Pro skateboarder and Gold Coast local.
Pro skateboarder and Gold Coast local.
He’s the Gold Coast local who rose through the ranks to become a pro skateboarder, sponsored by Santa Cruz and living any young kids dream.
This weekend he’ll teach skateboarding workshops on the Coast as part of HOTA’s Concrete Culture event.
We sat down for a chat with Jesse about his upomcing local workshops and how those of us who have no idea, can learn to skateboard like a pro too (close enough anyway).
How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
I was born at the Southport Hospital and besides living in Melbourne for a year and a lot of traveling, I have been a proud Gold Coast local for the majority of my life.
What do you love most about living here?
In my opinion, the best things about living on the Gold Coast are the amazing people and community we have, no where else in the world do you find people like Gold Coasters and I think it’s because of our awesome laidback lifestyle with the best beaches in the world and world-class skateparks. We live in paradise and you can feel the joy.
Talk us through how you became a pro skateboarder…
I’ve been skating from roughly age seven and I have never stopped. I worked hard to be the best skater I could be and worked my way up to being recognised by some major Australian sponsors and after years of representing them, I was rewarded with an introduction to the pro ranks with my own pro model board for Santa Cruz skateboards. It was a very surreal moment because as a kid I had dreams of becoming a pro.
You’re running workshops at HOTA for Concrete Culture this week, what’s involved in those?
The workshops at the HOTA Concrete Culture event are going to be epic, we will be working with all levels of young skaters helping them with their confidence, balance, core strength and a better understanding of the dos and don’ts of skateboarding. Our aim is to help every skater at the event be able to venture to any of the Gold Coast’s amazing skateparks with confidence, to give it a go and gain the rewards that skateboarding has to offer, we hope all our skaters leave our clinic with some new tricks and a huge smile.
Any advice for those of us who’d love to try skateboarding but have no idea where to start?
For someone who has never tried skateboarding and is interested in giving it a go, I would recommend joining a beginner group session or private session with RockNSlide skateboarding. We can help you with all you need to know in the safest way possible, eliminating risk and can even provide all the gear if you’re unsure and just want to try skateboarding before purchasing your own equipment. With over 20 years of skateboarding experience we can get you skating in no time.
Besides skateboarding, what do you love to do?
When I’m not skateboarding, I’m in the ocean riding my surfboard. Surfing and skating go hand in hand and it’s the perfect outlet to keep active and enjoy the Gold Coast when I’m not rolling on the concrete.
What’s the plan for the rest of 2019 for you?
We have big plans for the end of 2019, we are running multiple skate events including our skatepark tours, skate camp and an epic event we call the Rocknsizzle. I am also busy finishing my new skate video part for Santa Cruz skateboards that is due to be completed by Christmas. It’ll be showcasing my best tricks on my board at an international level so it’s busy and exciting times for us thanks to skateboarding.
What do you say to people who might like to follow in your career footsteps?
The most important advice I can say to anyone is always be yourself, be kind, honest and don’t be afraid to work hard then you can achieve any of your goals, no matter what they are.
Tell us your favourites on the Coast:
Restaurant for dinner: Beach Burrito Coolangatta – best Mexican on the Coast hands down.
Cafe for breakfast: JJs in Tugun – best and most honest big breakfast.
Coffee spot: Henchman Miami, I got some coffee there the other day and it was delicious.
How does your weekend usually look? Wake up, surf, lunch, skate and repeat.
Sarah Huston is a Gold Coaster passionate about skateboarding and design.
So much so that she has put together a photography exhibition, fittingly titled Yeah Girl, showcasing female skateboarders from around the world.
We took five to chat with Sarah about Yeah Girl’s collaboration with Bowlzilla and how skateboarding fuels her creativity.
How did the Yeah Girl exhibition come about?
I started noticing more and more girls around the world were shooting skate photos and it just seemed like this really niche little group that was flying under the radar. Originally, I was going to do it as an exhibition of female photographers shooting anyone skating—guys or girls—but I’m also a bit of an advocate for increasing the exposure of female skaters, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to put all the ladies in the spotlight; the ones behind the camera and in front of it.
How is Yeah Girl linked to Bowlzilla?
Yeah Girl and BOWLZILLA were both part of the Bleach Festival lineup last year so we began working together to create one big weekend of skateboarding. Since then BOWLZILLA have been big supporters of Yeah Girl and vice versa. BOWLZILLA’s ethos is based around bringing people together, having fun and celebrating skate culture; something Yeah Girl can definitely relate to and get behind.
This year we’ve joined forces again to put on a double movie premiere on Friday March 17th at Warehouse No. 5. We’ll be premiering Quit Your Day Job, the first female skate film to come out of the USA in over a decade, as well as Steady Lurking, a new local film from the guys at Fiik Skateboards.
Why are you passionate about showcasing female skateboarders?
There’s so much talent in women’s skateboarding these days, from both the skaters and photographers. There’s also a really unique culture in women’s skating. It still has a really DIY vibe about it and it is what it is because of the passionate women that are a part of it, constantly pushing to make things happen. It deserves to be highlighted and celebrated.
If you had asked me a year ago I would have said my passion was driven by the lack of coverage for women in the core skate media. But to say that now – on the day when Lizzie Armanto’s new Thrasher cover was just revealed – wouldn’t really be fair. As a community we need to keep that momentum going though and continue to back women’s skating with the same passion and determination that has gotten it to where it is now.
You’re a skateboard coach, why do you think people should try it?
I can’t think of anything else that can teach you so much patience, determination and persistence and still be so fun! It’s kind of funny, I often find myself in deep philosophical conversations with friends about the life lessons that can be learnt from skateboarding.
The most rewarding part of coaching is seeing people support each other regardless of their skill level, gender or age. Skateboarding just has this way of bringing people together and breaking down barriers.
What do you love about it personally?
So many things. But I think it’s the challenge that keeps me coming back for more. I get as much satisfaction out of trying to learn a trick as I do landing a trick. Which is lucky because it tends to take me a while so I might have given up long ago otherwise…
I also love the friendships that come from skateboarding. It’s a pretty special community, especially amongst the girls. It’s still tight-knit enough that a mutual love of skateboarding is enough to reach out and build a friendship on.
Tell us about your background, how did you get to be where you are today?
I feel like where I’m at right now is because of a beautiful collision of my two biggest passions – skateboarding and design. My love of skateboarding began as a kid. My brothers used to skate so decided to try it out and it’s been a part of my life ever since. I studied design at Queensland College of Art and since then I’ve been working (–and living–there’s no dividing the two) as a designer. Skateboarding and creativity go hand in hand so those two parts of my life naturally came together. I guess Yeah Girl is their love child.
How does skateboarding inspire your creativity?
As a skateboarder you tend to think outside the box and see the world a little differently – a ledge isn’t just a ledge and a set of stairs isn’t just for walking up and down. The premise of creativity is the same. You need to see different perspectives and draw connections between seemingly unrelated things. So to more directly answer your question, it’s not so much that skateboarding inspires my creativity, but it is an extension of it. They go hand-in-hand.
What’s in the pipeline for you?
Right now I’m working on the next Yeah Girl exhibition. I’m excited to be teaming up with Girls Are Awesome to take the exhibition to Copenhagen this year. It opens on July 15th at Vess Gallery and will run through CPH Open, one of skateboarding’s biggest global contests and celebrations.
Your favourite piece of life advice?
If it doesn’t scare you, it’s not worth doing.
You’re not a Gold Coast local if you haven’t…
Quoted “beautiful one day, perfect the next” to interstate visitors and then struggled to entertain them while it rains for a week.
Being a Gold Coast local we have to ask for your favourites…
Beach: Mermaid Beach – it’s close to home and not too busy
Restaurant: Zipang Japanese Dining in Currumbin
Bar: I’m more of a small bar person – Apres Surf
Coffee Shop: All Time Coffee
Get in loser, we’re going shopping (and eating, and brewery-hopping, and sight seeing, and exploring street art, and… you get the idea)
Now you might be wondering why we’re throwing around random movie quotes to kick off this list (in our defence there is a Mean Girls line for *every* occasion) – but if suburbs were Mean Girls characters, Miami would for sure be the one to utter this iconic line. Miami has it all, and it knows it. Take one glance at just some of the epic spots we’ve lined up and you’ll soon see why all the other suburbs wish they could be this cool.
It used to be that Granddads were good for stealing our noses and sneaking us butter candy, but in Miami, Granddad Jacks is good for plying us the finest locally distilled spirits, gin making classes, distillery tours and of course and just an all-round cool haunt to sit back with a top notch bevvy and let our mullets run free. These masterful wizards didn’t amass a whopping haul of awards by getting distracted by anything other than distilling, so it’s BYO food too (and surely that means more to spend on the good stuff!). Make sure you try the 65 Miles Gin, recently crowned the Hottest Aussie Gin for a third year in a row!
Where: 45 Lemana Lane, Miami
It would be shell-fish of us not to include Miami Fish Market, as much as we would love to keep this absolute pearl a secret. They hook the Gold Coast up with responsibly sourced, premium seafood from Australia and New Zealand (unlike heading home empty-handed from your holy grail fishing spot). Take some of their freshest and finest home to enjoy, or pull up a stool in their courtyard oyster and sashimi bar for a shuck-tastic time. Now offering a full (fancy-pants) fish and chips menu. Potato scallops and caviar, anyone?
Where: 1/54 Paradise Ave, Miami
The Coast’s OG street food night markets that put Miami on the map as a must-visit destination for foodies and live music lovers alike. The first venue of it’s kind to Miami and perhaps even the Coast, Marketta quickly grew to establish itself as a mainstay among the GC scene, bringing good vibes, live music and great food galore via the eclectic creative and cultural hotspot for over ten years now. Our beloved market brings us all our favourite tastes of the world as well as that same buzzing atmosphere that’s favoured by families especially, for rounding up their rowdy broods for an easy night out that everyone can enjoy.
Where: 23 Hillcrest Pde, Miami
We have a grand idea for ya! Why not take those freshly shucked oysters to-go and hit the picturesque Pizzey Park for a bougie picnic? It’s one of the biggest parks on the coast, a local icon, and a hub for sports, clubs, recreation, and fun times for all ages. There’s an aquatic centre, playgrounds galore, a wheely epic skate park, the Gold Coast’s first and Australia’s largest asphalt pump track and, let’s not forget, the off-leash dog area for our four-legged BFFs. In fact, paw out of five dogs agree that Pizzey is the best park for zoomies on the GC.
Where: 80 Pacific Ave, Miami
One of Miami’s most recent (and appreciated) additions is Bar Monte. This Italian eatery is so good it’s saving us a trip to Rome. They’re bringing the classic trattoria to us, with a modern twist, by blending international influences with fresh, local ingredients. The result is a menu as bold as it is delizioso.
The space is stylish yet inviting, striking the perfect balance between high-end sophistication and relaxed coastal charm. Pasta lovers will swoon over the Rigatoni, Vodka Sauce, Nduja and Stracciatella, and don’t even get us started on the wine list; curated by world-renowned sommelier Andrea Martinisi.
Where: No.3 Mountain View Ave, Miami
It’s no secret us Gold Coasters are quite partial to doing what we can to our put our best #lewks forward, and over the last few years the streets of Miami have also been undergoing somewhat of a glow up themselves (and #spoileralert – there’s no filler to be found here folks). The suburb is at the heart of a thriving GC art and cultural boom, with a bunch of incredible artists transforming the local laneways into a destination in and of themselves. There’s even the Art Roll website dedicated to mapping out the best routes for your own self-led street art tour.
And the event that started the movement, Surface Festival returns at the end of June, set to transform the local footpaths, fence lines, laneways and walls with some art-mazing fresh new works to admire and we’re here. for. it.
Where: Check the Art Roll website for locations
Okay, now it just feels like Miami is showing off and 501 (no kidding) Google reviews can’t be wrong. At first glance those deceptively colourful trademark stairs might look all sunshine and rainbows, but one thing’s for sure – conquer that climb and you will be rewarded with one of the best vantages on the coast. With stunning views of the coastline from Surfers right down to Burleigh, there’s only one thing left to say: How’s. the. serenity. (and maybe a hearty dose of *heavy breathing* depending on how many times you decide to take on those stairs #cardi-no thanks)
Where: At the south end of Miami (you can’t miss it)
If you love a good smash burger (and let’s be real, who doesn’t?), Broken Hearts Burger Club in Miami is calling your name. Born from one guy’s lockdown obsession with nailing the perfect LA-style burger, this cult-favourite joint keeps things simple – and seriously delicious. Choose between a classic or fancy burger, stack it up with one, two, or three patties, and let the molten cheese and house-made pickles do the talking. Throw in some loaded fries, a thick shake, and that retro diner aesthetic, and you’ve got yourself a one-way ticket to burger heaven. #sorrynotsorry
Where: 1934 Gold Coast Highway, Miami
Move over, high-rise hotels – motels of the Gold Coast are getting a makeover, and boy, are they impressing. Exhibit A- The Shores Miami. Nestled just 200 metres from Miami Beach, this 1970s Gold Coast gem has recently undergone a multi-million dollar transformation, blending retro vibes with modern comfort to create its perfect nostalgic charm.
Inside, find bright, modern rooms, orange sun lounges with overhead striped cabanas, a gorgeous pool, lush greenery, and soothing pastel colours. Outside; endless adventure, starting with this list! Staycation, anyone?
Where: 2016 Gold Coast Highway, Miami
There will always be room on the Gold Coast and in our hearts for another coffee roastery (get rid of the servos; we just need coffee). However, by no means is Whyld ‘just another’ coffee bar, channelling the strength of a triple espresso since 2021. That’s what we’re talking about! They promise ‘genuine connection fuelled by bloody good coffee’ and serve it up in a warehouse space/micro-roastery cuter than your grandma’s knitted blankets. Take your organic specialty coffee to go, or take a seat on one of their vintage couches and soak up the good vibes (the recommended take).
Where: 8/43 Hillcrest Parade, Miami
You can’t beat having a neighbourhood bakery (a carb-load close to home), particularly a European-inspired one. An ideal day on a plate for us would look like a warm, buttery fruit Danish for breakfast (washed down with a mighty good coffee), a ham, cheese and pickle baguette sandwich for lunch, followed by a basket full of buttery, flaky pastries for dessert. No veggie in sight! He he.
Where: Shop 5/1934 Gold Coast Highway, Miami
Japanese beer + Japanese street eats = heaven. Therefore, heaven can be found in Miami at the suburbs’ very own Japanese beer bar, Roji Cat. Here, you’ll be transported (at Shinkansen speed) to the neon-lit districts of Tokyo and Osaka, with an interior decorated to resemble their authentic alleyways, down to the signage and lanterns.
What else will you find? Twelve Japanese brews on tap and twenty-four types of sake, for starters! Then there’s the nosh, a curation of elevated Japanese street food that’ll have you sighing ‘oishii’, with every bite. Think Robata Skewers, sweet and spicy Roji Cat Karaage, Gyoza, Sashimi, Miso Corn (love you) and burgers including a Bug Burger with a tempura Moreton Bay Bug, spicy Japanese coleslaw and Kewpie mayo. We’ll take all of that, thank you so much.
Where: 47 Lemana Lane, Miami
UGG Since 1974
It’s almost time to pack away the budgie smugglers and slip into something a little more cosy as we edge closer to the cooler months. Enter UGG Since 1974 – churning out wearable warm hugs for your feet since, well, 1974. Don’t be feeling sheepish if you didn’t know they’ve expanded their range to include a huge selection of colours, styles and options to customise including monogramming (cute!), as well as paw-dorable pet accessories (even cuter!) With factory tours running right out of Miami, the only thing better than supporting locals is treating your tootsies to a cloud-nine experience in the process.
Where: 23 Christine Ave, Miami
Precinct Brewing Co
Have you worked up a thirst reading this list? Thankfully, we’ve saved everyone’s favourite brewery (yep, we called it) for last- Precinct Brewing Co. Step through their doors and you’ll be welcomed into one sleek space; all white with high ceilings, wooden beams, a couple more murals and some massive brew kettles in the background of it all. You can see why people say it’s the place to beer! Don’t forget to grab one of the tasty pizzas coming from the onsite kitchen, too…
Where: 17 Christine Ave, Miami
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
