CHAMPION ROLLER SKATERS_SAVANNAH_NOVEMBER 2015

CHAMPION ROLLER SKATERS_DULCIE AND SOL_OCTOBER 2015

My early experience of sport started with ballet and ballroom dancing lessons – this then led onto Artistic Roller Skating. As I progressed I became familiar with competitions, skating shows, medals, moments of glory and disappointment – This helped shape me as a young person and now in my adult years has paid off in a very positive way.  Artistic Roller Skating taught me  to face my fears and gain confidence in myself, as well as train very intensely before and after school and at weekends. Travel consisted of long car journeys across the UK and Europe, plus living with a German family while training in Freiburg, Germany when I was 14 years old. I learned how to cope with success and moments of anti-climax, as well as being physically and mentally challenged. Reflecting upon it now, I realise that my emotional experiences in those early years are all the things we continue to experience through life – and it’s how we respond to each situation that is put in front of us that counts.

As a Documentary Photographer I have always been interested in performance, theatre and sports. I decided to venture back to the same town and explore how Artistic Roller Skating has evolved and to photograph young talented individuals and pair skaters in their homes. Roller skating has often not been met with the same popularity and enthusiasm to that of Ice skating as seen on the television. It is harder to attempt the jumps and spins on quads, due to the weight and structure of the skates and that it is more clunkier. However, the same elements are practiced on wheels as that of ice blades. My objective is to highlight the sport to a wider audience – I am also working on a few other ideas that will show how skaters facials expressions are captured in mid-air. To be published nationally next year.