USRS Celebrates National Roller Skating Month

According to USA Roller Sports, October is National Roller Skating Month.

A message on the website includes the note, “Please help support the National Museum of Roller Skating during their month-long fundraiser by visiting www.rollerskatingmuseum.com and clicking "donate now". All proceeds benefit the museum. Thank you for your vital support.”

According to the Roller Skating Association International, October has been National Roller Skating Month (NRSM) since President Reagan declared it in 1983. During the month of October individuals, instructors and over 1000 rink members of the Roller Skating Association International(RSA) promote roller skating with an annual marketing campaign designed to remind families that safe fitness and fun activities are right around the corner at every local roller skating center.

Today, computers, video game consoles and digital TV are a way of life for most children and adults. Almost everyone needs additional physical activity and can work toward a more healthy lifestyle by adding roller sports into the social or training mix. Studies show that inline or roller skating is equivalent to jogging in calories burned and fat reduction. Roller skating centers have partnered with The President’s Challenge Program and Let’s Move with the mission of keeping kids active and healthy in a safe environment. 

Outdoor skaters can take advantage of this month to make a welcome transition to indoor skating for the Winter months. And those who are lucky enough to have year-round skating temperature can consider using a skating facility during moist rainy seasons and heat waves. There is always a climate controlled skating rink somewhere beckoning you.

Roller Sports Have a Rich History

The history of quad roller skates and the history of inline skating equipment is interesting and has resulted in many options for skaters. Roller skating has been a popular fitness activity for over 75 years and many adults are returning to roller sports. These adults now bring their children to enjoy one of their favorite activities together as a family. 

There are a lot of different inline disciplines and quad skating styles to choose from including inline speed, roller hockey on quads and inlines, artistic skating on quads and inlines and jam skating. The recent growth of adult rhythm or freestyle skating and the amazing rise in popularity of roller derby is helping many roller skating centers open or re-open their doors to accommodate the new and returning skaters.

Famous Athletes Were Roller Skaters: 
Many famous athletes in various sports got off to a good start by roller skating. NBA 2004 Slam Dunk Champion, Fred Jones, admits that roller skating helped strengthen his leg muscles and contributed to his successful college basketball career at Oregon and a spot on the Indiana Pacers team. Olympic Gold Medal speed skater Chad Hedrick began his career on roller skates before switching to ice skates to compete in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Olympic speed skater Apollo Ohno also started competing in inline speed skating before switching to ice blades to compete in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. And many more roller sports participants have found fame in recent years. 

Super Stars Love to Skate: There are celebrities and superstars who enjoy roller sports, too. Grammy winner and pop music star Beyonce Knowles hosted her 21st birthday party at a roller skating center in Atlanta, Georgia and recently laced up some skates at H-Town’s FunPlex Entertainment in Houston, Texas, the shooting location for her “Blow” video. Little Bow Wow, Mike Epps and Jurnee Smollett are all roller skating enthusiasts and starred in the rhythm skating movie, “Roll Bounce.” Missy Elliot and Ciara both featured roller skating in their music videos, and the Matchbox 20 musicians shot one of their videos skating on quad skates in a skating center. Janet Jackson and Kim Bassinger also throw star-studded birthday parties at a skating center in California. Justin Bieber has been seen at a rink showing off his best roller skating moves on quads.

Roller skating centers provide exercise, entertainment, fun and competitive activities for inline and quad skaters of all ages. National Roller Skating Month is a reminder to potential skaters and skate families to take a look at roller sports by visiting a roller skating center.

The RSA is a non-profit trade association that represents skating rink owner/operators, roller sports instructors, skating judges, skate manufacturers, equipment suppliers and coaches. This association represents skating centers internationally.