The idea for the shop came at a simultaneous time that Andrea was experiencing dissatisfaction while working as a skate instructor elsewhere and Neil deciding to move away from his position as a state sales manager for a motorcycle accessories company.
After moving from Brisbane, in July 2001, where the skate scene has evolved to a greater level and coming into a rather 'flat' scene, we felt frustrated. We were missing the social aspect that comes with group skates that we did on a regular basis! Rather than complain about it, we decided to
something about it! What you will find is a shop that is dedicated to those who decide to choose a rolling lifestyle. For example, learners have the opportunity to learn skating basics for FREE such as striding and how to stop while maintaining control. If you are a street skater, hockey player
or speed skater, we are dedicated to you too! On top of it all, the shop is clean and bright and we understand that customer service is important.

Neil and Andrea are Level 1 instructors with the International Inline Skating Association as well as Level 2 First Aid qualified.

Andrea

I have been consistently inline skating since 1992 (August 1st to be precise!) When I was living in the US and went to New York, I saw a Hard Rock Cafe employee roll up to work on a pair of skates and thought "that's soooooo cool". After moving to California, I made the fatal mistake of buying a cheap pair of skates and just found them uncomfortable and hard work - they were a waste of money - a false economy thinking that I would try skating to see if I like it.

When I left the US to return to Australia to live, my very last purchase was a pair of Rollerblade Lightning TRS's, the best you could get at the time and what a difference they were - comfortable and quick on the feet but they spent the first year of their life gathering dust. I was too scared to use them! Then, while living on the Gold Coast, I met 2 guys who played inline hockey and when I told them I had pair of skates, they suggested I come out to training. "But I can't skate" I stammered. They said it didn't matter - the more the merrier. My first hockey training and all I did was stand gingerly on the skates and support myself with the stick. After gaining some confidence, I then became a 'skate home from work' commuter (it was too hot to skate to work!). If only that girl in NY realized how much of an influence she had on me!

I had moved to the Gold Coast to continue my new found sport in California of outrigger canoe racing however, found the politics and cattiness too much - not my cup of tea. I found the hockey/skating thing way more supportive, and fun. Skating is such a leveler, you can be a doctor, a student or a council worker, but on skates, those 'hats' seem to disappear and it just becomes fun.

A year after my wobbly first times, I ended up playing hockey for the Queensland girls team which was an awesome thrill. To be actually selected to play in a team that consisted of girls half my age (since I had entered my 30's) who were figure skaters or played ice hockey. OK, I'm the first to admit that I wasn't the best, but it was good to be involved! My success was due to consistency in being on the skates and diligently turning up to training on (groan) Sunday mornings, sometimes as early as 6 a.m.

Having a Sports Science degree and plenty of spare time, I was asked to formulate a fitness-training plan for the first Australian mens team to compete at the inaugural world inline hockey championships in Chicago. This was in '95 and I had 8 weeks to get them fit. They were highly skilled players, many playing ice hockey since they could first
stand up, but they were not as fit as they could have been. After 8 weeks, they were a machine and out of the 16 teams that competed, they came in 8th. Again, another skating highlight for me.

I moved to Brisbane in '99 and at the end of the year and my gym membership expired never to be renewed again! Blade Sensations was a proactive shop in Brizzy that had organized tours, fitness programs, etc, so, in 2000 I became more skate focused and realized that being outdoors with
other like minded people was more fun than 20 minutes on the step machine. If I train in a gym again, it will be a supplement to skating or something to do when it rains!

After the move to Melbourne, I realized that I wanted to do more with skating down here and contacted the International Inline Skating Association about becoming an instructor. This would have involved going overseas to do the course, however, in March 2002, a course was held in Brisbane which I participated in and achieved my Level 1 qualification.

Along with some teaching and involved with a junior hockey squad in 2002, I decided that I need to learn some technical skating skills and took up speed skating! Speed skating is a real humbler when coming from a recreational/hockey background. I do not have the desire, nor capability, to become good at speed skating, but find the training and the
drills involved really interesting and enjoy the fitness aspect. I am in awe of the guys and girls who can do it real well as they look like a moving piece of art.

Sometimes for fun, we skate in some of the skate parks. Neil and I participated in a couple of the street active clinics held at the 2002 Royal Show (you are never too old!) and learned some basics that saw us getting the confidence to drop into a bowl or two.

Skating is such a Zen activity, there is always something new to learn and just when you think you've mastered something, along comes someone who can do some fancy whizzy thingy and that's it, something else you just have to try!!

For somebody who never played sport at school as I detested traditional girls sports, who cannot run a 100m, swims like a brick and has degeneration in my spine affecting my leg strength, skating has been the best activity and a lot less stressful on the body than other sports.

Bayside Blades is now an extension of my enjoyment for skating and I look forward to sharing that enjoyment with you!

For me, skating is a relatively new sport, having only started in 2000. Having been a rock climber for many years, and an ex champion motorcycle rider, this was certainly a different paced activity. Again, my first skating experiences were with Brisbane based Blade Sensations. I participated in fitness courses,regular tours as well as the regular full moon skate. 

I have skated in exotic locales such as Townsville, Christchurch and through the vineyards in the wine growing area of McLaren Vale south of Adelaide.The move to Melbourne in 2001 saw me ramp up my skating to an even greater degree and I started speed skating training and racing while in the recreational skates, which is the best way to start. After participating in some of the street active clinics at the 2002 Royal show, that gave me taste for skate park skating and by the end of the year, I was able to start dropping into some good sized bowls which is incredibly good fun. Not bad for somebody that is old enough to be a grandfather!!

At the end of 2002, the motorcycle accessories company I was working for had some changes in management and rather than making a move back to Brisbane, we chose to stay here in Melbourne. After more than 20 years in the motorcycle industry, it was time for a change. Moving into the inline skating industry is a lifestyle choice. I enjoy the
sport and look forward to assisting others in their skating endeavors.

My last skating achievement was participating and gaining my level 1 certification with the International Inline Skating Association in March 2003. Monte Walker from Brisbane, who is instructor of the year, conducted the course, which meant the standard and level of professionalism, was
extremely high.

I look forward to assisting you with your skating
endeavors, what ever they may be!

OPENING HOURS