The Death Of Roller Skating In America
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ส.ค. 2024
- What's up Skate fam?
In this episode I want to talk about the potential death of roller skating in America, what it means to rink communities, and what we as skaters can do to stop it! It's not a fun topic.. in fact it's kind of heavy, but it's one that can't be ignored. Documentaries like United Skates have focused on this topic, but we can't let the discussion die if we want to prevent the death of the American roller skating rink!
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Thank you all so much for your awesome comments! This video has sparked more conversation that I expected and it’s super inspiring to see so many passionate, life long skaters who want to see the rinks survive!
All the love! It's gonna be ok...I have a master plan to get a loan and create a skate rink, biggest indoor one ever! Restaurants and bars on the side to keep the rink alive! You can do it too! Love your videos really inspire me
I've got full plans for something, too. 8 rinks in one, restaurants, 2 arcades, attached hotel for those traveling from out of town...and more. Problem is, I actually have 3 working rinks in my area, so investors see it more as "Why would you want ANOTHER rink?" I know I'd have to move to put the plan into effect and make it work. A larger city with no rink but plenty of land would be optimal, but finding a city is difficult.
Best of luck to you both! That's awesome you guys are even thinking of trying something like this!
Dude, roller skating will never die. 💯 Post COVID my rink is now open 5 days a week from only Saturday and Sunday. If you love it with a passion (like I do) find a rink and move close. Diehard skaters should all get together and start a skating rink investment fund. There is going to be TONS of industrial properties available soon - even some commercial as well that is going to be dirt cheap for conversion. Let's put it this way, if I had money, I would definitely invest. Most people just don't know how beneficial skating is physically and mentally - needs to be rebranded. 💯Stay positive!
Its a socioeconomic problem. Ur right. The ice skating rink STAYS packed. Because ice rinks are expensive and thought to be for white middle class/upper middle class.
This is the thing about roller skates.
1. More expensive than they were in the 80s.
2. Most kids do not go outside or do athletic things like kids 20yrs ago did
3. Vid games and tv is preferred by kids
4. These kids are scared of everything
5. Adults dont go to rink cause we HATE to skate with kids. All cant make it to the adult night (its hard working on ur skating when kids speedskate and fool around)
6. Rinks dont have daily specials or monthly passes for families that want to skate daily indoors
I have wondered about monthly passes for the longest! Would definitely purchase if rinks offered it.
Why must everything be interpreted as racism ? Be aware that there are countries in this world where only a very small number of black people live. I mean there too, ice skating is more common. The explanation why ice skating rinks draw more customers than roller rinks is that it hurts less when you fall on ice than when you land on concrete or wood.
Ice rinks are often hosted by ice hockey or figure skating teams that have sponsors, which protects them from going bankrupt.
I feel all those arguments are flawed except for the 1st one. For the simple fact that BMX, skateboarding and scootering are extremely popular and more so than rollerskating/blading by a margin, yet you still have to be "athletic", It can be expensive, video games and tv doesn't matter, and kids aren't scared of everything otherwise why would BMX/skating be popular?
Pricing however, is definitely an issue. Though BMX bikes are expensive too and still more popular.
@@baum7des7lebens7 racism is a global system that has influenced thr entire world directly and indirectly
L
@@baum7des7lebens7 it's not racism. It's prejudice or biased. Don't you prefer your culture over another?
My son and I would go to a rink 40 miles away every week until COVID-19 got underway. Now we don’t go there at all. I’m sad about that, and don’t currently know the status of that rink. I hope it’s still there after the pandemic. I felt I had to stop going because of the health risk as I am 74 and in the higher risk category. Now, I love practicing inline skating in my basement, but am reluctant to skate outside because I fall a lot when outside.
Get pads including a coccyx pad. I like Xion shorts. And find a public tennis/baseball/basketball court to practice on.
Yayyyy i'm here early!!! Also, skating never died and isn't coming alive. It's been a thing for our culture for a long time!!!! I am happy more people are discovering it, but let's not forget the people who have been there and have evolved it. Great Documentary to see is United Skates!!!
Edit: sorry flour your experience with the closing of your rink. You spent so much time doing so much for skating. Thank you for not giving up!!! Thanks to TikTok I can't, people are rediscovering skating (I cant believe I said that lol). I pray the rinks open up and the people flood in. We need more roller skating teams and clubs like you said. I always skate alone and would love to have a club. The question is how do we do this. I'm posting this video on many skating groups on Facebook. This is something we need to really talk about.
Where are u?
Hey, Future! Thanks for your comment!
I agree. Roller skating never died. It’s funny to me when the media grabs a surge in popularity and acts like it died and is suddenly coming back to life. Many of us have skated our entire lives and never thought anything of it. I see the same thing surrounding inline skating and all the “rollerblading is coming back!” headlines.. lol.
I have seen United Skates. It’s an EXCELLENT documentary. I can say first hand that I have seen a lot of the same discrimination happen across many rinks that I’ve traveled to. It’s a shame to me that a lot of people can’t seem to give credit to the black community for their heavy roll in the roller world. I was lucky enough to be surrounded by many talented black skaters as a kid. I learned a lot of my skills and sense of community from that crowd. I still find that sense of community and personal growth in the rinks I live near now. It’s why I’m so afraid to see them disappear.
Yep! See my comment.
I really liked that my local rink set up an adult night. It appeals to those who grew up skating and want to try it out again. We need more adult nights!
Houston has a very popular adult night on Thursday and Sunday. It works!
I agree a ton it's great that in my area there's this smaller but growing skate chain in Florida called Astro skate & all the chains have an adult night every Wednesday & sometimes even give out free passes for it on the weekends. It's a huge draw to like you said those who grew up on quads jam skating or otherwise { there's even sometimes people that have really old quads with wooden wheels..} & it gives people a chance not to worry about bumping into a kid (kind of a concern sometimes I guess) & more skilled skaters to just have fun with everything not having as many people too! It's really great I'm so thankful that some skate rinks are still booming. & I see new faces almost every week on top of older ones & my crew!
My intuition is that diversification is important right now, especially in this climate. I agree about the idea of clubs, but my local rinks are open only a few evenings a week. Rinks should have modern dance classes (socks only), yoga classes, etc during off hours. They are large enough to alleviate social distancing concerns and could attract diverse groups of active people to skating, especially if skating sessions immediately follow these sessions and admission is discounted or free for these groups.
Ryan Hewitt
This is an EXCELLENT idea!
@@DeezSkates Couldn't agree more!!
This is fantastic idea. It's similar to how
Retro Rollers Inc runs paid lessons/rollerfit with discounted/free sessions after. Areas in our province have permission now for outdoor groups with physical distancing, so they're doing rollouts once a week in our region to keep the community connected. They are using many ways as they can to bring skating to people, and it's really working.
I don't work for them, but as their customer I support them and their roller skating mission to bring it back to life.
www.retrorollers.ca is their website if you want to reach out to them. ✌😁🇨🇦
@@shimmypolkaroo That's great!
The problem is they have this giant floor space, then only advertise skating. Then the only night money is made will be in fri/sat. They could simply contract floor time for classes and events. This gets more people in the doors who could potentially also be a future customer. I've never seen roller hockey teams, events, anything really. There's just a lack of modernization, rink owners are stuck in the 80's. Maybe the liability costs are too high, or just low interest in skating. But I don't see rinks being around too far into the future.
Don’t have much to add but wanted to say thank you sharing and trying to create more awareness. I’m lucky to live in a city with a big skate culture but we almost lost the rink closest to my house last year. Community came back and saved it.
Thanks again for posting.
What a coincidence that I just came across this video after taking my 8yr old daughter skating for the first time tonight. Growing up in the rinks, working at them till about 24, I feel I have a good insight, and explained it to my daughter tonight. She has 2 older 1/2 siblings, and I learned over the past 2 years that it’s all about instant gratification, they tried skating twice over the past 2 years and hated it! It didn’t come instantly, they didn’t work for it! Life is about work and you have to work for everything you get but most parents aren’t teaching their kids to work for their entertainment, if you don’t learn how to work for your entertainment at a young age, your gonna struggle to work for anything later on. I came to this philosophy after owning powersport dealerships the past 20 years, sales have plummeted since kids want instant gratification and aren’t working for it, they try skating and feel failure since they couldn’t master it right from the beginning. Harley Davidson has the same problems! I do everything I can to make my daughter work for her fun/entertainment, she had an opinion a month ago that it would be fun, just from her brother and sister. I kept telling her how great skating is, the best memories I had are from skating, but it is tough but very rewarding with every week you skate and learn. It starts with the parents, it’s starts with them putting in the work to take them and teach them without handing them an iPad. I’m working harder then ever not just teaching it but doing it to enjoy life to its fullest, something internet can never do long term. I have never seen her more happy or more enthusiastic, she fell a ton tonight but is dying to get back asap and work hard for the pure happiness. I waited many many years to finally have a skate buddy again.
Non-figure, dance and Jam skating never truly died in the Black community. Both of these styles originated in the African American/Black community, with whites appropriating them to the point of giving themselves virtually full credit for the aesthetic. While whites mostly stopped quad skating in the late 80's/early 90s, we were increasingly pushed out by way of discrimination and racism by racist rink owners' and managers' policies (i.e., "no baggy pants...no small wheels"). As we had some influence/power in areas like Chicago and Atlanta, much of our skate culture remained strong there. On the west coast, we went (back) outside to skate, after white rink owners and gentrification closed the rinks in our communities. NOTE: Blacks first started roller skating outside because in much of the country, until after the 60s Civil Rights era, whites would not let us skate in their rinks. So Blacks skated in parking lots and sometimes in church fellowship halls, etc. Now, young, whites are again becoming interested in dance, jam, skate park, speed and derby quad skating. Because of the Black community's invisibility, it's whites that are bringing it back. Uh, huh. Ok. Welcome back. But, we never left. Let's get the history straight. Some good documentaries on the history of quad, non-figure dance and jam skating are: "United Skates,' "8 Wheels and Some Soul" & "Roller Dreamz." Good luck with the rinks.
It has always been a mystery to me that people thought skating just died and then came back out of nowhere, while life long skaters have just been involved in skating all our lives.. Of course, I would have to shake my head at the idea that anyone could believe the black culture did not create and nurture the jam skate culture even in its more dire days. All the OGs that we’re around in the early 90s when I was a kid, who taught me how to dance, were black skaters.
@@DeezSkates I appreciate that acknowledgement. Please speak to this more. We remain invisible and need your support. It will be reciprocated. Blacks need rinks as much, or more than you do, to escape the daily emotional labor of being Black in America.✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏻 You just gained a subscriber. I am a core member of two very large Facebook skating forums. Help us and we will always help you.
This video literally gave me chills & goosebumps, I miss our home rink & the memories. If the rinks close we’ll always have the streets & you know we’ll stay traveling chasing those rinks that stay standing.
-Love you Bro.
Amen Skater anthem #4 on my list.
I think you are totally right about how the rinks need to change to survive honestly I remember a time when roller hockey was in my town we had a rink that is now a ymca it’s sad to drive past it and know that building used to be a place you could skate in it was called the Wayne Gretzky center maybe the surviving skate rinks could start having roller hockey roller derby roller aerobics and roller Pilates like you said people want team or individual sports not just jam sessions however if you are having all this other stuff brining back the jam sessions and the nightly skates will only bring more business to the other profit making areas
I am from Bulgaria and I have not seen a skating ring in my life...there is no skating culture here like in USA. I start skating recently and I love it, but I realise it is very hard to learn and to progres, it involves a lot of injuries and most people give up very quickly. This is why I think there are less and less people going to the skating rings, it just much easier to spend your time with less painful activities.
There is a Roller Derby league in Sofia (I don't know how far away you live from the capital...)
For me a successful day of skating is not falling I don't push myself so hard 54 years old not worth fallen when I was twelve or thirteen I fell regularly
The costs to operate a Skating Center have changed over the years. The biggest cost is the liability insurance cost. People will sue a rink even though they know they are "skating at your own risk".
I have watched the rinks here in Cincinnati slowly disappear. I have watched as 5 rinks closed here. We still have at least 3 still operating. The rinks still operating are located in highly desirable areas and I'm sure it becomes tempting to sell and make a significant amount of money rather than struggle along with minimal attendance. One local rink added on and now includes laser tag, party rooms, various other attractions in addition to skating. Another added gymnastics. That may be the answer- expand to include additional entertainment options.
Agreed the skate chain in my local central Florida have B-day parties a dance room & an arcadeish side wall & it's doing very well me & my crew love our home rink.. So sorry you lost yours David my hearts out to you 🐺✊
Jamaal here. I know I'm more of inline thou my skills NULL. I've seen the documentary's even when XGAMES axxed Inline from it's platform. I think that's where it started to go down hill. Indoor roller rings are mainly an inner city thing, unless you live in a small community and lucky to have one. A new business model is needed and good point on others bringing in money. Even bikes have club riders but those are Uber expensive.
Maybe do some regular collabs with local skate shops and others could help. If skateboarding can linger on this long I don't see why not skating in general.
People got really attached to the rink, the rinks are mostly gone in NYC. Since most people skate inside, it's hard to get visibility. I skate outside now.
Thanks for this video! It’s true it’s becoming a lost art. Here in Ohio it’s still a big seen in some areas but not like when I was a kid when it was just huge! I’m now trying to get my kids in love with rhythm skating as I was raised to love it. I have so many good memories and I’m going to try much harder to get our youth back in!
79. Grew up skating .no more rinks .loved skating, very freeing.🕊🇺🇲💕
Hey man I am a new subscriber and I am not quite sure where you are from but I am in Northern Illinois and skating in my area is on fire!!! We have about 8 area rinks that we travel around to. I personally skate 5 or 6 days a week at different rinks. All of the rinks share their jam skate times so they don't compete with one another. Groups of us travel. I travel 2 hours to get to a couple of these rinks. And the kids are plentiful, some sessions are so packed with kids you can hardly get your groove on. If you are ever in Northern Illinois or Southern Wisconsin you really need to hit up a rink called Star (in Racine Wisconsin) on a Sunday night session. We did have one really large rink called Orbit in Palatine Illinois close last year because of high property taxes but we have others that are booming (remodeling and thriving). Oh and by the way I found you through the snake video (your video is the one that clicked with me) really fun move thanks.
I live in Dallas now. There is a huge skate culture and lots of rinks here. I’m just sad that so many rural areas are losing their rinks. And some cities still lose them as well. NYC has no roller rinks left.
I started last year to learn to ice skate during winter, when they take ice off, they allow people to in-line & roller skate 3 days a week. Our roller rink, shut down awhile ago, now two ladies opened up a new one. For me I need available times & affordable & classes-too would help. Ian just learnig, but would like to add roller skating sometime.
There are a lot of things about American society that work against skating (and other physical activities for that matter).
First is hyper-toxic individualism. Americans hate paying for other people's things, even when they're included with the "other." We see this in how we are one of the richest countries in the world that doesn't provide health care for its citizens.
Second, is a lack of personal responsibility, which should run counter to the first point, but if you've lived here, you should be aware of the dichotomy. Because of this we are an incredibly litigious society, and that's related to the first point. We don't take care of each other, so when something bad happens like an injury, we just want to look for someone to blame or put the squeeze on.
These two points means that to run a business like a skate rink, skate park, martial arts dojo, etc, you have to carry economically-oppressive liability insurance, for when (not if) someone injures themselves at your business. Combine that with the other things you mentioned - property taxes, property costs, etc...
If we lived in a country that provided health care and proper social safety nets to all its citizens, then those businesses would be not only thriving, but more would spark up. So many Americans are locked into a miserable job they don't like because they need the benefits package their employer provides (assuming they even have that!). We need to fight for the kinds of benefits that other smaller countries with smaller economies provide for their citizens. We've heard the propaganda, that "America is a land of opportunity." Yet other countries are far more supportive of small business owners. I'd LOVE to establish a skate school (you know, once this whole global pandemic thing is over). But to pay for my liability insurance and health insurance would mean charging far more than what I would be comfortable with.
In the meantime, I think an organization needs to be formed (assuming it doesn't exist already) to help preserve and help maintain skating rink businesses, and encourage cities to build more amenities like smooth-paved trails, outdoor hockey rinks, and pump tracks.
I love your video. I left skating for a few years and returned. That was 10 years ago. Growing up in California I skated all the time. Moved to San Diego in the 90s skated their on Mission Bay to PB. Moved to LA, skated Moonlight in Glendale & Venice Ca. Moved to Wisconsin and now skating the rink here. It's very sad to see rinks closing. After Covid maybe we'll have a resurgence of rinks re-opening. People all over are skating now, I do custom apparel and embroidery, promo items for a roller rink and a roller skating coach that travels all over Southern California. A few months ago you couldn't get outdoor wheels, slowly their (wheels) have been restocked again. I know the rink in LA is really helping out with the coaching staff with rentals and parts for the outdoor skaters. People have headed outdoors now but we all love the rinks. - note....
Many kids now are taking up skating.
I pray skating returns like it did in the 70s & I'm sure it will. I taught all of my nieces how to skate and it was a wonderful thing to watch them grow as skaters because that's what it's all about family and great times. Please have a look at the video I did for our(their) journey! th-cam.com/video/wmAm18CBTRA/w-d-xo.html
I subscribed to your channel and can't wait for your next one!
Best,
Greg
I can't even think about losing my home rink I'm so very sorry that you lost yours, & people are losing theirs. Love you man keep up the great work & thks for bringing this to light a bit clearer. 🐺
Thanks Fam. I hope your rink thrives and you never have to go through losing it. Keep close to your skate fam. 🐺
@@DeezSkates Thank you, I'm not sure what I'd do if I lost my skating domain. Will do my crew & I are already getting back at it. (╯*-*）╯︵ ┻━┻ stay safe hope some of the Texas rinks start opening up soon.🐺
Most of them are already open and running at half max capacity.
Great video, well stated. I live in the Metro Vancouver area of British Columbia in Canada. At one time here we had a chain of three roller rinks, the Stardust Roller Rinks, we also had Roller Land and a couple of ice rinks that would allow roller skating in the summer months. We also had rinks just across the border in Lynden Wa. and Birch Bay Wa. Currently the Lynden rink and Roller Land are all that really survive, with a small rink at an amusement center. We also now have a couple recreation centers that have started allowing daytime sessions one day a week. We had a large family of skaters, we still keep in touch, those that are still around. Part of the problem has been a declining attendance as we raised our families and life got in the way, and the obscene increase in land values that have made owning a rink unprofitable. Our home rink, the Stardust in Surrey BC was closed a few years ago and a 50 story tower is being built on the land. Some of us skate in good weather on roads, tennis courts and basketball courts. I don't totally know what the answer is yet. I competed in pairs dance skating, skated on a demonstration team for the Stardust rinks, and I skated at the rinks five days a week, which was all they were open. I met my wife at the rink and taught my kids to skate there. Skating has been a big part of my life for 50 years this year, I don't want to see it fade away.
David, We recently chatted about re-finding our love for the rink. I think this was a great follow up video to that convo we had on my page. I have 3 things Id like to say here. 1 Advertising & Marketing There is a MAJOR lack of advertisement in the quad culture. The reason some brands have been so successful over the last decade is their marketing is on point, while OG companies sit way side and expect their old fans to push the products. There is little to no marketing in the equipment end and the rink end lacks as well. There's rinks in my state that have been here my whole life and I never knew. 2. I agree with the point group events promote community. but this also ties in with the advertising. HAve classes , have shuffle groups, have jam skate groups.. but if no one knows about them they cant get involved and in that Ive seen things be planned on a whim and not be advertised and they are upset when only 1 or 2 people sign up or show up. - So lot and lot of stuff going on but also marketed to the area through radio or TV or better means of reaching people then a panel of flyers to grab as you go out the door. 3. My biggest problem I see. The groups are not super welcoming esp to newbs and Ive seen plenty of times and experienced it myself. Newbs often time come for advice thats been given 1000 times and the people are rude about it often times putting a bad taste or bad experience on someone who was looking for info. People forget we all started somewhere and are quick to be rude. Ive seen ALOT of people who woulda been additions to the community be shunned away with rudeness over some topic they are trying to learn about. Cant grow if your rude to all the new people. A fix... Im not sure either, Ive actually taken a step back myself over the last month or so and am evaluating where i wanna be in the community. I dont do drama so it takes the enjoyment of the culture away . I enjoy your video and thanks for bringing up a tough subject.
Well thought out.
Just found your channel, grew up in the 90's with my dad taking my brother and i roller skating almost every weekend. Didn't really skate too much in College but recently got back into it! I'm so lucky that the place is still open.
I miss my old rink too, we’ve lost all of them in Syracuse ny a long time ago but there were still a couple left about 30 miles away so we would definitely go until Covid put them out of business, but on a happier note one rink is being built in Liverpool ny and should open in early November, very excited for this and who is opening it is the daughter of the family of my old original rink, again beyond stoked for this, guaranteed to be there on opening night, it is a great way to blow off some steam and get an old school train going, I’d imagine they will be forced to charge a lot more to try and make money but I don’t care, I just want to skate.I hope really rinks make a turn around, we need them, the communities need them. God bless.
You gave me courage to buy purple quads. I could see your passion and I’m glad to be following someone so passionate.
💜💜💜
My hometown rink is the Rollerdrome in Centralia WA and it’s one of the only ones I knew of before the pandemic that was always packed with lines around the corner to get in. It’s the second oldest rink in the country but so well maintained. The owners care so much! The programs you talked about still thrive there and are appreciated! Since their closure I am one of a handful of skaters that skate outside in our community even though the rink brought in so many people. If it were to close the skate culture wouldn’t be in our community but I’m trying to think of ways to get people outside skating!
great discussion!! This closing of roller rinks started in nyc decades ago, by the creed of mega developers, wanting land, specially for luxury condos. I started skating outdoors as a kid and had to remain an outdoor skater as an adult. I knew I was missing that group local love that rinks had when I traveled far into other towns and nearby states to skate indoors.
With Covid-19 hitting nyc so hard, I was home over 2 months and finally started to gain some sanity and exercise by slowly going back to skating outdoors. skating outdoors(easy to social distance) has really helped me try to get through these hard times, bringing me some joy and love for people and life. The virus has changed the game for nyc and wanting to live, work and be so overly populated. This could be a good thing for skating, that needs large square footage. I'm not sure if nyc has any spaces left for skating rinks to emerge again but other towns, as long as developers don't rebuild completely, you never know, everything comes back, maybe in a different form rinks may resurface some time in the near future...
I don't know much about how it works bc I'm a foreigner but in Germany it seems to be normal to have a club/special interest group called "verein" that does pretty much what you describe. For example in Berlin the skateboard verein runs the indoor skatepark, works with the city to get stuff done at skateparks, etc. I think it costs like $20/year to be a member and then you get a special night at the skatepark, and they use that money to do what i just described. Sounds like that's the kind of thing you'd like to see in a skating rink.
I started last year to learn to ice skate during winter, when they take ice off, they allow people to in-line & roller skate 3 days a week. Our roller rink, shut down awhile ago, now two ladies opened up a new one. For me I need available times & affordable & classes-too would help.
we still have 2 rinks here in Kansas if you ever get up this way - sk8away.net/ and Starlite Skate Center
Sk8away used to be the main starlight and now it's sk8away, I feel it's the better of the two. Also, before covid, sk8away was/is usually packed on friday and saturday nights, so I guess we're rather lucky..
I thought about your video for a long time after viewing it. Your passion for skating, your story of how it shaped your childhood and life, and your generosity with teaching us how to skate well are all inspiring and beautiful. I taught myself to inline skate when I was 22 by mimicking the movements of ice hockey players on tv. I wish I had your videos on the differences between skating on inline vs quads vs ice skates back then because I really took some nasty falls lol but that was waaay before TH-cam. Fast forward 30 years (gah I'm old), two children, and a lifetime of sports later, I recently bought myself some Macroblade triskates 100mm because I missed skating so much. I can still skate well but am having difficulty stopping and doing the turns and power stops. Maybe it's because I learned on the small four-wheeled Rollerblades of yesteryear. Maybe it's because I can't find anywhere decent to skate near me other than bumpy parking lots (I live in Santa Fe, NM). But I will try to support skating rinks as much as I can and continue to skate thanks to your presence here. Thank you for making your wonderful videos and please keep your content coming. I really appreciate it.
Those video are usefull!! Thanks heaps, you bring me back in old school trough the new school.. So much sensation under the feet and so much moove to do 👌 will never stop
A lot of the rinks are pricing themselves out of business and also don’t take care of the rink as well, so when you go skating and pay an arm and a leg just to get in then another 4-5dollars for skate rentals then, To get a coke is 3dollars and a slice of pizza is 3 dollars, and then on top of that most of the arcade games don’t work and the skate floor hasn’t been swept in months, the rental skates haven’t been maintained in years , you get gum on your wheels but y’all get the point if your gonna charge that much for everything and then people pay it to get in everything should be ran well and maintained/clean and when it’s not people don’t come back I get everything has went up in price so you gotta charge a little more but a small coffee cup of drink for 3dollars I mean come on people, I’m like you I grew up at the rink every Friday and Saturday night and still love to take my kids skating but every time we go what I stated above holds true. I think the owners should take a little more care or pride in their rinks instead of using them to the point of negligence until their so bad they end up closing down!! Sad times in America
It's so sad, but it just not profitable to build a new rink these days (No floor supports construction VERY expensive!) . The old ones are closing slowly, almost no one can justify replacing a floor ( $75K to $1 million) so it a slow death. I know a lot of rink owners here in California. Even if others were to invest in NEW rinks, the margins are so small it could force out nearby existing rinks. We had one indoor rink left here in San Diego 4 years back and the city wanted to close it and build a BIGBOX store because it would bring in more tax money! They lost that battle, the rink stayed, but not by much. The business model is unstainable, property that is close to a large city is just too expensive now. Basically any rink business that's leasing the property is screwed sooner or later. Great video, but only 5K views and the only one addressing the problem. This is the state of roller skating, just not enough interest to keep it alive or pay the price to do so.
I lost my skating rink in California
There's an abandoned rink in Chiang Mai Thailand. I'm trying to get my arms around what gave rise and subsequent fall in popularity, a style of music? Economy? Seems like there's nothing for kids between 14 and 19 until they start going to bars. I started going in 1981. It was the tail end of the disco craze, it was a natural progression beyond bowling with your 12 year old buds. I was 14 I guess. Upskate NY in Newburgh NY. Why are rinks closing down? I'm looking to do a new rink. I think if we build it they will come. There's really nothing else for young people to do.
I live in a city that used to have a beautiful roller skating rink; smooth floors, good music, good location, large space. Then, two years ago it closed down. I was very surprised because it was always really full. Sadly the place was converted into a trampoline park. A previously closed down small skating rink with somewhat dangerous uneven floors was reopened, and that is what we have access to now. I have to support this roller rink even if it’s not in the best shape, but I always think about the other skating place and I miss it so much. I think about all of the kids, especially the ones with advanced skills, that used to skate in the nice roller rink, and wonder if they gave up because now they don’t have a good roller skating place.
Maybe taxes and maintenance costs end up burying rinks. Owners get what they can out of the business and after that big roof leak that destroys the floor and they collect the insurance payout and shut the doors.
Thats so sad. We dont have rollerblading rinks here (im not from the us, maybe its just not common here + i live in a really small town), but we always used to skate outside. I just started skating again a few weeks ago and love it. Now i try to get my friends to skate with me (they used to skate as well but stopped eventually) and sometimes we meet now to skate together :) its so sad that people think that they are to too old to do this. If you like it, just do it and you will eventually get on your old level or even better. Its fun and not a competition ☺️ Have fun :)
Smiles it brings nothing but smiles I got them their crossfires love them thanks for the advice I'm going to be 64 this year and my whole life is like a roar peace to you my friend
One think that is detrimental roller skating rinks is the horrible counter clockwise direction. Really folks, there should be equal time clockwise and counter clockwise skating. (Why I stopped group rink skating)
Ha ha ha, I wondered if any rinks ever switched the directions. They could easily solve it with an LED sign.
Once I started inline skating after years of ice skating I found learning right turn crossovers extremely hard because I've basically never needed to do them. The whole movement is extremely alien to me.
I personally enjoy skating outdoors..the skating rink was too cramped for me...id like to find more skaters in my area to roll with and build skills and community together....i hope all of you are enjoying your skating and building your skills with those who share the same love for skating...Cheers
Maybe the rinks could partner with party rental companies and catering companies to be a pseudo Hall or wedding venue. I know many are doing dance. Perhaps add safe mirrors and have a dance teacher. Add wifi and plugs and a real espresso machine to offer a place to internet and work. Have setups for indoor horseshoe tournaments. Host video game tournaments. There must be a lot of ways to use these spaces, and still be able to convert to skate fairly quickly.
Wisconsin Skate University is gone on 27 th and College on the South Side of Milwaukee. That's were my mom and I as a child in 80's my mom and I would skate there and she would drop me off in her car at Skate U when I was 12 years old such great memories at the original Skate U on 27 and College like I said before great fun memories.
Sorry for you losing the rinks around you. I have never heard of this in other countries. Were/are skating rinks a thing on other countries as well?
Apart from that, thanks for your great videos and content! You are really talented!
Marcelo Madeira
There are skating rinks in other countries, but in America the rink is a different symbol of peace and hope for people who struggle and have less. It’s an icon here, especially in the black communities.
On the bright side, since the whole state of the world right now, outdoor skates have sold out pretty much everywhere! The future of indoor skating is sketchy, but...there is a chance of going back to the 60's and 70's - with larger outdoor skate communities popping up around the globe.
I'm very fortunate in that I've got 3 rinks near me. One refuses to play any song older than 5 years or so. Not a lot of people go to that rink any more. The one closest to me will play almost anything...and always has a crowd. The 3rd is more...gimmick-y. It's not just a rink, they also have a huge, 3 or 4 story play area, laser tag, etc. and a pizza buffet certain nights. However, at $15 per person, it's too expensive for most. With a family of 7 - plus my children's significant others, etc. It would cost us $180 JUST to get in the door. Granted, the pizza buffet IS all you can eat and drink...but a 3 hour session for $180? It's just not worth it.
I do think rinks need SOME sort of gimmick, but they won't hear it. I'd love to see rinks doing Friday or Saturday theme nights - 60's Night one week, maybe 80's the next, a whole night of *mostly* Michal Jackson's music, Rihanna, K-Pop, Disco....whatever. Costumes encouraged...maybe even a discount if you're dressed for the night (lots of neon for 80's night, bell bottoms and "flowy" shirts or peace sign jewelry for 60's night...a Michael Jackson t-shirt - or just a sparkly glove and red, zippered, jacket - for that night, etc.
We had one adult night at one of the local rinks. The advertisement for it was a single, 1/4 sheet cut from an 8 x 10" plain white computer paper, tacked up along with a million other "ads" and the rink rules. NO announcements about it during any of the sessions, no radio or tv ads (though that is understandable as they really couldn't afford that). When only 30 people showed up, the manager said "No more." It takes time for word of mouth to spread!
Another rink had an 80's/90's theme night for adults. It was PACKED. So much so that the rink actually ran out of adult-sized rental skates and there was still a line all the way around the building. People had to skate in shifts. As soon as 2 or 3 people would leave, they'd let another 2 or 3 in. They planned on doing them once a month. Sadly, they did their first one in MARCH. So, yeah, unfortunately, but April, everything was closed. :( Hoping they start back up again with that as that rink reopens this Friday, but for now, it's not possible as there will be a very limited number of skaters allowed in the building at a time for now.
I was trying to get a "Skate School" off the ground before everything shut down. Going through everything from "What skates should I buy?" (DON'T get $30 skates as an adult!!! LOL) through ways to save for skates, proper maintenance, even up to ways to customize your skates with fun add-ons (lights, Shwings, etc.) as well as how to dye wheels, nylon plates, and more. It was meant to be a 22 week "course" where people could pay for the whole course (at a discount) or just come to - and pay for - each "class" individually if there were topics they didn't need/weren't interested in. One of the managers was going to talk about it with the owner, but - of course - I came up with the idea a bit too late (early March) so it never got off the ground. Maybe once things are fully back to normal? I don't know.
Anyway, it's all just a mess. Right now especially.
Everyone is so sad when a rink closes, but are quick to point out "I hadn't been there in X years." Well...if you don't go...if you don't take your own kids...or grandkids...obviously the rinks are going to have to close with no one coming in the doors. Throw in this whole virus thing...it's a disaster waiting to happen. Many rinks are closing due to that lack of revenue right now. :(
Geez...sorry this was so long, but I am very passionate about skating. Just wish I had more friends/family who were. I do try to drag as many people as possible every time I skate, but of course, usually it's just me and my youngest and - maybe - her boyfriend or one of her school friends (often who've never skated before, so they're scared to even get on the rink in the first place.) Kids/teens just don't skate - at the rinks - like they used to. :(
This made me sad. I was a competitive artistic roller skater back in the early 70s. Rinks have closed everywhere. Artistic roller skating (like ice figure skating) has pretty much died in America. I've been looking for videos to watch of current skaters and there aren't many. Watching the US Nationals from a couple years ago (I don't know if they held them this year??) and for those competitors still doing it ... well the quality of the skating is terrible. I'm sure this is related to fewer rinks, fewer teachers, fewer role models. However, the Italians and other European skaters are still killing it! They are really really talented and skilled. Right on a par with current ice figure skaters in my opinion. I wish US roller skating would come back, but I just don't think it will. Kids today, people in general, seem to be super lazy and do not want to do much physical activity. You're right, Deez Skates, it was a safe space for kids and families. I had great friends growing up with my skating club family.
They may not like us, but as long as hockey and figure skating is alive, rollerblading/skating will always exist. Without them, we would already be nonexistent
I grew up skating at Empire need I say more, when they closed I was shocked it should have been made a land mark. The site is now a storage center what a waste I miss the people who I skated with I'm still looking for some place to skate in the NYC area I still have my skates I will skate at Prospect park this summer keep rollin and hope for the best eight wheel drive lives on.
Is there still a Rink in Elmont Queens?
And after injury healed,. I was back skating!!
I would always go to skating rinks in Youngstown Ohio 😔why is it ending everywhere 😔
As a kid my mom loved roller derby.
I am lucky enough to have a home rink that is still active in Northen Virginia. I have been taking my childern there since I bought them their first skates when they turned 6 and 8. I try to go at a minimum of every other week and have been missing it since "The Covid Conundrom" I have however seen many rinks close and the one I grew up going to when I was a kid in New Jersey has long since closed. It is truly a shame that skating seems to have fallen out of favor in the US. I travel several times a year to Asia, specifily Taiwan and Japan and skating is much more popular there. I have taken my inlines with me on my past two trips and have found several outside, well maintained and utilized rinks to skate at. I just hope that other dads have done as I have and introduced there kids to skating. My hope is that my kids stay active and someday we can intoduce skating to my the grandkids. Thanks for the video...and all the ones previous...keep up the fight...It's a worthy battle!
Death of roller skating. All the law suits. Simple . Insurance to cover these were astronomical! I broke my ankle ,skating, rink, Never, sued!
I don't really know about the history, but when I skate outdoors, people ask me where I how long I've been skating and how where I got skates from. I think it's a visibility thing.
Rinks are struggling in Australia as well. Many are for sale and with covid restrictions its been really hard on them. I almost feel like the local councils should step in and make some of them not for profit. Skating is good for many aspects of life. Physical, mental, social... I couldn't stand to be without rink near by 😢
I know it can kill you but when I overcome my fear and try it my parents start yelling at me 😓😭
Here in Atlanta there are a number of rinks and I think they do alright business, but maybe more could be done. I read/seen different sources saying skate retailers are selling like crazy because people are looking for home activities during covid. With that and the increased skate community presence on social media, do you think this is a chance to grow the skate community? Maybe we had better strike while the iron is hot!
We're pretty lucky here in KC to have multiple rinks all over the metro with all skates and adult nights. Also doing well with strong jam and derby scenes, and plenty of ice skating as well. Now, inline street skating... I only know of one guy other than myself. I know that can't be accurate, but we're still fighting the "uncool" factor here. Tbh, the only other time I see serious inline skaters is at the adult nights at the rinks.
I grew up riding a Snakeboard. Was happiest time in my childhood! That sport is also dead right now. Feel so sad!
I worry every day my rinks gonna be next. It's depressing to see. Growing up my neighbor owned our local rink, I literally grew up there and it used to have so much life! I think there is a way to make skating profitable again, but the rink owners will have to either completely overhaul and take accountability for a lot of things, or hand their businesses over to someone who will. Many of them probably don't have the money to change up, even if they want to.
Jacks skateland in fortsmith arkansas. It’s an amazing rink and I personally go every Friday, I enjoy speed skating. It helps with my mental health and it’s just an amazing sport. If anyone has the chance you should definitely go
It’s not dying in the 918… we’re going to keep it going! 😉
I’m business savvy 🙂
my EU homie recently got me into skating its a real joy but hard to find people in my area that also do it
Where can we get some old rink skates not crazy priced
Ty for all you info I looking to build a pair skates speed/ freestyle. What do you Recommend I like the short boo choirs gates been skating since about 12 years old 45 now
Sigh. Same thing happened to all the rinks and skating culture in Australia... only it happened 25 years ago. Look back with fondness for what it was. Angst and grief won't bring it back. You've got to let it go, before it becomes acid in your blood.
Just found your channel, I'm worried about the rinks near me, too. There's still some jam skate culture and regulars but Covid-19 might take its toll.
I really agree it's died for a while quad especially, BUT Inline skating is growing & coming back like a vengeance & with that quad is slowly getting some more people & rinks are getting a ton of action from both inline & quad! & amazing people like you show them just how much you can do on both inline & quad skates! So recently I've noticed it a lot that people are trying quad after trying inlines, & deciding to keep both & use both! quad for jaming/dance & inlines for the races & speedier cruises. & most of that I see in my local rinks that are expanding & slowly but surely getting more skating rinks across Florida!
Yes! I love that the skate scene has started to grow more since the economic problems have started to occur. I hope it keeps growing. I know as a creator this is the time I need to be promoting it most and trying to keep the sense of togetherness strong in the community. Thanks for your awesome words and your support, Wolfie. 🐺
@@DeezSkates You're welcome skate brother I'm really glad I can be here & some kind of help, & I'm happy that the feeling of togetherness is being brought out even more during these times of uncertainty. Thank you for being here. as always when in doubt skate it out! 🐺 for real I appreciate you brother. keep on keeping on 🤛
I was there at the Texarkana rink back in the early 90's 91-94. We would travel over an hour from Mt pleasant. We went once a month because we couldn't afford to go more often. Our home rink was in MtPleasant and Gilmer we were there every Friday/sat and then travel once a month to other rinks from Dallas to Texarkana and Paris south to Tyler. The group of guys that were there in the 90's were awesome shuffle skaters and after my first visit I got a pair of low cut boots just like them. I've been outta east Texas for many years but I know through the grapevine that all those old rinks have closed. Sad yes, but there's rinks that still have life and heart pumping through them. You mentioned rinks are like church and religion and I've used the same analogy. But you have to make people want to come inside the church and practice it with you. I find that by skating outside is the best way to remind people of the skating rink. Plus it's hot in popular culture at the moment even without derby. Park, street, aggressive, dance. Come to Houston and look me up, I will show ya the city on wheels!
If you were in Txk those years, there is a good chance I skated with you or even learned some moves from you! 😁 Cheers fam. Thank you so much for your heartfelt input!
@@DeezSkates you probably would've learned from my dad. He was the only guy who was doing a two-step/waltz couple skate style.
Tee King
I probably learned how to do that from him! 💜
Если тебе действительно нравится что-либо то это нормально пытаться завлекать в это людей,ты непроизвольно пытаешься поделиться своим счастьем. Но правда в том,что формирование пусть и небольшого, тесного, но искреннего коммьюнити важнее ,нежели пытаться вовлечь изначально незаинтересованную массу. Потому что подавляющему большинство людей суждено быть жертвами маркетинга и навязанной моды - скейтбординг,велосипеды,бег - я про это. Я могу понять твои расстроенные чувства,о том что раньше было объективно больше вовлеченных людей нежели сейчас,но сейчас среди оставшихся исключительно искренне любящие это люди,и соответственно более счастливые - это однозначно самое главное.
Great channel!
Everyone out here and their rinks are closing or shutting down imagine not even having a rink though. I got skates from my dad in like 2011 and i could only use the smooth bits of parks (there were alot though i have to say) to try and skate for speed. It was very helpful to actually be forced to go skate and use the bumpy roads and surfaces and try be fast on those surfaces. if i had a skate rink close to me i would have loved life alot more.
So true about skating outside. I was already skating outside for years before the rink closed, but it sucked because the rink is home to so many.
What brand of boot, chassis/plate, wheels, and stop is that at @6:43 ? Please give me FULL details
Unfortunately, I don’t know the specs of that skate. It was one of the free rentals available at the rink that managed to survive in decent condition.
Lets see...1. Today i sprained my wrist falling down rollerskating 2.i slamed into the wall 3.i guy also slamed into me rollerskating and thats 2 times bonus after i slamed in the wall💀
It’ll pick back up. It just needs the right management.
Social media, internet and video games have made upcoming generations lazy and unproductive. When we were kids not having those things allowed you to venture off outdoors for fun and excitement like going to the rink every Saturday afternoon. More and more drinks are closing because of that and those who use to skate feel like they too old to pick it back up. Now I will say rinks in cities that provide an adult's only urban night are jam packed. Also I believe once in line skates came out it become the fav over quads which is all the rinks provide.
This is sad
Most of the rinks in Melbourne Australia shut down decades ago. The few that are left were doing quite well but I'm worried that Covid will kill them. Fingers crossed that the ones closest to me survive...
The Aussie Inline Skater is a good friend of mine. He keeps me informed on what the rink culture there is like, as much as possible. I hope that Australia can manage to hang on to it. Sounds like you guys have done a good job of keeping the levels of sickness low and hopefully that will be to the benefit of your rinks.
@@DeezSkates Yes I'm hoping they will reopen the "local" (20 mins drive) rink on the 22nd of this month. My kids are itching to skate and missing their weekly open sessions and speed skating classes. I guess it will be a pre-book session arrangement so it may be difficult due to max # ppl restrictions.
I'm with you there bud. Its such a happy place
Rydel's yeah
I like your story
I've been wanting to open a rink in the town I live for at 15 years now. Have you checked with rsroa organization?
I believe rinks are coming back! In the erea that we live out rink is alive!!!
Its just roller skating rink mostly are outdated, like your typical granmas hang out place. Now who in the right mind especially youth want to tell their own stories lik, "Hey guys check it out dude I hang out to the outdated building roller rink where our granma and granpa had dated" Friends be like ," What... Eugh!" Business like cafe . example starbucks , coffee beans etc where the trend of the young ones but the owners save money to renovate for the taste of the new generation. Now our skating rink what good to the eye had changed , probably nothing. For me, I dont know merge a cute cafe or coffee shop like they do in frys and the place looks like it has class and a good place to hangout, can see you and your woman in there chilling having a good conversationbut make sure it looks like a class type cofee shop. I dont know i am not a busines man but that is the one thing that I had noticed that businesses did that it gets more customers.
Just like the CD killed vinyl technology is destroying lives people would rather play a video game the go out and have fun and the powers that b that charge an absolutely ridiculous price for insurance and taxes and make it so hard to actually have a business have a lot to answer for
I 50:50. I skate every other day (given the weather is good).
Kids would rather be on phones and tablets than get on skates.
It's also a matter of changing parental/societal attitudes. Lots of worries about safety. As a kid/teen it's easier to be on the phone because then at least your parents and the neighbors aren't breathing down your neck.
" Well, how did we get here?" as the Talking Heads song goes.
The skating rink culture is dying for the same reason the rest of anything natural and human is because we are being replaced with machines.
Ever since the internet took over we have lost much of our social community skills and places to be together and do stuff.
I think we're talking about the death of the middle class because it's being killed by the ruling class. They don't need laborers anymore or people working hard to have a better life so they don't need the culture of bowling and skating and all the rest.
I think we need to have a total social reset. We must find the others in our city, county, state, nation and world who share our interest like in roller skating and to co-create a cooperative culture built from the ground up with a governing council based on the leaders of small groups like roller skating clubs.
I'm sorry but the majority of people are just consumers of whatever and when it stops being promoted to them they move on to the next fad.
We have to face that it was fake how our larger communities were held together - via media psycho-social mind control.
It's probably more similar than not as to why both churches and skating rinks are empty today often.
We need to switch over to cooperative systems as a counter to this soulless corporate government crap of today.
Whether it's being a TH-camr or small business, we have to now manage the whole culture around those things since there is no place for us in the big plans of environmentalism which is about reducing humanity in population and by making us robots.
Thanks for the thought out comment. I always appreciate reading in depth perspective from viewers.
Personally, it’s funny for me to look back at this video because not long after I made it, the events of 2020 really came to a head, which skyrocketed interest in skating from many directions. Now it’s more popular than it’s been for nearly 3 decades. And people are building new things within it. Just goes to show how fast it can all change when you least expect it.
Hey don't worry it's still live in Poland. Roller derby still is popular. Take care Bud ;)
The classic eh...start le camera and...*exhale*
😅🤣
it seems covid19 is making closures accelerate a bit
Sadly, I think you’re right. This was my first thought when businesses began to close down.. “What will happen to the rinks?”
Lace Up & "Save The Rinks" Tee shirts And Merch. Just An Idea .
Sadly, everything is a new fad.
No they closed that was my last chance.
Miss the dope Crib
Coaches would be present if there were competitions that provided "value" and "worth" to the sport and therefore investment of time and money, hence revenue. People need to see excellence in rollerskating as something attainable and desirable, rather than a retro hobby or trend to accomplish what you are talking about.
Rebecca Cossa
Yes. That’s very true.
My skating rink I used to slide at closed as well lots of them all over I always loved the roller rink and skating that was like the Club before you were grown lol
Im doing my best by show off around the streets of my city with my rollerblades :,)