Tauranga could start to see a whole lot more speed skaters on the streets.

Romina Rojas, who won a gold medal at the New Zealand Roller Sports Speed Championships earlier this month, has plans to start a Tauranga speed skating club.

She says the sport teaches discipline, responsibility, consistency and teamwork.

'We may have the next national and world champion in New Zealand and we still don't know it.”

She wants to create skating workshops with the council and schools in conjunction with the New Zealand Federation of Roller Sports.

She wants to create new opportunities and do something for the community because it's her passion.

Romina, who started skating when she was six years old, says there is currently only a figure skating club in Tauranga but no speed skating club.

She was fastest in the senior ladies category at the recent New Zealand Roller Sports Speed Championships in Whanganui. She won a gold medal as well as six bronze medals.

She also holds a degree in sports sciences specialising in speed skating.

She says her dream after making the club in Tauranga would be to create an official skating rink in the city as there is currently nowhere to do it other than parking lots.

The new club will practice on Saturday afternoons - those interested in joining can phone Romina on 027-337-5010. Training will start in two weeks.