They have been roller skating at a competitive level since before they were ten-years-old, and for Melissa Robinson and Stacey Gault, it only seemed natural to impart their extensive knowledge of the sport onto novices throughout the ACT and Queanbeyan region.
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The pair deliver a slew of roller skating classes underneath the umbrella of their company Skate Programs ACT, including precision, figure, artistic, speed, show, dance and derby.
Having both represented the region, state and nation in the sport, both Robinson and Gault cited confidence-building as a true beneficial aspect of participating in roller skating, alongside the obvious physical benefits.
“We both achieved a lot as kids in this sphere,” Robinson said.
“Precision was our thing, but now I love watching adults or kids when they say ‘I can’t’ or ‘I couldn’t possibly do a jump’ and then suddenly by the end of the class they can do it.
“I love to watch their confidence grow.”
“They’re also surprised at how high and how quickly their heart rate gets up,” Gault said.
“It’s a way of incorporating a healthy lifestyle while trying to aid mental health issues as well.
“We have a lot of introverted kids come along; kids that don’t fit into your typical sports like hockey, netball, football and stuff, but we then have parents write to us and say ‘Oh my goodness, from coming to skating, their PE teacher is saying they have so much more confidence now to try new things’.”
Skate Programs ACT holds lessons at the Queanbeyan High School Hall on Wednesday nights. The junior SkateSTARS class runs between 4.30pm and 5.30pm, the Senior SkateSTARS and Adult Quad Moves class between 5.45pm and 6.30pm, and the Senior SkateSHOW class running from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.
For more information, including how to register for lessons, contact Melissa or Stacey at: skateprogramsACT @gmail.com