Sport
1 December, 2025
Getting their slick skates on
FAR North Queensland’s only Skate Australia–accredited artistic skating club is celebrating strong performances from its members, both locally and internationally.
Head coach Lisa Plath said the club offered programs for all ages and abilities.
“Learn-to-skate classes are for all ages and anyone who wants to learn the fundamental skills of roller skating. We have little kids from two-and-a-half or three-years-old right up to adult classes,” she said.
Classes are held on Sundays from 9.30-10.30am, while an adult-only session runs on Wednesdays from 6-7.30 pm at Fretwell Park, Bentley Road, next to the Souths Clubhouse. Classes cost $10 per child and $15 per adult.
The club also has competitive artistic skaters who regularly compete in Brisbane competitions.
“I’ve coached a skater who’s won the Queensland championships,” Ms Plath said.
“We have other skaters who come to Brisbane three or four times a year for different comps down there. This is with artistic skating. There are pathways into competing with other skaters around the state.”
Artistic skating combines dance, jumps and spins like Olympic ice skating.
“I teach solo dance routines with jumps and spins in them and other tricks,” Ms Plath said.
“Artistic skating is all the dancing, the jumps and the spins that they might see on TV for the Olympics, basically with ice skating, but on roller skates.”
Several club members have also competed internationally.
“Some of our teams went over to China for the World Cup last month. They competed extremely strongly with that. They didn’t get a place, but they did exceedingly well over there at the World Championships,” Ms Plath said.
Prominent local skaters include Shelby Paull, adult competitor Kevin Shen and Alex Gaden.
“Shelby is probably my most promising skater at the moment. Alex has started university now, but she competed very strongly, as well,” Ms Plath said.
Ms Plath said the club is family-friendly and inclusive.
“We have all ages, all abilities. One girl is autistic, and we cater for that. I’m a teacher as well, so we have a lot of knowledge with children of all abilities,” she said.
