Gizzy on Wheels: Local start-up brings back the retro charm of roller skating at YMCA

“Bring in your skates and have some fun,” say the Hoogland sisters Angel (left) and Adriana. As Gizzy on Wheels, they will be hosting a rollerskating event at the YMCA in July. Picture by Liam Clayton

Reviving the retro (some might argue it never went out of fashion) skill of roller skating is the aim of local start-up Gizzy on Wheels.

The first session will be at the YMCA in July.

Founder and home-schooled Adriana Hoogland, 18, said she first came up with the idea during the Tairāwhiti Startup weekend at Taiki e! this year.

“I felt there weren’t that many fun activities that children or rangatahi could do in our region. So we came up with Gizzy on Wheels as I really enjoy rollerskating.”

Her interest was piqued last November when a visiting group from Auckland organised a roller disco night at the YMCA.

“I went along and found over a hundred locals there, ready to skate all the way.

“There were quite a few people who said they’d be keen to join a local initiative that allows people to just skate and have fun. That’s when I thought to do something about it.”

For the first lesson, on July 10, Adriana will be joined by her younger sister Angel, 14, and they will teach some warm-up activities.

“We’re going to guide people through  how to stop and fall safely, followed by putting some music on and allowing them to skate freely for the rest of the two-hour class period.

“All you need is a sense of balance — or we can  help you with it,” Adriana said.

More than 80 have shown interest on Facebook for the July session. With this much support, she is hoping to organise tournaments.

People will need to bring their own skates as the group has no extras, “at the moment”.

The first session, from 9am-10am at the YMCA is on the second Monday of the school holidays.

Subsequent sessions will be on the first four Fridays  (July 21 and 28, and August 4 and 11)of Term 3, from 5.30 to 7.30pm.

All ages are welcome, but Adriana asks those under 14  to come with supervision.

The cost is $12 for a one-hour session and $20 for a two-hour session, for all ages.

To get in touch with Adriana visit her Instagram page at gizzy_on_wheels