Australian Rolling Open 2015 ready to rock Tuggeranong Skate Park in Canberra

ARO 2015

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/razors.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”false” 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″]UPDATE: CLICK HERE FOR THE AUSTRALIAN ROLLERBLADING OPEN 2015 RESULTS, PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

This weekend’s Australian Rolling Open is shaping up to the biggest competition in a long time, with people jetting into Canberra from all corners of the country for Saturday’s event.

Going down at the legendary Tuggeranong Skate Park, the competition will feature a series of categories including Open Street, Vert, OGs (30+), Girls, Under-18s and Under-14s.

By all reports, the additions to Tuggers park are looking awesome, setting the stage for what will no doubt be an epic weekend of blading in the nation’s capital.

The full schedule for the day is below. Online registrations are now closed, so if you intend on competing and haven’t registered yet, please do so on the day.

11am – 12pm – Warm-ups begin!
12pm – 1pm – Under-14s Street, Under 18s Street, Girls Street
1:15pm – Under 14s, Girls & Under-18s trophies
1:30pm – Vert 20 minute jam, order as per run sheet
2:15pm – Open heats
3:30pm – Old Skool (30+)
5:00pm – Open finals

For full updates on the day as it happens, keep checking the rollerbading.com.au Facebook page or the RollingVic Facebook page.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/aro_flyer_2015.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”false” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Sign the GoPetition to resurface Vermont Vert Ramp and construct a children’s play area

melbourne og vert crew

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/olderbladers.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″]If you’ve been following the Aussie rolling scene on Facebook lately, you may have noticed a spike in interest in vert skating.

A number of veteran rollerbladers have returned to the game and are regularly posting videos and photos, with one of the most active being Mick Smith.

Mick has now launched a campaign on GoPetition to resurface Vermont Vert Ramp and construct a play area for children.

Here is what Mick had to say about the petition:

“Vermont Vert Ramp has been around for a very long time and has seen some weather damage over the years.

“This ramp has seen the likes of many professional inline and skateboarders in the past.

“This ramp is still being used to this day by myself and many others. A re-surface of this ramp would be very beneficial and will attract more people.

“We also ask for a play equipment area to be built near the ramp and rubbish bins to be placed around the area.

“We the undersigned are asking the City of Whitehorse Council to re-surface the Vermont Skate Ramp and to build a play equipment area as well as rubbish bins to be placed in the venue.”

To sign Mick’s petition, check GoPetition.com[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4hJO7gCJZ4″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Sydney’s Phil Moss finally drops his full street edit after joining the Remz Australia team

Phil Moss cropped

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oP6GHDHlTM”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]Phil Moss has finally dropped his first full street edit since being welcomed to the Remz Australia team in June.

A long time in the making, the edit showcases over four minutes of the Sydney shredder’s ballsy yet technical style, including rails, ledges and gaps.

Phil has been riding Remz for years, so it’s great to see he’s found his spot on the team alongside names like Hayden Golder and Rob Kellett.

More like this please!

For more from Remz Australia, check out their Facebook page. Photo by Rhys Bell.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/mossbell.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”false” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

ARO 2015: Australian Rollerblading Open competition set for Canberra on November 28

Rhys Bell ARO Champion

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/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″]The Australian Rollerblading Open is the biggest park skating competition in country, bringing together rollers from across all states and territories to battle it out for national supremacy.

It’s the one time of year we can all count on to see each other, catch up for a roll and witness a whole new level of rollerblading.

After a smashing 2014 edition at The Park in Geelong, this year, ARO is taking place in the national’s capital, Canberra.

Event categories include Open Street, Old School (30+), Under-18s, Under-14s and Girls.

The competition currently has approval to run at Woden Skate Park, but after some discussion with the locals the competition may move to Tuggeranong Skate Park so a vert category can be included.

UPDATE: ARO 2015 moves to Tuggeranong Skate Park

Either way, after Rhys Bell and Tristan Richards blitzed ARO 2014 in both the Open Street and Mini Mega categories respectively, the locals are going to be very tough to beat.

Rollerblading.com.au will make sure to keep you updated with any movements as they happen.

For now, start booking those flights and RSVP on Facebook.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkaDAT6PROw”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Blizzard’s new game Overwatch features a rollerblading character straight from the 90s

lucio overwatch

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Lucio_012.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”false” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”40″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″]The latest game from World Of Warcraft creators Blizzard features a character who glides around on lightblades while knocking out enemies with his speaker gun (complete with obligatory “drop the beat” references).

Overwatch is a new team-based shooter from one of the most successful video game studios on the planet. Featuring both first-person shooter and MOBA influences, it is set in the “world of conflict”. Lúcio is a South American “DJ turned freedom fighter” who uses sound to destroy enemies, heal teammates and boost his team’s speed.

According to the Blizzard website: “Lúcio Correia dos Santos grew up in Rio de Janeiro, in a poor and crowded favela that was hit hard by the financial upheaval following the Omnic Crisis. As Brazil began the long process of recovery, he wanted to find a way to lift the spirits of those around him. He found his answer in music and its power to bring people together and even help them forget their troubles, if only for a short time. He performed on street corners, in block parties, and as he got older, at a string of legendary underground shows.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywTNgR3ldFc”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”20″]”But Lúcio’s close-knit community was thrown into chaos when the multinational Vishkar Corporation secured a contract to redevelop large tracts of the city. Lúcio and his neighbors had been told that the development would improve their lives. However, that promise never became a reality. Vishkar imposed controls on the residents in the name of building a more orderly society: enforcing curfews, cracking down on what the company perceived as lawless behavior, and exploiting the populace as a cheap labor force.

“Lúcio wouldn’t stand for it. He stole Vishkar sonic technology that had been used to suppress the people, and he converted it into a tool to rally them to action. In a popular uprising, they drove Vishkar out of their neighborhoods. Lúcio’s leadership made him a star overnight and a symbol for positive social change. His music skyrocketed in popularity. Whereas he had once performed locally, he was now filling arenas across the world. With his new found fame, Lúcio realizes that he has an opportunity to make a difference and change the world for the better.”

Despite looking like he was created by a 1990s focus group gone wrong, Lúcio looks like he quite fun to play – if you can put up with the cliche overload. For more information on Overwatch or to sign up for the beta test, check battlenet[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j6vpuRfdfU”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Shima Skate Manufacturing is reportedly out of business according to pro Dave Lang

Shima Skate Manufacturing

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/shima.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”false” 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″]Shima Skate Manufacturing is reportedly out of business, according to a post on pro Dave Lang’s Instagram.

While no official announcement has been made by Shima or SSM, we’re guessing this is the end.

Owned by Brian Shima, the company enjoyed a long history in the blade scene after rising out of the ashes of Nimh Aggressive Skate Tech.

Despite releasing their last line of skates in April, it seems we will never see the long-awaited Dave Lang pro models pictured below on his Instagram page.

Vale SSM, we’re sad to see you gone.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]

On the upside, Dave has released his 666 section, originally released as a VOD, for free.

Check it out below.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=47&v=isa7BBueOac”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Tom Scofield’s new street and park edit for Razors Australia by Thomas Dalbis is amazing

tom scofield

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j197S2h6CQ0″][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]New Zealand’s Tom Scofield has certainly had a big impact of both the Melbourne and Australian rollerblading scene since making the move across the ditch last year.

The newest addition to the Razors Australia family is one of the most stylish and technical skaters in the country today, with his talents (as this edit shows) extending across both street and park.

While a lot of the clips are leftovers from his recent profile for Wheel Scene, the edit still as good as anything you’ll see from Australia this year, with Tom’s effortless technicality front and centre.

Edit by Thomas Dalbis. For more from Razors Australia, check out their Facebook page.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/toms.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]

BLADE-IN CINEMA #2 in Melbourne celebrates the best in Aussie rollerblading films

Blade in cinema

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/bladein.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″]BLADE-IN CINEMA returns for its second installment in Melbourne on September 15, this time with an epic all Australian line-up.

BLADE-IN CINEMA is an event series which aims to visualise the diverse artistry of rollerblading filmmaking through a curated evening of films which celebrate the past and showcase the now.

Oz Film will feature a variety of Australian-made films aiming to showcase the historical spectrum of Aussie Blading from the Mid 90’s to the Present Day.

Curated by Aussie legend Robbie Pitts, the event will take place at LongPlay located at 318 St Georges Rd, North Fitzroy. Big ups Robbie for keeping the spirit of Aussie blading filmmaking alive!

Doors open at 6pm for a 7.30pm start. The best bit? Entry is free!

To stay up-to-date with all the BLADE-IN CINEMA events, please check out their Facebook page or Facebook group.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/137571643″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Three awesome new Brisbane skate parks on the way: Bracken Ridge, Ashgrove and Groverly

Paddington

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/inala.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”false” 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″]With major updates to Paddington and Inala skate parks already underway, the Queensland Government has announced three brand new Brisbane facilities through the Get Playing Plus fund.

Fitzgibbon District Park at Bracken Ridge, Dorrington Park at Ashgrove and Fihelly Street Park at Grovely will all receive brand new parks.

Sport and Racing Minister Bill Byrne said the Queensland Government had committed $1.5 million in funding to Brisbane City Council, subject to approvals, for new and upgraded skating facilities.

“We’re looking forward to working with the Brisbane City Council to make this project a reality and deliver greater participation in sport and recreation at the grassroots level,” Minister Byrne said.

The skate park projects are a part of the Queensland Government’s Get Playing Plus, a component of Get in the Game, that provides funding contributions for new or existing infrastructure development projects from $300,000 to a maximum of $1.5 million.

“Our goal is to ensure more Queenslanders are getting outdoors, staying active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” he said.

“It’s always a pleasure to work with clubs, organisations, local councils and government to help improve facilities for members and the local community.”

For more information about Brisbane skate parks, visit brisbane.qld.gov.au.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/20150731_-_paddington_skate_park_-_project_plan_-_30_july_2015-page-001-2.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”450″ crop=”false” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

All the winners from the Victorian Inline Titles 2015 at The Park in Geelong

Scott Sandars

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjNLxp3N39w”][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”true” align=”left” margin_bottom=”0″]The Victorian Inline Titles 2015 went off with a bang at The Park in Geelong on Saturday, with some of the country’s best bladers fighting it out across street, vert and mega ramp.

Congratulations to all the winners and everyone involved in putting the event together.

OPEN STREET
1. Martin Gade
2. Thomas Dalbis
3. Tom Scofield

OLD SCHOOL STREET
1. Hayden Golder
2. Brad Watson
3. Stephen Walker

WOMEN’S OPEN STREET
1. Edo Ka Ying Ho
2. Shine Au Yenng
3. Alana Boots

UNDER-18
1. Daniel Werry
2. Jackson Werry

UNDER-14
1. Koby Brookes
2. Nick Thorne

MINI MEGA
1. Hayden Golder
2. Brad Watson
3. Tom Scofield

VERT
1. Scott Sanders
2. Brad Watson
3. Hayden Golder

BEST TRICK
Martin Gade

JUNIOR GIRLS CHAMPION
Alana Boots

Stay tuned to rollerblading.com.au for all the videos and photos very soon!

Photo: Scott Sanders, courtesy of Simon Kelly[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”http://www.rollerblading.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/sandars.jpg” image_width=”800″ image_height=”800″ crop=”true” lightbox=”false” frame_style=”simple” target=”_self” caption_location=”inside-image” align=”left” margin_bottom=”25″][/vc_column][/vc_row]