Official Australian Rollerblading Open 2014 video and review (The Park, Geelong)

Shane Yost

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_image image_width=”800″ image_height=”400″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”10″ src=”http://www.australianblading.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_0187.jpg”][mk_fancy_title tag_name=”h2″ style=”true” color=”#393836″ size=”24″ font_weight=”bold” letter_spacing=”0″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”25″ font_family=”none” align=”left”]ARO 2014[/mk_fancy_title][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Melbourne Rollerblading’s Rob Ham gives us the official review and wrap of this year’s Australian Rollerblading Open 2014 at The Park in Geelong.

The Old Skool 30+ title was again won by an entrant who’d travelled from interstate, and George Sarantoulias certainly wasn’t planning on bringing any gold back to his current home in Adelaide. There was a strong interstate attendance, with people travelling from ACT, NSW, QLD, SA TAS and WA, and by all reports the shuttle bus to the event from Fed Square in the city was a hoot.

Hayden Golder turned 30 on the day of the event, qualifying him to enter the Old Skool 30+. He also entered in Vert, Mega, and made the finals in the Open Street too. His buddy Brad Watson medalled in Vert, Mega and Old Skool.

The wildest vert ramp in the country played host to Brad and Hayden putting on a show they’ve been working on, with the creative lines it was built for. Also world vert legend Shane Yost turned up “just to watch”, only to strap on the boots, put on a show of his own and took 1st.

The first ever ARO mega ramp style event did not disappoint. Brad hit the roof above the quarter, and Canberra’s Tristan Richards had big plans of his own to put his gymnastics influence to good use. He was lacing tricks in his heat more easily than he expected and was seen pulling a handwritten shopping list of tricks from his pocket, to decide what to try next. His double misty in the final will go down in Australian rollerblading history.

Junior Girl entrant Alana Boots, skated the Street, Vert and Mega events, and Tiffany Street showed us what’s up and held on to her women’s title.[/vc_column_text][vc_video title=”OFFICIAL ARO EDIT BY MITCHELL MACRAE” link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEivtYfB5JQ”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Last year’s Open Street winner, Martin Gade, changed his flights home from an extended vacation in Europe to arrive home just in time to find himself on the podium again. Also within a week of the contest, NZ’s Tom Scofield moved to Melbourne and the new guy took 2nd place.

Rhys Bell is no stranger to skating in the finals of the Aussie Titles; he’s been killing it since he was in the U16s in 2005. 2014 turned out to be his year, finally becoming Australian Champion.

Massive thanks to Rosie at The Park – Geelong Indoor Skate Park and her helpful staff, chef Ben Mccoll on BBQ duty, Andrew Munro with BBQ and banners, Jean-Claude White and Danny Hawkins on coping box duties, Paul Kreutzer on bus organising duty, MC Josh on microphone duty, Nat Rawlings, Danny Hawkins, and Trent Phillips on judging duties, other people that helped out on the day including Daniel Talbot, Jenny Logue, Brad Watson, Chris Pullar, Mitch Macrae for filming and editing the official edit, and all others that released an edit or shared photos online, and especially Rob Ham and Simon Kelly from Rolling Victoria for putting the whole event together.

Also those that sponsored the event including Razors Australia, The Probate Professionals, 4Sqair Wheels, Bayside Blades Skates, Velvet Couch Clothing, Rollup, rollerblading.com.au. Melbourne Rollerblading, and Little Creatures Brewery. Without their contribution things like this can’t happen. Support your supporters![/vc_column_text][vc_video title=”ARO 2014 Edit by Daniel Talbot” link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkaDAT6PROw”][mk_fancy_title tag_name=”h2″ style=”true” color=”#393836″ size=”14″ font_weight=”bold” letter_spacing=”0″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ font_family=”none” align=”left”]AUSTRALIAN ROLLERBLADING OPEN 2014 RESULTS: OPEN STREET, VERT & MINI MEGA[/mk_fancy_title][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Opens Street

1st: Rhys Bell

2nd: Tom Scofield

3rd: Martin Gade

Vert

1st: Shane Yost

2nd: Brad Watson

3rd: Hayden Golder

Mini Mega

1st: Tristan Richards

2nd: Brad Watson

3rd: Rhys Bell[/vc_column_text][vc_video title=”ARO 2014 Edit by Iain Smith” link=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyLXFADC038″][mk_fancy_title tag_name=”h2″ style=”true” color=”#393836″ size=”14″ font_weight=”bold” letter_spacing=”0″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ font_family=”none” align=”left”]AUSTRALIAN ROLLERBLADING OPEN 2014 RESULTS: GIRLS, OLD SCHOOL & JUNIORS[/mk_fancy_title][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Girls Street

1st: Tiffany street

2nd: Jenny Logue

Junior Girls Winner: Alana boots

Old Skool

1st: George Sarantoulious

2nd: Chris Pullar

3rd: Brad Watson

Under 18s Street

1st: Darcy Smith

2nd: John Jacob

3rd: Daniel Werry

Under 14s Street

1st: Nick Thorne[/vc_column_text][mk_image_slideshow title=”ARO 2014 PHOTOS BY CRAIG RICHARDS” images=”7907,7905,7904,7903,7902,7901,7900,7899,7898,7897,7896,7895,7894,7893,7892,7890,7889,7888,7887,7886,7885,7884,7883,7882,7879,7878,7877,7876,7875,7874,7873,7872,7871,7870,7869,7868,7867,7866,7865,7862,7861,7859,7858,7857,7856,7855,7853,7852,7851,7849,7848,7847,7846,7845,7844,7843,7842,7841,7840,7839,7838,7837,7836,7835,7834,7833,7832,7831,7830,7829,7828,7827,7826,7825,7823,7822,7821,7820,7819″ image_width=”800″ image_height=”550″ effect=”fade” animation_speed=”700″ slideshow_speed=”7000″ pause_on_hover=”false” smooth_height=”true” direction_nav=”true”][vc_video title=”ARO 2014 Edit by Alice McTaggart” link=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL_ZD6ThXf4″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

CJ Wellsmore, Julien Cudot, Alex Broskow and more in Magma’s FISE Andorra edit

CJ Wellsmore FISE Andorra

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_image src=”http://www.australianblading.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/maxresdefault-1.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″]Magma Productions has just dropped a dope edit of the FISE World Andorra Roller Spine competition for 2014, featuring Australian superstar CJ Wellsmore.

We’ve seen quite a few edits of the 2014 Spine competition before, we but we reckon Magma Productions’ edit is one of the best.

CJ took out third in this year’s competition, behind Julien Cudot and Romain Godenaire.

CJ says: “Now I’m pretty damn amped for next week! The Fise events are by far the the craziest contests for all extreme sports. It should be interesting how its going to go down in China.”

The edit features Julien Cudot, Dominik Wagner, Montre Livingston, Nick Lomax, Dave Lang, CJ Wellsmore, David Sizemore, Adrien Anne, Bruce Varache, Stephen Swain, Anthony Avella, Alex Broskow, Yuma Baudoin, Romain Godenaire & more.

Full results are below.

1. CUDOT Julien
2. GODENAIRE Romain
3. WELLSMORE Cj
4. AVELLA Anthony
5. ALFANO Stephane
6. WAGNER Dominik
7. SIZEMORE David
8. LOMAX Nick
9. BAUDOIN Yuma
10. BROSKOW Alex
11. ANNE Adrien
12. SWAIN Stephen

The first-ever edition of the FISE World China – Chengdu goes down from October 24-26. For more info, click here.

For more from Magma Productions, check out their official website.[/vc_column_text][vc_video title=”FISE World Andorra Roller Spine edit by Magma Productions” link=”https://vimeo.com/107402933″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Check Matt Caratelli’s edit of the Newport P-Rail Invitational 2014 in Melbourne

Hayden Golder and Thomas Dalbis

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Matt Caratelli has just dropped his awesome edit of the 2nd Annual Newport P-Rail Invitational in Melbourne recently.

Less serious than it sounds, as Matt says: “Basically an excuse to get together in the great weather with even better mates and getting some blading done at the same time!”

Judging by the video it was a good turn-out, with a big Melbourne crew making their way down to Newport Skatepark for the day.

Thomas Dalbis took out the first prize of a sweet trophy adorned with a legendary Cozmo wheel, while Hayden Golder was runner up.[/vc_column_text][vc_video title=”Newport P-Rail Invitational 2014: Edit by Matt Caratelli” link=”https://vimeo.com/107211207″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_image_slideshow images=”7734,7735,7733″ 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]

Australian Rollerblading Open 2014: All the videos, photos and results in one place

Rhys Bell ARO Champion

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_image src=”http://www.australianblading.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/IMG_0892.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”true” lightbox=”true” custom_lightbox=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkaDAT6PROw” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″][mk_fancy_title tag_name=”h2″ style=”true” color=”#393836″ size=”24″ font_weight=”bold” letter_spacing=”0″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”25″ font_family=”none” align=”left”]ARO 2014[/mk_fancy_title][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]The mighty Australian Rolling Open hit The Park in Geelong on August 30, bringing with the nation’s best skaters for a battle of the titans across street, vert amd mini mega disciplines.

Needless to say, it was the biggest gathering of rollerbladers in the country in 2014 and saw some landmark tricks go down, from the return of the legendary Shane Yost to the vert ramp, to Tristan Richards’ epic double misty on the mega and Rhys Bell’s hammers on the street course (including the picture above, photographed by Craig Richards).[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]If you’d prefer to just check out the results and watch the videos without having to read the full review, it’s all here, including edits by Daniel Talbot, Iain Smith and Alice McTaggart, and photos by Craig Richards.

Rollerblading.com.au was proud to sponsor ARO 2014, big thanks to all the organisers, sponsors and supporters for making it the killer weekend that it was! See you all next year.[/vc_column_text][vc_video title=”ARO 2014 Edit by Daniel Talbot” link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkaDAT6PROw”][mk_fancy_title tag_name=”h2″ style=”true” color=”#393836″ size=”14″ font_weight=”bold” letter_spacing=”0″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ font_family=”none” align=”left”]AUSTRALIAN ROLLERBLADING OPEN 2014 RESULTS: OPEN STREET, VERT & MINI MEGA[/mk_fancy_title][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Opens Street

1st: Rhys Bell

2nd: Tom Scofield

3rd: Martin Gade

Vert

1st: Shane Yost

2nd: Brad Watson

3rd: Hayden Golder

Mini Mega

1st: Tristan Richards

2nd: Brad Watson

3rd: Rhys Bell[/vc_column_text][vc_video title=”ARO 2014 Edit by Iain Smith” link=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyLXFADC038″][mk_fancy_title tag_name=”h2″ style=”true” color=”#393836″ size=”14″ font_weight=”bold” letter_spacing=”0″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″ font_family=”none” align=”left”]AUSTRALIAN ROLLERBLADING OPEN 2014 RESULTS: GIRLS, OLD SCHOOL & JUNIORS[/mk_fancy_title][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Girls Street

1st: Tiffany street

2nd: Jenny Logue

Junior Girls Winner: Alana boots

Old Skool

1st: George Sarantoulious

2nd: Chris Pullar

3rd: Brad Watson

Under 18s Street

1st: Darcy Smith

2nd: John Jacob

3rd: Daniel Werry

Under 14s Street

1st: Nick Thorne[/vc_column_text][mk_image_slideshow title=”ARO 2014 PHOTOS BY CRAIG RICHARDS” images=”7908,7907,7906,7905,7904,7903,7902,7901,7900,7899,7898,7897,7896,7895,7894,7893,7892,7891,7890,7889,7888,7887,7886,7885,7884,7883,7882,7881,7880,7879,7878,7877,7876,7875,7874,7873,7872,7871,7870,7869,7868,7867,7866,7865,7864,7863,7862,7861,7860,7859,7858,7857,7856,7855,7854,7853,7852,7851,7850,7849,7848,7847,7846,7845,7844,7843,7842,7841,7840,7839,7838,7837,7836,7835,7834,7833,7832,7831,7830,7829,7828,7827,7826,7825,7824,7823,7822,7821,7820,7819″ image_width=”800″ image_height=”550″ effect=”fade” animation_speed=”700″ slideshow_speed=”7000″ pause_on_hover=”false” smooth_height=”true” direction_nav=”true”][vc_video title=”ARO 2014 Edit by Alice McTaggart” link=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL_ZD6ThXf4″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Australian Rollerblading Open champion Rhys Bell’s new 2014 Profile

Rhys Bell AO Soul

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][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″]Canberra skater Rhys Bell was recently crowned Australian Rollerblading Open Street Champion for 2014, and to celebrate, has dropped this killer new edit.

Filmed in and around Rhys home city of Canberra, plus footage from ARO 2014 at The Park in Geelong, it’s not hard to see why Rhys is on fire in 2014.

For the inside word on what it’s like to win ARO, plus what Rhys is planning for the rest of the year and beyond, check out his interview with rollerblading.com.au here.

For more of Rhys’ work, check out his YouTube channel or the Canthrax website.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”http://youtu.be/AMF7HIEsKd8″][/vc_column][/vc_row]