Emily Littlely adds splash of colour to Geraldton’s rollerskating resurgence

Emily Littlely can often be found rolling around town in her ’70s-inspired red skates, paired quintessentially with her flared jeans or some high-rise socks. A rollerskating resurgence is bubbling in Geraldton and it’s coming to you in technicolour. Over Christmas, Miss Littlely was gifted a pair of skates and they quickly became her new obsession. “I love the feeling it gives you ... I feel like I am flying,” she said. Over the past few months, she has connected with acquaintances and strangers and together they have grown a skating crew 20 members strong — and counting. “We want a roller rink so the more people we get involved the better,” she said. For Miss Littlely, skating is about more than just wheels on a path. Through her Instagram account, @Miss.Anthrope.Skates, she has built a following of more than 3000 people and connected with skaters from across the world. According to Miss Littlely, the new Beresford foreshore development is the best place to skate, and she loves showing it off to her international Instagram followers. “We really live in paradise,” she said. Corner Surf Shop owner Suzi Salmond, who has been stocking rollerskates for about 18 months, said sales had been booming. “Our suppliers are selling out,” she said. It’s not just young women pulling on the skates: many are women in their 50s. “We get lots of girls who used to visit the rollerdrome back in the day,” she said.