The Melbourne Uni Spot

24/3/2020

Volume 4, Issue 17

LEIGH

The Melbourne CBD has some great skate spots. We have the stairs at the state library, Riverside Skate Park, the IMAX theatre spot and many more. But the Melbourne University spot is iconic for not only Melbourne skateboarders, but skateboarders from all over the country. We have seen professional skateboarders from Japan, America and our very own pros skate this spot. The Melbourne Uni spot brings me memories, as it is the place where I first landed quite a few tricks and grinds. The smooth cement is perfect for practicing your flat ground tricks, and the multi-level raised ledges are great for getting used to new grinds, and then doing a long grind to a massive drop. The Melbourne Uni spot is also not policed by the campus security so it gives us a nice place to skate without having to watch our backs to see if anyone around is going to come and tell us off.

Photo by shawn henry on Unsplash

Melbourne is a big city, and coming from the small country town of Wodonga, it can take some people a while to adjust. But skateboarding is a great way to make new friends. I met a close friend of mine, Queen, through skateboarding, and he introduced me to other people he knew and we became closer by spending hours in the sun attempting to flip our boards and then slam into the concrete.

Leigh is a skateboarder, who frequents the front of the law school.

Call

25/3/2020 11:38:31 am

“[T]he Melbourne Uni spot is iconic...”.
If Leigh is referring to concrete area at the bottom of University Square (directly in front of the law school), then I find this claim hard to believe.

That concrete area has only existed for a bit over half a year. Prior to that, the entirety of University Square was closed off due to the government’s metro construction works. Prior to that, the concrete area was just a flat piece of grass and pavement. Given that I haven’t even seen one person land a clean ollie, I find it difficult to believe that this area has already amassed the prodigious status of being a global professional skateboarding icon.

I don’t doubt the social benefits and thrill of skateboarding. As a snowboarder, I’m often tempted to search for exciting areas off-piste. However, I do so firstly at my own risk (to the exclusion of others), and secondly that going off-piste is still legally permitted.

By acknowledging that the concrete area is not policed, Leigh inadvertently concedes an assumption which undermines this entire justification - that it’s acceptable to break a law put in place to protect pedestrians so long as you don’t get caught.

I would’ve preferred to hear Leigh talk about all the athletic/artistic beauty the thrilling sport of skateboarding could bring to surrounding MLS students, rather than sounding like an apologist for nuisance.

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