Skating in Sydney

[Áine]

Going to Sydney next week and can't decide whether to pack skates or not. Anyone got any advice? I'm packing very lightly and don't want to take up valuable space if the skating there is not good.

[kuju]

I just got back from Sydney last Monday The weather was gorgeous when I left it. I'd recommend taking your skates. It's a great city to skate around but it can be a bit hilly in parts. I did quite a bit of skating when I was back, though it was mostly slalom so I know some great slalom spots but I also went on a few street skating adventures. My favourite being skating over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. There is a pedestrian/bike path which you can take. Also, Centennial Park is quite nice to skate around.

There is a street skate every wednesday night. More details here: http://www.sydneybladers.com/

Enjoy! If you need any more info, just let me know.

[GumbieBEN]

Babes did you ever know Che?
He's in Sydney

http://www.facebook.com/#!/chedyboy

[Torbaydos]

As is Kane Theakston if people remember him. (The guy who guesty dislocated the shoulder of)

[kanetheakston]

I have not had a chance to put my skates back on since I have been back here but I do know that there is still a Sydney skate going. I think that Wednesday nights are more faster than Friday nights. I believe that it starts from circular Quay at around 8.00pm on those nights. Check out http://www.sydneybladers.com/ for more details.

[steveh]

Definitely take your skates with you, and pack a heelbrake too if you have one, it's extremely hilly compared to London. The Wednesday skate leaves from the Land Titles Office at 9pm and can get pretty hardcore. The Friday one leaves from Circular Quay at 8 and is usually the same route looping around Darling Harbour and back up through the city centre. Neither are marshalled. Best place for slalom is Hyde Park (yes they have one there too)

[Anothersillyname]

Kathy (who used to marshal on Fridays) lives in Sydney and still skates regularly. I'm in contact with her through Facebook. PM me if you want me to tell her you're coming and pass on contact details.

[Áine]

Thanks for the advice to all above.

Do you know what surfaces are like, is it acceptable to skate on the road, do you think it'd be a good form of transport around the city?

[Tanya G]

Thanks for the advice to all above.

Do you know what surfaces are like, is it acceptable to skate on the road, do you think it'd be a good form of transport around the city?

Ok, officially no (but in a group @ night we did) and sort of.... it can be busy and a bit hilly but sydney is also really spread out. So getting from one place to the other can be a mission on foot or via bus but I'm not sure if skates would make it better or not.

[steveh]

The surfaces generally aren't bad. Round Darling Harbour there's a lot of block paving. Hyde Park has lovely smooth tiled paths. In the city centre the pavements are quite wide. Once you leave the centre there are big hills to contend with, especially if you cross over the harbour bridge.

[tuffkat]

Hi,
This is Kathy or Kat Davies here in Sydney.Yes the skating can be good here,the surfaces are mostly smoother than London.On the Street skates we go on the pavement and roads as often there is not many of us.Definitely come on the Weds skate if you come here and the friday night skate has just been revived after dying a year ago.The Weds skate is sometimes hilly but not always.Che hasn't been skating much lately,he has too many other interests I think.I'm officially no 1 female downhill inliner in Australia now but as I was the only female inliner in the race this is not much to say.I'm ready for any callengers next year.I get lots of practise on Sydney streets so I can go fast sometimes but control still needs work.
It was great to see two Londoners on last weeks skate.Jill and Ninja Fred.Look forward to meeting more.

[tuffkat]

Good to see Steve in Sydney again.He came on 2 friday skates.We are still trying to revive that.Not much luck, people prefer drinks.Also the Weds Mission skate up to Dover Heights and Vaucluse and back via Rose Bay and Rushcutters Bay and King's Cross.Emma from London also came and a guy from France.12 started but only 4 at the end.

[steveh]

Thanks Kat - it was great to be back skating there again with the hard core, it takes courage and a fair bit of skill to descend some of those hills, and the regulars there have both, in spades. The Mission skate over to Vaucluse and back was a fantastic route, thanks for leading it and I hope to be back very soon!