RELATED: Skating on thin ice
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A self-described “bunch of old blokes” in Bendigo has found physical, emotional and spiritual solace at the bottom of a bowl.
The Bendigo Old School Skaters formed in November 2014 when founding member John Ilott ran into a kindred spirit at the McKern Skate Park in Eaglehawk.
“I was here with my children one day and he rocked up and we started chatting and found we had a mutual friend that skated also and I told him an idea I’d already had about starting a group to try to gather up people like us,” he said.
“It can be a bit isolating just coming on your own, not knowing anyone, and it’s hard to get motivated but as soon as you’ve got a small group it builds you up and you support each other and it just builds that great vibe that just keeps going and really pushes you forward and everyone just loves it.”
It was shortly after that day that BOSS was formed, and since then the group has grown to more than 100 members who have made connections with other similar groups around Victoria and now spend countless hours carving and grinding their way across the state.
“There are skate parks everywhere now but everyone gets sick of skating their own little bit of turf,” Mr Ilott said.
“We do so many road trips to other places, so we’ll get together and catch up with guys at their local and a couple of other parks nearby, so we can go out for days or weekends and just spend the whole time just skating from one park to the next.”
But during the past two years the club has become more than just a chance for members to socialise and stay fit, with the skaters drawing strength from each other’s company, not just in landing their latest trick, but in all of life’s ups and downs.
“It’s been great for people, not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally, for people with issues it can really take your mind off things, if there’s other stuff going on in your life,” Mr Ilott said.
“We’ve had people here that have basically thanked us for saving their life, so when it goes that deep it’s a big thing.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by fellow BOSS member Albert “Skip” Skipper.
“We’re just a bunch of old blokes that come here and have fun, it’s a great social network for us,” he said.
“For me this is a religion, it’s my church and I want to make sure that it just keeps going.”