Letting the good times roll

Coasties who love getting around on all types of wheels, having fun and appreciating the local environment now have their own social group.

Central Coast Roller Pals is the brainchild of Patonga and Pearl Beach locals Amber Peterson and Julie Taylor.

Peterson described the group as all-inclusive, from beginners to intermediate and advanced rollers.

“Julie and I dusted off our old skates and got back into practising at the Ettalong Netball Courts,” she said.

“This is where our spark came back and so we decided to keep rolling.

“During our search for smooth paths to skate on around the Central Coast (there are quite a few), many people said to us, ‘wow, I remember doing this when I was younger’.

“Soon after, we had many new people joining in on our rolling adventures.”

The group that began with a bunch of girls on skates is already welcoming people – on skates, blades, bikes and scooters for all abilities.

“When people asked to bring along their bikes and skateboards, this spurred on an even bigger groundswell of interest in the group,” Peterson said.

“A lovely community of people just wanting to get out and about on wheels, regardless of which type of wheels they had, started to form.

“We love to roll, and we also listen to music, chat, and appreciate our environment.”

In the first two months of Central Coast Roller Pals, there have been many social highlights.

Group members have rolled through markets on the Peninsula, stopped off at local beaches for a swim, played an impromptu game of roller hockey and popped into local cafes.

Fresh new venues and ideas on where the Central Coast Roller Pals should roll to next are welcomed.

“Anyone can recommend other areas to skate/roll and set up events for us all to participate in,” Peterson said.

Wherever we go, we always leave with big smiles on our faces.”

There are social rolls at 9am every Sunday starting at Lions Park Woy Woy.

“Our group has so many lovely people” Peterson said.

“It brings so much joy and it’s an incredibly fun and social way to fit exercise into the week.”

Future events planned include May the Fourth Be With you on May 4, 2025, which organisers hopes will draw out the Star Wars fans.

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said it was pleasing to see people on all kinds of wheels coming together as a community to enjoy fresh air, beauty and friendship on the Central Coast.

“It’s fantastic to see how anyone on wheels – from rollerblades, skates, skateboards and bikes to wheelchairs or scooters can get along for a social roll,” she said.

“Sport and exercise are such amazing ways of bringing our community together, and Central Coast Roller Pals brings an extra dose of fun to the table.”

Coasties with a keen interest on getting out and about on wheels are encouraged to join the Central Coast Roller Pals Facebook group.