Skating is one of those cultures with sanctums around the world, epitomising our urban attitude. LA, NYC, SF, Barcelona, London, Paris, Shenzhen, & Berlin are destinations where we terrorise security guards and fund local bars. We may be skate rats, but we’re rodents that get around. New Zealand’s closest shred temple is Melbourne, so I sat down with my brother Oscar and some of his Prahran mates to ask, “Why is Melbourne such a skate city?”

Jayden Robson (works at Concrete Skate Supply)

It is a decent-sized city that is rapidly changing, meaning new street spots are always popping up. There are also a shit ton of skateparks being built on the regular. The council has also set up street spots in the city where you can legally skate without getting kicked out. “Weird noise” right next to Flinders Station. Super easy for everyone to get to. Uni square is another one aka no piss plaza.

Yuta Tanaka (Kanpai skateboarding, Charlie Horsewax & The Cream)

This differs from person to person. At my age (38) you start to see the city differently. The late 2000s were the peak of Melbourne’s skate scene. Back then, the spots were fresh and smooth, no skate stoppers or blind spots on stairs, and security guards were less strict. Additionally, the Globe World Cup was underway; it was the last of the major arena contests and garnered considerable attention in Melbourne as well.

Oscar Graham

It has such a diverse culture and modern buildings to skate, it also has a massive sporting culture, though skating isn’t really a sport.

Jono Thompson (Mayor of the southside skate crew)

Melbourne has always been and will always be a significant skate city. Some big names have come out of this place, and people travel from all corners of the world to skate here. Whether you’re a street, vert, or park skater, there are street spots or parks relatively close, and the public transportation is amazing. So it makes everything much more accessible. Melbourne has so many different crews always out and about filming for different projects for local skate shops, brands that they are sponsored by, or simply to document their progression, which is always refreshing to see. Skate culture here is unmatched compared to the rest of Australia, and I don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon.