The past three months have been pretty shit for most Melbourne residents, including skateboarders.

Skateparks have been closed for more than 100 days of lockdown, during which people were restricted to one hour of exercise outside their houses per day. For skaters, that essentially meant you could only legally skate with one other person at a street spot, within five kilometres of your house, for one hour a day.

Bayside Bowl. Herald Sun photo.

But because skateboarding exists in that awkward zone between sport and subculture, there were a few reports of skaters getting fined for skating in the streets, even while following the rules. As Melbourne ripper, Ben River Lawrie told us in his feature interview in the current issue of the mag: “It’s really tense skating. You’re on edge the whole time, looking out for cops.”

Adelaide Norris with a hippie jump at the 2019 Vans GSD, at Riverslide Skatepark, which is back in action. Photo by Albert D'Urbano.

Anyway, that has all changed as of today, October 19, when restrictions eased and skateparks reopened. According to the official protocols from the Victorian Government, you can now exercise with up to 10 people from two different households and travel 25 kilometres from your house or workplace. Crucially, there’s no time limit on how long you can leave your house to exercise, so you can theoretically skate all day!

Ben Weir back 180 reverse nosegrind. Photo by Albert D'Urbano.

To all the Melbourne skaters who’ve struggled through the lockdown and come out the other side, enjoy a well-earned roll.

Ben Currie kickflip over the Riverslide rail. Photo by Albert D'Urbano.

Restrictions will ease a little further on November 1. For more info about the details of the easing of restrictions, check the official info from the Victorian Government.