Sugartown Skate Club is putting the fun – and groove – back into exercise.
In February, owner Angie Russell held the first lesson of the club’s Roller School to a full house of peppy, young skaters at Helensburgh Scout Hall.
Piggybacking on nostalgia and the resurgence of the fashion, disco and synthpop tunes of the 1970s and 80s, roller skating's renaissance was born out of the pandemic when cooped-up lockdown-ers were searching for some freedom, fun and outdoor exercise.
And roller skating’s resurgence had Angie yearning to share her passion.
“I know that heaps of people got into it just as something to do during the 2020 lockdowns – like, you couldn't actually buy skates [because] the whole of Australia bought up all the skates,” Angie said.
“I wasn't sure exactly how popular it would be, but I saw lots of young girls on their skates at the park and I just started to see girls skating around town, and I was like, maybe there's a gap here, maybe there's a niche.
“And I really love new skaters, teaching new skaters,
“When they get on their wheels they're always saying, ‘Oh, I loved doing this when I was a kid’. There's a youthfulness to it that I think is just a joy.”
Though she’d roller blade at the rinks as a kid, Angie didn’t strap on skates again until she was inspired by a friend in 2018 and was immediately hooked.
Joining Wollongong Illawarra Roller Derby (WIRD) as a coach for newbie skaters for a couple of terms, she found that while derby wasn’t for her, she’d fallen in love with sharing the pleasures of skating with other adult beginners.
Looking for more opportunities to strap the skates on herself, Angie opened the Roller School up to a seniors-only class (for ages 14 and up), for all abilities.
“I think skating's really contagious,” she said. "I just love the feeling I get when I strap my skates on. I just feel like it's the closest thing to flying.
“It's just a fun thing to do; it's so fun to do with friends; it's a very women-dominated sport… and with derby, it's a team sport that is also dominated by women.
“[Though] roller derby wasn't for me… I love the way that derby players skate and I love the drills that they do and their style of skating.
“I'm inspired by derby skating and some artistic skating, some roller dance and some free skating as well, so we just mishmash all these different skate styles in class.”
Though all kids and teen lessons were full last term – with 25 full-time and six drop-in students attending – just five adults registered for weekly lessons.
With registrations for all classes now open for term two, Angie would love to see more adults embrace the roller-skating renaissance – and promises that the fun and games aren’t solely reserved for the youngsters’ lessons.
“If anyone has roller skates and they're not too sure if they want to get them on or not, I would definitely encourage everyone to give it a go,” she said.
“It's a really good workout, the endorphins are pumping… it's really social as well, just having a laugh with other people and having a chat but doing it with wheels on our feet.
“We get the music cranked and the kids love playing games… so I try and like incorporate heaps of games and racing, and a few games here and there for adults, but we mainly focus on fitness, technique and having fun.”
Helensburgh Roller School’s timetable aligns with school terms. Under-14s and adult classes are run two days a week:
- Mondays: Teens Intermediate (age 12-16): 5:30-6:30pm. Adults All Levels (age 14+): 6:30-7:30pm.
- Thursdays: Kids All Levels (age 13 and under): 4:00-5:00pm and 5:00-6:00pm.
Students receive a 10% discount on street coaching. BYO skates and safety gear.
