INLINE SKATING
FOUR-TIME world figure skating champion Jayson Sutcliffe has returned home to Dandenong to head a junior development program at what has been touted as Australia's largest indoor skating centre.
A former Journal Sports Star of the Year winner, Sutcliffe started his career in Dandenong and went on to become the first artistic roller skater from Australia to win an individual medal at a world championship.
He also made history by becoming the first skater to win a world title on both roller and inline skates for figure skating.
The 37-year-old, who retired from competitive skating three years ago, has returned home after 15 years coaching at another rink and travelling the world teaching youngsters.
"I spent 15 years at the Caribbean Rollerama [in Knox] ... There's about half a dozen coaches there now and none at Dandenong, so I decided to come back where it all started to give the kids the same opportunities I had.
"Dandenong was a big club with about 150 kids, but they all moved with the coach about five years ago, and I'm hoping it won't be too long to build up the numbers again.
"I spent four months in India last year going to schools all over the country working with kids who would otherwise not have the opportunity.
"India has something like 60,000 kids waiting to get into skating clubs.
"I've also been to Taiwan four or five times and more recently to Queensland doing kids' workshops.
"It's all about the money for some but I don't expect that in return, I get more out of seeing the kids having a good time."
Sutcliffe, who became known as 'Rolaboi' to the world of skating after his book Rolaboi - Renegade Skater was published in 2004, has directed a film to be released this year.
Sutcliffe said the film, titled Jesus Can't Skate, is a semi-autobiographical account set behind the scenes at his last world championships, and chronicles skaters' stories and struggles getting to and competing in the event.
The film will be narrated by Australian actress Melissa George, who was a top-class competitive inline skater.
The Dandenong Skate Centre's John Brogen said he was "blown away"to have Sutcliffe on board at the Princes Highway rink.
"When I built this place, I asked Jayson to come and skate on it to get a feel for the floor. He rated it the best floor he's skated on and was as good as any in the world.
"We run all the top inline hockey games in Victoria here, and and we are keen to develop the figure skating aspect, and with Jayson driving its development, there are no limitations."
The second ranked inline figure skater in the world, Kristen Slade, who started his career with Sutcliffe as a nine year old, will join his mentor at the Dandenong rink.