, we’ve got some really big plans for the future. A website, some limited edition runs of clothing, a lot more videos and blading media… basically a lot of dope stuff. I won’t shed too much light on it, or give too much away right now, but The Firm is coming in hot, real soon.[/vc_column_text][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″ src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/robkellett.jpg”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Sounds exciting… don’t forget to keep us posted in how it’s going. What about for the rest of the year and onto 2016? Any other plans or projects we should know about?

I’ve got a lot planned for the next few months actually. I’m still taking it easy after so many little injuries from my time in China, destroyed elbows, ruined wrists and worst of all a lingering heel bruise (which put me out for a lot of my time in China). I’m doing my best to mend them as quick as possible. I’ve also got this profile to put out, which I’m really excited about. On top of that, I’ve been working on another 30 minute travel edit with footage from last year, which I was hoping to have out about 5 months ago, but life has just been so busy. The video will be featuring almost everyone I’ve bladed with in the last 2 years… spent a lot of time behind the lens, so I’m super excited to release that one as soon as possible. Me and Oliver Czaja are working on a profile for him. The world ain’t ready for his killer skills.

Then I’ve got lot to do for The Firm as well as some designs for some new VC stuff and I’ve also got a bunch of ideas/plans for more videos. Hopefully another couple of street profiles, a park edit and a little secret something if all goes according to plan. I also really want to get a profile of my homie James McErlain done, because he shreds. On top of all of this, my girl is looking to come and visit this Christmas which would be amazing. We’re having a little bit of hassle with the visa at the moment, but we are doing our best to get it sorted.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/83418867″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Can we expect to see you at the Australian Rolling Open in Canberra this year?

I will definitely be coming to the ARO this year. Getting juiced to see all the Aussie Blading family in one place again.

Awesome. I think that should do us just nicely man, thanks so much for the chat… it’s been epic. Glad to see you’re so busy and loving life at the same time. Is there anything else you’d like to say, or peeps you’d like to thank, before we go?

I definitely want to give a big thanks to my family for always supporting my love for blading and travelling. I couldn’t have done it without you guys. Also a massive shout out to all the homies I blade with. Y’all know who you are, thanks for all the good times, and all the juice and motivation. A massive shout out to Jenny and Remz Australia for supporting me and always keeping the best skates on my feet. Gerard and Velvet Couch Clothing for all the support, all the good times, and all the motivation … we got this! Also a massive shout out to rollerblading.com.au for giving me the opportunity to do this interview, and always posting rad Australian blading media. Stay Rolling!

Right on brother, we’re always happy to support. It’s been a pleasure.

Interview by Jesse Kuch. For more of Rob Kellett’s videos, check vimeo.com/robkellett[/vc_column_text][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″ src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/rob-kellett-china.jpg”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Craig Brocklehurst interview: mates, beers, bunnies and blading in the Harbour City

Craig Brocklehurst

[vc_row][vc_column][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/12072794_10153263000374952_214685874126331586_n.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Known far and wide for his four great loves – good friends, brews, blading and the South Sydney Rabbitohs – Craig Brocklehurst is one of the country’s best known and most respected rollerbladers. From humble beginnings in Perth to life in an Asian mega-city or his current home of Sydney, where he is an integral part of the (in)famous Vine Gang, Craig’s stylish and technical brand of rollerblading has influenced the scene wherever he goes. Currently gearing up for another spring and summer of blading in the Harbour City, Rollerblading.com.au caught up with the man recently to find out more about his life, rolling, coming back from injury and the long-awaited sequel to Vine St.

Hey Craig… thanks for making the time to have a chat. I guess we start with the basics … Tell me about your journey with blading. 

Hey man. I first got rollerblades on my 10th birthday in Perth. I rolled around and played some roller hockey with friends for a few years until they built a small skatepark a few blocks from my house … that’s when I fell in love. My dad taught me how to drop in using skiing as a reference, so I owe it all to him!

Haha, that’s awesome … Go dad! How old were you then?

12, I think. Around that time, I moved to Singapore with my family and that’s where I really started to take it seriously meeting other ex-pat kids who were around the same age.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/44762243″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]You don’t hear much about blading in Singapore… is it big scene or just the ex-pats?

At the time it was huge. It had a big local scene for such a small country. We had our own little expat crew with about 5-6 of us. We started off just skating park in our helmets and eventually started joining the local guys out street skating and a whole other world of skating opened up.

When did you move back to Australia?

When I was 19, to Perth for university.

What did you study?

Sports Management and Marketing but unfortunately wasn’t for me and I left half way through.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/craig.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]I probably would have, too (laughs). What as the Perth scene like whe you got back?

It was great actually. Probably why I didn’t do so well in uni! Not the biggest scene but Outerlimtz Skate Shop created a real family vibe and organised multiple sessions a week. With a good mix of OGs and people eager to learn, throw in some of the best rails in the world it was a really fun time. I go back twice a year and always catch up with the guys … they still have a really strong scene.

Yeah I just saw the preview for W.Aliens… can’t wait to watch the full video. These days you’re pretty well embedded in Sydney’s skate scene… when and why did you move over?

I moved over at the start of 2010. I just needed a change of atmosphere really. I had been friends with Rian Arnold for three or more years before that and he always told me I should move to Sydney. Also in 2009, I spent three months in the US. Half of the time was with the Valo team and half was spent exploring Hollywood and Las Vegas with CJ wellsmore. He also mentioned more than once that I would love Sydney. I got back from the States and the first trailer for Vine St came out. Next move was leave my job in Perth and get a one way ticket east![/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/7117313″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Speaking of Valo… how did that relationship start?

John from Outerlimtz has always had a good relationship with Rhonda (Australian Roces/Valo distribution) so I got to meet her a few times before even trying them. But after a long time on Razors I wanted a change, so I tried Valos and fell in love instantly. The next stage was being able to hang out and skate with the Julio and the whole team in Melbourne at the Australian Rolling Open. Funnily enough, I missed my flight home and got to spend the next day street skating with legends like Bailey and Broskow. I flew home the next day and a little while after that, I recieved an email asking if I would like to ride for them.

Sounds like the stuff dreams are made of… damn. You ride for Ground Control Australia too, right? Any other sponsors these days?

Yeah man. Ground Control frames are amazing, so I lucked out again! Shout out to Jenny (Logue) from Bayside Blades. No other sponsors, no.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ05AFRLcK8″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Sydney’s scene is without a doubt the most visible in Australia… largely thanks to the work of Dom with Vine St and of course CJ’s success on the international stage… tell us a bit about life and the scene there from the inside.

Its been an incredible experience as far as skating and making mates that feel like family. From very early on from moving into the Vine St house, it can be a rollercoaster because when you skate, party and work with your best mates, you can get a bit worn out … but in the end you create relationships with people that will be strong for the rest of your life. Our crew has a solid view on blading and how to have a good time. With a brief break on filming when Dom West moved back to the UK, the last few years has been on as far as traveling and filming. The last six months I’ve seen some insane shit go down with a special shout out to RA (Rian Arnold), who has been killing it and smashed out a section that I think will be better than his last.

I think Chapter II is what everyone is hanging on… any word on when the rest of us will get to see it?

Yeah man it’s looking really good so far. Sometime early next year I believe![/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/14635688″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Man I seriously can’t wait. If you reckon it’s upping the game on the first, I think we’ve got something special on our hands. I guess that’s one thing you always see in edits from Sydney … you guys look like you have so much fun. Not just skating but life in general. Tell us about a day in the life of Craig Brocklehurst in 2015.

Days not working will usually start off with a strong coffee and then see who’s keen to blade. Perfect days are usually weekends spent skating in the city while its empty with a couple of longies keeping everything fun and relaxed. It’s coming into summer so after skating is done head to the beachfor a swim and a barebeque … with lots of cold beer!

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie (laughs) …

Hell yeah! We have amazing beaches here, so it’s a must to try and get a swim in after skating.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/12062512_10153278099127266_1779446137_o.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]I notice in your edits  and when I’ve seen you skate in person, you’re pretty solid on transition… is there a type of skating you prefer? Or are you just down for it all?

Yeah man, I love transition. Growing up I mostly skated park and was heavily into competing in park comps. I do love the whole aspect of street skating and filming for something special, but I think I will always prefer transition in the end. I’m looking forward to the Australian Rolling Open this year to catch up with everyone and compete for the first time after my ACL reconstruction two years ago.

I was going to ask about that… pretty serious injury… can be a career ender… was it daunting coming back? Did it change the way you skate, or the way you look at skating?

Yeah it was my worst injury by far, so it was a little daunting. But luckily two good homies (Gav drumm and Jamie Knapp) had both gone through knee reconstructions and I had seen them both recover, so I just knew if I took the time and put in the effort into proper rehab I would be fine. I probably don’t just chuck myself down a big rail as much without some serious preparation, but other than that I don’t think it’s changed my skating, no.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/91250532″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]That’s a relief! What are the plans for the rest of the year and into 2016? Any trips or major other happenings we should know about?

My plan for the rest of the year is to enjoy summer and skate as much as possible for Chapter II. I’ve been wanting to do the European summer for ages and I want to say next year I’ll actually commit and do it … Roskilde, Summerclash, NASS, etc. Other than that lots of little road trips up and down the coast with me mates!

I think that will do us nicely. Any shout-outs, people you’d like to thank, etc before we wrap up?

Yeah man, my folks for constant support. Valo, Ground Control and Jenny Logue, Outerlimtz and all my homies in Sydney who are my family these days … love you all!

Thanks man, it’s been a pleasure. Looking forward to catching up with you at ARO. Peace!

Interview by Jesse Kuch. Photos by Adam Kola & Dom West. For more from Craig Blocklehurst, click here.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/12062946_10153278099107266_951406443_o.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Interview: Australian Rollerblading Open 2014 women’s champion Tiffany Street

Tiffany Street Profile

[vc_row][vc_column][mk_image src=”http://www.australianblading.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/tiffanyprofile.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Street by name, street by nature. Meet Melbourne’s Tiffany Street, Australia’s new Australian Rolling Open female champion. Jesse Kuch caught up with Tiffany shortly after her big win at ARO to find out more about her life, rollerblading and what it’s like being to top female skater in Australia in 2014…

Hi Tiffany, how are you? First of all, let’s start basic. Tell us who are you, where you’re from and how you got into the world of rollerblading.

I’m Tiffany Street, originally from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. I started skating when I was (I think) grade 4, which seems like a lifetime ago now. I stopped in grade 7 for some unknown reason. Many years went by and I started missing that feeling of rolling so much I started to get back into it when I was 19. So it was a solid amount of time before I picked it up again.

You’re based in Melbourne now, though… aren’t you?

Yeah, currently based in Melbourne. Wouldn’t have it any other way.

You’re hooked up with Ground Control frames, aren’t you? How did that relationship start?

Basic answer is that Jenny approached me one day and proposed the idea of me joining the team. I was completely stunned!

Well, it seems like you’ve done them proud in 2014… How does it feel being the Australian Rolling Open Women’s Street Champion for 2014? You blitzed it at the comp!

Absolutely incredible. I thought my days of competing were long over. I mean, I’m not even old I just never thought I’d come back to the sport and compete again.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”http://www.australianblading.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_0130.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]You went pretty hard at ARO though… that disaster kind grind on the rail was one of the first tricks of the day when I was like damn… you must have known you were on a winner when you hit that!

Haha, I must say, kind grinds are my safety trick. I’d never tried a disaster KG before though, so landing that felt so nice. Pretty stoked with that trick.

Has the win given you a bit of motivation to push yourself to skate more and do bigger tricks? You’re the top female skater in the country for 2014!

I get so taken aback when anybody says that to me, it feels so surreal. Ah man, this weather has been getting me down. After the comp, there was so much rain so I haven’t been able to get out much which has been killing me. Ultimately, I blade for my undeniable love of the sport. I’m a perfectionist, so when learning new tricks I’ll probably be stuck on them for months until I have them absolutely perfected.

There probably aren’t as many girl rollers in Australia anymore… not compared to what you see in Europe and other places across the globe. Do you hope to inspire more women into the sport?

I’d love to be the person to inspire more women into the sport. When I tell somebody that I Rollerblade they always assume I mean Roller Derby or something, it’s pretty funny.

Where could one find you skating in Melbourne? Do you have a favourite park or spot you hit regularly?

Well, usually I’m just trying to get a quick skate in in between study and work so I’ll just ride to my local (which is 5 minutes away) and just have a solo roll. But I love to skate strange obstacles, I love being creative and just messing around and having fun.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”http://www.australianblading.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_0085.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”1000″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]What about your favourite skaters? Who do you admire and why?

Right now Alex Broskow and David Sizemore. They both have such controlled styles and are always so creative. That’s what I’m loving most about the current state of Rollerblading: creativity. When I was little, Chris Haffey used to be my absolute hero, I idolised him and wanted to be him.

What about Aussie skaters? Anyone here inspire you?

I really enjoy watching Gav Drumm for the same reasons as Broskow and Sizemore. Also, Robbie Pitts is somebody who I feel really comfortable expressing myself in front of (skating wise). But I’ve got to shout out to the boys who I mostly skate with who are always there pushing me: Lil Kev and Matt Caratelli. Always love watching them skate.

What do you get up to outside blading? Do you have any hobbies or interests outside the blade game?

Well I’m currently studying Graphic Design and I also do freelance work in that field. That takes up a lot of my time but outside of that I love going for long rides on my bike, reading lots of literature, DIY projects, taking photographs and hanging out.

Do you take many blading shots?

Yeah. Photography is my second default, I love being behind the lens. I’d much rather be there than in front of it. I just love capturing that perfect shot, feels almost as good as doing the trick itself for me.

Do you think those talents will come together a bit more around rollerblading in the future? Seems like they could go hand-in-hand…

I’m really interested in the idea of creating a little Rollerblading zine. I know that there used to be one around but I wasn’t in the scene that point and I’d love to bring one back at some point. I’d love to be a part of something like that for the community.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”http://www.australianblading.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_0666.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Is there anything else you’d like to mention before we wrap it up? Do you have anything major happening before now and the end of the year?

I’m really keen for daylight savings to kick in again and get back to all those night sessions. This summer I really want to push myself to the next level.

Can we maybe expect an edit or some photos then?

The rollerblading community is a community I am so proud to be apart of, everybody has such a great attitude. I’m conjuring up a couple of edit ideas at the moment, so we’ll have to see where that takes me. Probably one before the end of the year I’m hoping.

Awesome… anyone else you’d like to thank or shout out in particular?

Anybody and everybody who blades, they’re always inspiring me to skate harder and better myself especially the guys who I skate with regularly – Lil Kev, Matt Caratelli, Robbie Pitts, Tom Cameron, and also to rollerblading.com.au for having me here. Also Ground Control Australia for seeing something in me and giving me the opportunity to ride for a brand which I love.

Awesome Tiffany, thanks so much for taking the time out of your studies to chat to us. Congrats on the big win, you rocked it!

No, thank you for having me!

Peace!

Interview by Jesse Kuch. All photos (except slideshow) by Craig Richards.[/vc_column_text][mk_image_slideshow title=”Photos by Tiffany Street” images=”7917,7918,7435,7436″ image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ effect=”fade” animation_speed=”700″ slideshow_speed=”7000″ pause_on_hover=”false” smooth_height=”true” direction_nav=”true”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Meet Rhys Bell: Australian Rollerblading Open Street Champion for 2014

Rhys Bell Profile Photo

[vc_row][vc_column][mk_image src=”http://www.australianblading.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/10566335_10154400707710114_623881691_n.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]How does it feel to be the ARO Open Street champion for 2014?
Yeah it still doesn’t feel real! I have been going to the Aussie titles since I was a grom, watching all the pros lacing hammers. Now it feels like I have accomplished a big goal with my skating.

Did you think you were in with a chance though this year leading up to the event?
No, not at all. All I wanted to skate was the mini mega leading up to the event. I didn’t even think about the street! A few of the Canberra guys have been filming and pushing each other to try new tricks, this itself became sort of like training for the ARO.

That’s kinda my next question… It seems like there is something in the water in Canberra at the moment! Both you and Tristan Richards took out the top spots in street and mega ramp respectively… the scene must be in the capital at the moment.
Yeah, we have a great scene, with great street spots and skateparks. There isn’t a whole lot to do in Canberra besides skate, which I think helps us keep pushing ourselves. Growing up we have always had a solid scene with a lot of dedicated people to keep blading alive in Canberra… and Tristan is a machine!! Keep an eye out for his next profile, it’s going to be next level.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”http://www.australianblading.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_0892.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Sick.. can’t wait. I guess we should shoot back a bit… tell us a bit about yourself. Did you always grow up in Canberra?

I’m 23 years old and I’ve been rolling for over a decade now. My Dad first taught me to skate when I was moving back and forth from a little coastal town called Narooma. Growing up in Narooma, We had a really tight crew of about 10 rollers, which included CJ Wellsmore. He was the main influence growing up skating and making sure every trick possible at the tiny little Narooma skatepark had been done. We eventually both moved back to Canberra and kept the Canberra Scene (Canthrax) going. Dave Jacobs Put together a DVD Called Canthrax – Wasted Days and we have have been filming ever since. The crew has changed alot of the years but we still a lot of the OG guys in our crew.

The plot thickens! Narooma really has had a big influence on Australia… that’s crazy. Sometimes it’s the smallest places that bring the biggest results…
Damn right.

I know you ride your Razors Australia, are they your only sponsor? How did your relationship with them start?
I ride for Razors Australia and Velvet Couch Clothing. My first ever sponsor was Salomon, I stuck with them until the day they decided to stop make rollerblades. Andy from Canberra skate shop Straightline helped me go straight from Salomon onto Razors. Throughout all the Right 2 Roll other competitions, Gerard from VC hooked me up with a few clothes and then I found myself skating for VC. I wouldn’t be here without all the support from these guys.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMF7HIEsKd8″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Have you ever had the chance to skate overseas, in competitions or otherwise?
I once got invited to Junior X Games in Sinapore, but brock my leg soon after hahaha

Damn… Now you have ARO under your belt, maybe it’s time for another trip!
I would love to head to Europe to some of the bigger comps over there, but there are no plans at this point. I have going to New Zealand in Novemeber. I’m going to film an edit over there. But it’s definitely something I’m going to think about a bit more.

Speaking of edits, you just dropped a killer one… tell us a bit about it… how long have you been filming for on that one?
I seem to be constantly filming putting canthrax edits out every few months. This one, I grabbed the best clips over the last 3-4 months and made my own profile. Plently more to come, I’ve still got a few unused clips sitting there.

I checked out the Canthrax site just before… you are heavily into photography and filming, aren’t you?
Yeah, I work full time in a photography studio here in Canberra. I also do a fair bit of my own work filming music videos and taking photos for magazines, etc. I has all come from skating. I starting taking photos of my mates skating then it progressed from there just trying to get the best shot of the tricks, and now it has became a big part of my life.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”http://www.australianblading.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/A6-1-copyHires.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]It’s crazy how passions like that can build into a career… what else do you get up to outside skating and work.
Most of my life outside skating is based around my photography work, I also play guitar in a band, I surf, and of course have the girlfriend Carissa. Sometimes it gets hard to balance everything but its all worth it in the end.

Awesome… what kind of band? What are you guys called?
We play a blend of blues and hip hop, called Made By Mandy. We are just starting to recording our originals at this point.

Do you guys play out at all? Any gigs coming up?
Our first gig is coming up which is just a backyard party for Octoberfest.

I guess we’ll start wrapping it up… any other plans or projects we should know about? Anyone you’d like to thank?
There has been talk about getting the Razors Australia Team together to film another podcast, so hopefully that goes ahead. I’d like to thank, Jenny from Bayside Blades for looking after the Razors team, Gerad from VC for straight up being The Man. All the Canthrax lads for all the great sessions and big ups to my whole family, as they have always been very supportive and I woudn’t be rolling without them.

Thanks Rhys, it’s been a pleasure.

Interview by Jesse Kuch. Photographs by Canthrax Crew and Craig Richards.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”http://www.australianblading.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Rhys1_hires.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″][/vc_column][/vc_row]