> back? What would motivate people to come back to roller rinks? In fact do
we
> need to re-think the whole idea of roller rinks? (Personally, I can't
stand
> the loud, awful music, the crowds, and just going round n round. But I'm
an
> old fart now so my opinion probably doesn't count.) I'm curious to hear
from
> those of you who still skate with a club. Have you seen a drop off in
> participation? Am I way off the mark? What do kids want today? What do
their
> parent's want? Why has ice skating grown, while roller skating has died?
> Hmm?
> Ex-skater Sue


I actually wanted to learn roller skating, and I had bought pic frames and
took them to the local rink. The rink director convinced me to try quad
roller skating first, and as I was very curious and had a relative who had
done quads on a high level, I thought to give it a try, lessons were very
cheap.

He and everyone there had a very defensive and negative view of pic frames
and even of ice skating. Resistant to change and in the end they failed to
prove to me the superiority of quads over in line that they so relentlessly
were pushing. I tired of hearing it, and saw no real evidence.
However, I did try the quads, and bought my own skates. They took forever
to arrive, and I had to skate in rentals, which were the most hideous and
tacky two toned brown things I had ever put on my feet. Worse than bowling
shoes. Sorry, but what status conscious kid is going to don such hideous
skates?

Anyway, I liked the skating very much, but the attitude of the other skaters
might further answer your question. Not one approached or talked to me. I
sensed a strong vibe of hostility toward ice and inline, fed by this rink
director/coach, and the music at the rink was simply awful. Corny and
goofy. I too hate blaring rock music at rinks, but how about some real
waltzes and tango music, something to get everyone moving. What they played
was very difficult to dance to without laughing. I tried some basic dances,
and was enjoying it, but I was already sensing that this was not a place I
wanted to spend a lot of my free time, even with the very cheap lessons and
free practice sessions.

My teacher had me watch a dance and a freestyle session, to see what could
be accomplished on quads. The dance session consisted of older skaters, all
greatly out of shape, wearing hideously unflattering costumes, and very
cliquey among themselves. None even said hello or introduced themselves to
the newcomer, and I just left after I had seen enough. Not one had the
passion and energy of a ballroom dancer, which I was hoping to see, they all
just doddered around the rink to some horrible music...the kind that kids
would loathe or cringe at.
A real waltz or tango might attract more young, the music I was hearing was
corny as could be.

The freestyle session was the last straw. The skater was very talented and
high level, but even then her skating in the quads was clunky and loud, the
jumps and skating looked strained, and I knew that I would prefer ice, or
the pic frames, which certainly must be quieter and smoother.
There was little flow or freedom to her skating.

The practice sessions I did there were awkward, for I was made to feel the
outsider, no one even smiled my way, and I just wasn't enjoying it, I was
tired of the teacher's relentless effort to push quads, to disparage in
lines and ice skaters, I would never fit in there, so I left and returned to
ice skating. Once I find more time and money, I would like to try the pics
again, but there are no rinks where I now live, I will probably have to
learn outside.

The sport, as all sports do, will change as the participants change and
evolve as the skaters do.
The last thing most youth want is corny music and skating with their
grandmother.
The presence of youth attracts youth, so it is a comundrum. How to get them
there in droves.
Ice skating rinks have no trouble, and yes, it is largely because of TV and
the excitement it generates, and in line extreme/street/vert skating has
bloomed because of TV exposure, and because it is exciting, kids like that.
Very simple. Kids and young adults seem to really like in line skating, I
think to treat it like ice skating, make it interesting, more upbeat music,
show them the excitement of a real tango or swing music, get them to the
rinks and let them find their own style. Change the way the sport is
presented, for roller skating and roller rinks do have the reputation of
being either a hang out place for teens to listen to rock music and go
around in circles, or outdated and boring. That could change.


-Perseus