The Creativity of Shane Wallace and his Journey to Prahran Bowl

Photograph of Shane Wallace skating in the early evening. Shane is wearing baggy shorts, a t-shirt and suede Airwalk shoes.
There are no people on the streets apart from Shane and the atmosphere is silent.

Photographer: Unknown

Shane Wallace - Fakie 5-0 Grind at twilight on the streets of Sydney in the early 90s.

Shane Wallace

Shane Wallace was one of New Zealand's top street skaters, who among a group of cutting-edge Kiwi skateboarders moved to Melbourne in the early 90s to become a part of Australia's Famous Prahran Bowl Scene. (Read more about Prahran Bowl HERE)

The Intensity of Prahran Bowl

Right at the very beginning of Street Skating History in Australia - from the late 80s going through until approximately 1994 - The Prahran Bowl Scene was extremely competitive. The atmosphere at Prahran was intense and perhaps far more intimidating than late periods of Australian Skate History - which seemed to become more open over time.

One of Prahran Bowl's Key Innovators

Regardless of the challenge, Shane assimilated very quickly - making a name for himself as a key innovator in the scene. Shane not only moved to Melbourne to immerse himself in the scene - but actually lived very close to the bowl - where he honed skills for which he would become famous.

Power Combined with Technicality

Shane had a powerful style, which combined technicality with the ability to go really fast and big. He was a daily fixture at Prahran Bowl during the foundation years of Street Skating in Australia and often bounced ideas off the famous Jason 'Buzza' Burrows - who you can read more about HERE.

Shane continues to push his creative talents on the board, as he did in the early 90s - to this day.

By Sean Kavanagh

Image taken at nighttime of Shane doing a long distance Ollie over an area of grass in between driveways.
Shane is wearing a flannel shirt and loose-fitting clothing.

Photograph by Jesse Featherstone

Late night skate session with Shane through the lens of Jesse Featherstone.

シェーン・ウォレスは、ニュージーランドを代表するストリートスケーターの一人であり、９０年代初頭、オーストラリアの有名なプラーンボウル　(Prahran Bowl) シーンに加わるべくメルボルンへ移住した、最先端を行く少数のニュージーランドのスケーター・グループの一員でもありました。

オーストラリアにおけるストリートスケートの歴史の黎明期、すなわち８０年代後半から１９９４年頃にかけて、プラーンボウルを舞台としたシーン極めて競争の激しいものでした。プラーンボウルの雰囲気は張りつめており、若しかして、時とともに解放的になっていたオーストラリアのスケート史における後期の時代よりも、はるかに威圧なものでした。

< プラーンボウルで名を馳せるのは非常に困難なことでしたが、シェーンはすぐにその環境に馴染み、シーンにおける重要な革新者としてその名を確立しました。シェーンは、そのシーンに参加するためにメロボルンへ移り住んだだけでなく、実際にボウルのすぐ近くで生活し、後に彼を有名にすることになるスキルを磨き上げました。

シェーンはパワフルなスケートスタイルに加え、テクニカルなトリックをこなす能力も兼ね備えていました。彼はオーストラリアにおけるストリートスケート黎明期の人物であり、あの有名なジェイソン・バザー・バロウズ [詳細はこちら] と頻繁にアイデアを交わし合っていました。

シェーンは９０年代初頭と同じように、現在に至るまで、そのクリエイティブなスケートの才能を追求し続けています。

ショーン・カバナ

Sequence of photos of Shane doing a big kickflip over a big gap next to a set of stairs.

Shane catching a kickflip over a large gap in the 2000s. Photographer: Unknown

Classic black and white photo of two skaters doing a kickflip and ollie grab simultaneously in Prahran Bowl.

Dom Kekick and Shane Wallace skating Prahran Bowl together in the early 90s. Photographer: Jesse Featherstone

Shane grinding down a nine stair handrail at night. Shane is wearing a baseball hat.

Shane Wallace locking into a Smith Grind on a handrail with precision. Photographer: Unknown

Shane mid-air doing an Ollie Heelflip off a bump in the sidewalk at twilight.

Shane popping a Heelflip in the Early 90s. Photographer: Unknown

Shane Wallace doing a large backside kickflip off a table that has been made into a jump ramp.
He is clearing a large gap onto a loading dock under the soft lights of an indoor warehouse.

Shane floating a Backside Kickflip off a makeshift ramp. Photographer: Steve Gourlay

Shane doing a switch ollie over a leafy gap onto the sidewalk.

Shane Wallace - Switch Ollie over a gap in the 2000s. Photographer: Unknown