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Meet Belle, the rolling force behind Princess on Skates - aka the Melbourne skate crew making learn-to-skate way less scary and way more fun.
What started as a little lockdown skate in a local park is now a community helping skaters of all ages get rolling, keep growing and laugh through every wobble. Here’s Belle’s story…
Can you tell us a little about Princess on Skates and how it all began?
I first put on skates when I was seven years old, and more than 35 years later, I’m still rolling!
Princess on Skates began in July 2020, during Melbourne’s Stage 4 lockdown. With the shops closed and very little for my kids to do, I used my one hour of outdoor exercise to roller skating at our local park. People passing by loved it, so the next day my 4 year old daughter and I returned dressed as Anna and Elsa from Frozen and performed together.
Everyone stopped to watch, film and cheer us on. Seeing how much happiness it brought to people during such a difficult time inspired me to keep going. I expanded my costume collection, visited more local parks and continued sharing the joy of skating with the community... and that’s how Princess on Skates was born.
Since then, Princess on Skates has helped hundreds of children and adults begin their roller-skating journeys. Just as importantly, we help them maintain that journey by giving them fun, supportive ways to keep developing their confidence and skills through progressive classes, birthday parties and community events.
What began as a little moment of joy in a local park has grown into a wonderful skating community. At the heart of everything we do is the same goal: to help people experience the joy, freedom and connection that roller skating can bring.
What kind of activities does the crew run? Is it mostly learn-to-skate sessions, or is there more involved?
Our focus is on helping people fall in love with skating. We design our sessions to be so much fun that everyone forgets they’re learning!
Skating is about so much more than simply moving forwards, and most people don’t realise just how much you can do on skates. We love opening their eyes to a whole new world of possibilities, helping them discover new movements, build confidence, express themselves and experience the freedom and joy that skating can bring.
What can a newcomer expect from one of your skate classes or workshops?
They can expect very friendly and patient coaches, plenty of encouragement, and a highly enthusiastic, high-vibes atmosphere. We want everyone to feel welcome, supported and excited to be on skates, regardless of their starting level.
There’s also some kind of theatrical performance at almost every session! I love dramatic skating and am always looking for ways to bring that sense of fun, creativity and performance into our classes. It makes each session feel special and helps everyone relax, laugh and enjoy the experience.
Are there any skaters or skate groups that inspire you, or that you love following online?
Amy Rainbow Skate immediately comes to mind. I love watching her skate, and she’s fantastic at breaking skills down in a way that makes them easier for people to understand and learn.
What’s the number one piece of advice you and the team would give someone who’s thinking about starting their skating journey?
Falling is part of skating. If you fall, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it means you’re pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone and developing new skills. Keep getting back up and enjoy the journey!
