A MEMOIR OF LOSS, FIRST LOVE, AND COMING OUT AS AN ELITE AHTLETE.
ROLABOi
REViVAL
SUCCESS DOESN'T
HAPPEN OVERNIGHT..
The 20th Anniversary Revised Edition - 31.07.2024
SUMMARY
From uncovering a pair of rusty roller skates in a garage in regional Warrnambool as an 8-year-old kid to competing for a world championship title in Girón, Colombia, "Rolaboi, Revival" explores the early years of a two-decade-long roller skating career, highlighting the struggles with bias, abuse, and the tragic loss of my beloved brother.
"Rolaboi" is a candid account of my life. I aimed to celebrate my involvement in the sport, the intensity of competition, the friendships it fosters, the family hardships and joy, and the memories it creates. However, another side of my life demanded to be told—the untold stories that remained inner secrets until writing gave me the courage to confront them.
This memoir offers a deep dive into my life and career, enriched by perspectives from those who know me best. It tells a coming-of-age story filled with self-doubt and navigating it, first love, conquering nerves, and the challenges of being an elite athlete, all while discovering my identity and coming out in the 90s.
In-store appearance on Sept 1 at 2:30pm at
HARES & HYENAS
bookstore at the
Victorian Pride Centre.
79-81 Fitzroy Street
St Kilda VIC 3182
KIND WORDS...
"An emotional and heartwarming journey. It is a story not only about his struggles but also an inspiring story about the beauty of self-belief, dedication, and believing in dreams."
MELISSA GEORGE
"In a country that loves its sport as much as Australia,
it's a travesty that Jayson Sutcliffe's achievements have
not been celebrated as they should have been."
LUKE DENNEHY
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
They call him, Rollerboy
Jayson Sutcliffe, hailing from Melbourne, Australia, is a former world champion in roller figure skating. Following his competitive career, he has dedicated most of his life to coaching young skaters and advocating for the sport's growth and awareness globally, including within the LGBTQI community.
His writing journey began in 2001 with the three-year project "Rolaboi, Renegade Skater," released in 2004. He has since pursued writing feature screenplays and TV pilots in the drama genre and coming-of-age journeys.
Additionally, his feature documentary "ROLLERBOY" was a finalist at the 2011 Sydney Film Festival, while his documentary "JESUS CAN'T SKATE" won the Audience Award at the Australian International Film Festival.
Outside of his writing and roller-skating activities, Jayson enjoys visiting cinemas to watch sci-fi and horror films.