Tags: rian arnold
Australia has a proud history of producing rollerblading pioneers. Over the years it has proven to be a breeding ground for talented individuals, including vert icons Tom Fry, Manuel Billaris and Cesar Mora, who collectively dominated the majority of international contests...
Australia has a proud history of producing rollerblading pioneers. Over the years it has proven to be a breeding ground for talented individuals, including vert icons Tom Fry, Manuel Billaris and Cesar Mora, who collectively dominated the majority of international contests throughout the late nineties. Other exports include street skating wizards Josh Clarke, Dion Anthony and Sam Fogarty. The historians among you may even remember competition powerhouses Tim Ward and Blake Dennis, whose faces could be seen just as frequently on the winner’s podium and your favorite skate videos. The Australian skate scene has become smaller in recent years, with fewer athletes competing at an international level. However, it is gradually re-emerging and this is partially thanks to one young man’s efforts. His name is Rian Arnold.
There are still many out there who have yet to witness the unique talent that Rian possesses, as he has not appeared in many mainstream rollerblading films and is still to receive any major coverage in a rollerblading publication. However, this hasn’t stopped him taking top honours at the Asian X Games in 2005 and second place in the 2006 Arlo Eisenberg’s Hoedown, not to mention an impressive fifth place at the ASA World Championships in Texas in 2006.
In 2007Rian Arnold is part of the terrifying new breed of all round skaters who displays nothing short of complete comfort annihilating real street and skateparks alike. The worrying part is, he has only been skating for seven years and he is already competing at international level against some of the best skaters in the world and defeating them. It is scary to think that if it hadn’t been for his dad’s keen observation skills, none of this may have ever been possible.
“My father was driving home from work one day. He noticed a billboard advertising Vert X, an indoor skatepark on the side of the highway. I had a pair of crappy Ultra-wheels and my father took me to Vert X. That’s when the love affair began. I received my first pair of aggressive skates on my 11th birthday in August 2000. That was 7 years ago.”
Over the last few years, Rian has been silently creeping across the globe and appearing at a small selection of the world’s most respected events and completely blowing his idols out of the water, many of which have been by complete chance due to his passion for traveling and his close bonds with friends in other parts of the world.
“In 2005 I went to Korea to compete in the Asian X games. It was just a great excuse to see my friend that I met the previous year at Jr. X Games. I ended up winning, which was a crazy surprise. I didn't even think I was going to make the finals. Last year I wanted to go to America to skate and I found out that the ASA Am Finals were in Texas and one of my good friends Keaton Newson lived there. He said it was cool to stay at his for the comp. I arrived one week early for a holiday and to watch the Hoedown. At first I didn’t want to enter. I didn’t wanna look like an idiot in front of all the big names. Keaton made me enter and also paid for my entry fee and I made it through the rounds. Hoedown was the best comp that I have ever entered and I would love to do it again.”
Rian undoubtedly has the ability to compete on the pro circuit alongside the renowned elite such as Haffey and Aragon. There’s just one problem: Rian is only too aware of a volatile rollerblading industry that has yet to stabilize itself within mainstream culture. As a result, he refuses to jeopardise his future for something that may not offer him any rewards. When asked if he could ever picture himself making a living from something he is clearly gifted at, the young rollerblading prodigy revealed that he was certain that further education is the best path he can take at this moment in time.
”I don’t think you can make a career from being just a roller, unless you are born in Japan and you are doing crazy super duper triple flatspins and sponsored by Toyota. Nah, I don’t want to make a career outta skating. I’ll just stick to having fun with all my crippies back here in Australia. At the moment I’m really concentrating on studying for my final year 12 exams and really wanting to get the marks I need to go to university in the future.
Rian has the support of several organizations within his home country. When asked what his current situation regarding sponsorship consisted of, he unwittingly released some exclusive information about one of the longest running companies in street skating, Cozmo.
”I’m sponsored by Cozmo Wheels. Cozmo are designing new wheels that will last a lot longer on street and are also in the process of designing a new skate that will come with 8 Flat Cozmo wheels stock. The new Team will consist of Walt Austin and me at the moment. I also ride for Parallel clothing based in Melbourne Victoria. Manly blades/Skaters HQ is my local skate shop and has been the best sponsor. Bill at Manly Blades is a great guy and has tried to hook me up in every way possible, even if it’s little demos at schools to get me some spare cash on the side.”
Despite making friends all over the world and winning the respect of rollerblading legends one competition at a time, Rian loves nothing more than to skate with the people he grew up with in his home country: ”Like every roller in the world, my rolling mates are generally my closest mates. The cool cats I skate with are Simon Witold, Bonaventura Dorbialski, C.J. Welsmore, Tien Nguyen, Hareth, the 2 random Dubia skaters Mas and Feras, Martin Tim Mcpherson, and a group of cool kids that I love called the BYK. All of us skate all over Sydney and Australia.”
The next twelve months will be pivotal in deciding Rian’s future. He will finish secondary education and have to make the important choice of what to do next. Despite the impending pressure, Rian seems confident when discussing what lies ahead. At the moment, he is simply enjoying being young and taking life one step at a time.
”After my exams I think I’m going to take a year off and visit my best friend in
France. I’ll also be heading to America to skate for a bit and to chill with some homies I haven’t seen in years.”
Good work Rian.. good to see an Australian still ripping.. us old gyus are done and dusted..
good to see u know whats up. be what you want fuck
Rian Arnold is like Chris Haffey and Jeff Stockwell when he skates park.
WALT AUSTIN !!!
i doubt its a new "cozmo" skate.
my guess is they are teaming up with an already established boot company, and the skate will come set up w/ cozmo's flat.
yeah rollerblading makes you gay you know
Michael Jackson!
The little man might be a little flamboyant, but he's got steeze
and drops hammers -believe it or not. Just check out his clips in
Be-mag 'Featuring the World' and basically any where he has
appearances in.
Rian touched my naughty place.
Good job Rian. Heal up faster. CLIPS!!!!
p.s. earthquake clips
sick blader. and he is le fag!
what a huge faggot!
sick. rian's a pimp