FAQ
Yes, becoming a Skate Victoria Member is compulsory as it covers venue insurance as well as providing a safe framework for skate classes and meets. Luckily, Skate Vic have a 'Recreational Skater' Annual Membership option which is very affordable - $45 for Seniors (18+) and $30 for Juniors per calendar year.
Yes you will need to get yourself a pair of skates. Saying that, I do have a few spare pairs that can be loaned but they are in limited sizes.
You can purchase second hand skates through facebook marketplace or ebay.
New skates are available at Cannonvale Intersport (Crazy Skates & Impala) and City Beach (Impala).
It is also common to purchase skates online and all the reputable brands have comprehensive sizing charts and measuring instructions to ensure you get the best fit.
There are skates for all budgets but be aware that the cheaper the skate, generally the less comfortable they are. Saying that, many people (kids especially) manage fine in the starter skates mentioned below.
You can pick up Impalas on marketplace for less than $100 and often they are being sold with protective gear too.
Recommended brands
Budget Starter Skates: Crazy Skates Retro, Impala (be aware Impalas do have a tendency for the boot to come away from the sole as the glue deteriorates, but you can get a good few months of skating out of them).
Mid Range ($250 - 350): Chuffed Cruiser (has adjustable toe stops), Chaya Melrose (very comfortable), Moxy Rainbow Rider, Moxy beach bunny, Suregrip Boardwalks.
Higher Quality $350+ with adjustable toe stops: Chaya Melrose Deluxe (my first skate - so comfy!), Chuffed Wanderer, Crazy Skates Evoke, Wifa Skates, Edea artistic skates, Bont, Moxi Lolly
Steer Clear Of: Skates with a solid plastic boot (eg Whip skates), skates with plastic trucks/axle eg Disney theme skates from Target.
Note: a plastic plate is ok, but not plastic trucks. The plate is the part that is glued/bolted to the bottom of the boot and the truck is connected to the plate and axles).
As I don't have much experience on inline skates (also known as roller blades), I prefer students to wear roller skates (sometimes called quad skates).
If you have a pair of inline skates and are not sure if you want to buy roller skates yet, get in touch and we can talk about whether the class will be suitable for your inlines.
For social skating events, inline skates are welcome!
As we get older, we get more scared of falling! So it might take you some time to get your balance again, and you might be surprised at how wobbly you feel! Don't worry, we work through foundations of balance and posture to get you gliding like your 13 year old self.
When you skated as a kid, you probably just rolled around the rink forward, slowly, with your friends, but in class, you will learn how to turn around and skate backwards, do some cool easy dance moves and tricks that would make your 13 year old self jealous!
Falling really is part of skating and reflects that you are trying new things, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. This is why it is so important to learn safe falling techniques from the first lesson and we keep practicing safe, pain-free falling consistently. Wearing protective gear will also improve your confidence and prevent injury. I recommend definitely wearing wrist guards as well as knee and elbow guards. I also like to wear a helmet on outdoor trail skates.