Skates - If you don’t have skates, you can hire inline and roller skates from us. Best is to start with hire and buy your own after a few weeks.
Ask us for advice on what and where to buy.

If you hesitate between inline and quads, here is what I think. A skater is a skater. When you can skate, inline, ice, quads are all equally enjoyable as long as they are of good quality.



When it comes to buying skates, quality is essential.

The shoe - must be comfortable, I recommend laces rather than those bindings that can break, unlike laces that you can replace anytime.

The frame - must be made out of a material that will not squeeze the wheels when tying the shaft (inline) and prevent the wheel from spinning freely (generally extruded aluminium or even better but more expensive carbon fibre).

The bearings - must be of good quality too, there are different ratings for those. Bearings are often rated on the ABEC scale (from 1 to 11 -odd numbers- the higher the better) but doesn't account for the quality of steel used, which is also important.

The wheels - are made of polyurethane and their hardness is measured on the A scale (78A-93A -the higher the harder). Softer wheels are more grippy. Diametres vary from 59mm to 110mm (the biggest the faster but less maneuverability). I have tested 10 wheels made for Roller derby and rated them on different floors.

We regularly get this question when requesting to use a hall for our Rollerdiscos, and the answer is no. Wooden floors don't get damaged by polyurethane wheels, they never scratch or make dents like high heels or some other objects may do. The worst that could happen is easily removable buff marks. All our regular venue managers would testify of this. So if you are responsible for a hall, don't hesitate. The fun you will provide your community is well worth the perceived/minimal risk.

My name is Brigitte, I love teaching children and adults what I know. I worked as a fitness instructor for many years and in 2010 I started Skatescool in Northland, New Zealand. At Skatescool, we teach kids and adults in schools, halls and street and hold Roller discos in various locations. We are also offering our expertise to Skaters who would like to become instructors or start their own Skate school. Skatescool Australia followed in our footsteps in 2013 and Skatescool Tauranga started in 2015. I also teach French (I am French), guitar and driving. Combining some of my passions together, I have a dream of creating a musical on skates one day.

I would recommend Brigitte, my daughter's remarkable roller skating teacher who is gifted with being able to bring her to the next level meaning Jeda doesn't give up. She has gained more coordination, balance and confidence since she started skating.
Clare O'Malley, Whangarei

I have been taking my 8 year old daughter to Brigitte's Skatescool since October 2014 and she loves it! Brigitte is a wonderful teacher who imbues her love of skating into her students. My daughter has improved in leaps and bounds and Brigitte provides individual attention to each child and makes each lesson fun.
Debbie Tisdall, Onerahi

In the age of digital entertainment I’m keen to keep my children physically active. When an affordable skating class started up in Onerahi, I enrolled my daughter Amber just before her 4th Birthday. Brigitte demonstrates the correct techniques and monitors the child’s progress, reads and caters for their individual needs in a safe and fun fashion. Since attending Amber has really grown in confidence and skill,experiencing that learning a new skill is fun even at an early age. Thankfully she is developing a passion for exercise and physical activity.
Dawn Pugh, Parahaki

Don't hesitate to call or email for a chat.
Tel: 09 434 4414 - Email
Tutukaka Coast - Whangarei - New Zealand