It was like NASCAR. Except slower.
March 12, 2007
Overheard in Lewisville, Texas:
A couple weeks ago, Roger and I headed out with Eddie and Katie for an old-school night of roller skating at a local rink. We tightened the laces of our rented quads and headed out on the floor. Eddie, Katie and Roger floated in quick, endless circles of grace. Eddie even danced while he skated.
I, on the other hand, was marred by several near-death experiences. Kids were racing past me, like I was the old lady driving a respectable 50 mpg on the highway and they were the hellions on crotch rockets, speeding past me with the thrust of a cannonball, popping wheelies once they swerved in front of me. Just to drive it home that I was trespassing on their domain.
I thought I was hot stuff just because I could skate in circles around the rink without holding on to the railing. I even learned to skate backwards!
My second-favorite part of the evening was the couples skate, because I had an excuse to hold on to someone. Roger just thought I was holding hands with him.
The kids on the floor were doing flips, on the rink, while wearing their roller skates. How did they not fall down? That is what I want to know. How can they break dance in roller skates? How do their skates not slip out from under them? Had I attempted that, I'd be dictating this entry from a hospital bed, probably with three broken ribs, a crushed forearm, a shattered femur, and a few missing front teeth.
We were at the rink for only about an hour – though three minutes was long enough to make my thighs burn with the fire of a thousand suns – and by the end of the hour, my favorite part of the evening had arrived. In silent relief, I skated off the wooden rink, not without tripping first, and melted in a puddle onto the carpeted bench.
Overheard in Lewisville was right – roller skating is hard work. Which is why Roger and I are downloading good roller skating songs from iTunes (see: The Boogie That Be*, from the Black Eyed Peas' Elephunk album). Next time, we're totally going to be prepared.
* Listen to a clip below
Comments
I haven't been roller skating since jr. high. Man, that sounds fun.
People were doing flips?? Thats effed up! Wish the people at my local rink could do that! Or maybe sometime in the last 10 or 15 years they've learned and I just haven't been to see it.
Posted by: Karly | March 12, 2007 12:49 PM
Any rollerskating mix I make would HAVE to include J. Geils' (Band) "Centerfold" and "Freeze Frame". That, and perhaps something by Chicago.
Hey, I didn't say anyone would want to listen to the mix.
Posted by: mike | March 12, 2007 12:56 PM
I went roller skating a couple of months ago for my niece's b-day party and I remember it being alot more work than it used to be. But it's still fun!
I'd love to join you next time!
Posted by: AmStaff Mom | March 12, 2007 02:24 PM
Seriously, I used to skate all the time, and now it just makes my insteps BURN. We went ice skating while we were visiting Utah for Thanksgiving...I'm sooo surprised I didn't fall.
Posted by: Aimee | March 12, 2007 03:19 PM
You know how I feel about roller skating! (It is great!) Good job not falling down; that was also my main accomplishment last time I went skating.
I am so glad now that I went to a 21 and older skating event. The only people whipping past me while doing tricks were 40-year-old men in gold chains and tank tops. They may be faster than me, but I am way cuter.
Posted by: -R- | March 12, 2007 04:26 PM
My brother/SIL live in London. There is a nightclub there that, one night of the week, turns into a roller skating rink. The bar is still open - drunk skating - seems counterintuitive to me though. They say there is usually a good wipe out each night.
Posted by: Julie | March 12, 2007 06:41 PM
That sounds like SOOO much fun! I used to regularly skate (quad: awesome term; never woulda thought of it) when I was a kid and into my very early teens. At one point I actually did trip and break my wrist when I was around 12. It was weird. But I kept on skating, and now I go about once a year. I should go more often though because it's soo much fun! And quite the work out, like you said. Although I've never been able to do cool stuff, nevermind flips! I tought myself to skate very slowly backwards, doing the whole weaving my skates in & out. But I thought I was hot stuff when I learned how to do the foot cross-over move when going around corners. Haha!!! Good times, good times. (Oh, and you can't forget the hot older skate ref kid who worked at the rink and wore the black & white striped shirt!)
Posted by: Chiada | March 12, 2007 07:32 PM
I LIVED at the rink in junior high days. Man, that made for the BEST Saturdays. I remember the Hokie Pokie - and turning myself around - because HELL! That's what it's all about!
And Suicides (sprite, coke, dr. pepper, root beeer, strawberry soda and anything else on tap all mixed together) - oh man I lived large.
Hmmm ... wonder if we have a rink in town. I'd love to hear WE WILL ROCK YOU under a blinking disco ball.
Posted by: OMSH | March 12, 2007 09:26 PM
That sounds like a LOT of fun! I loved roller skating when I was a kid, but by the time I got pretty good - Rollerblading had become popular, and there was no frickin' way I was ever going to master that! Nevertheless, I still have a great affection for the combo of blonde wood floors and light turquoise walls that my favorite roller rink sported!
Posted by: chickadee | March 12, 2007 11:07 PM
Oh! I hate rollerskating! I suck so hard at it. I also have that album :)
Posted by: Julianna | March 13, 2007 12:33 AM
Ooooh, definitely brings back memories.
Of course one of those memories involves wearing a fluffy orange miniskirt nightgown with a brown plaid shirt tied around my waist. For some reason I thought that made me look like a professional skater.
Posted by: Karianna | March 13, 2007 11:18 AM
Silly Jes. You don't need the Black Eyed Peas. Don't you know the REAL roller skating song is "Can't Touch This"?
Posted by: my life is brilliant | March 13, 2007 03:36 PM
I tried to be cool at "Skateland" when I was a kid... but, realistically, I never was.
A little nerd on wheels...
Oh well.
Sometimes I would find quarters in the video game machines and get a free game. So it was all worth it.
Posted by: ben | March 14, 2007 10:33 AM
I gotta say - if you can get 50 mpg on the highway, that's awesome, and I want to know what kind of car you drive! Someone's broken some records there!
And roller skating? That, like so much of life, is all about balance.
Posted by: Lia | March 14, 2007 02:23 PM
Just so you know? I didn't use paint this time but I did put up some illustrations and hand-written things, just for you.
Posted by: Julianna | March 14, 2007 07:47 PM
Geez, kids these days. Rolling around at high rates of speed, with no respect for those who are abiding by the rules of the rink.
Posted by: angela | March 14, 2007 08:46 PM
Hall and Oates made some groovy skating tunes. Of course, I only say that because their songs were popular waaaay back in my skating days.
"Maneater," "Kiss on My List," and "Private Eyes."
You can't beat that.
Posted by: RR | March 16, 2007 11:38 PM