The pandemic has led to changes in many aspects of our lives. It appears to have nudged us towards rethinking many things, including how the simpler things bring the most pleasure.
Roller skating, a hobby from the '80s, speaks of a time where things were simple. Now that lockdown rules have eased, will you go to the spots that you know will have many people or will you revisit the 1980s and enjoy a fad from the past?
Truth be told if you take your roller skating or rollerblading fascination to the indoor skating rink, you might find that you will still have enough pictures to share with your followers on Instagram plus you will have oodles of fun too. A roller skating rink is not necessarily the place where most of your friends usually frequent but why do you need to go where everyone else is going?
Perhaps you can make hype a fascination from the 80s!
Will you skate to the '80s hit song, "I Will Survive," at your local ice skating rink?
What does indoor skating entail?
Most indoor skating happens at a roller rink. The roller rink is a hard yet smooth surface that was specifically made so skaters could be able to skate. This means that all skating rinks are regularly maintained and well looked after.
How Outdoor Skating Differs From Indoor Skating?
Let's start off by saying it does matter what type of skates you have. While many people use the same skates for skating both indoors and out, it is best to know the difference between outdoor and indoor skating before you make up your mind.
Do you have a pair of skates? Did you do research before buying your skates?
A simple rule of thumb is to remember that indoor skating rinks offer smoother yet hard floors which require you to invest in a pair of skates with wheels that are harder so that you can roll faster.
When skating outdoors at a skate park, you require softer wheels for your skate as you skate on a paved path that may require more grip from you.
Let's further explore the differences between indoor skating and outdoor skating:
To Skate Indoors
- Invest in quads rather than inline skates
- The skating surface is harder yet smoother and tends to be maintained always
- Quads are the skate for dancing too so you can't go wrong hosting a disco or party indoors
- When skating indoors, you can skate with a partner
- You can visit an indoor skating rink in all weather conditions
- There is always someone monitoring the skating rink so they can assist you if you get hurt
- You can probably grab some snacks and refreshments in the same venue
To Skate Outdoors
- Preferably you would wear inline skates for outdoor skating
- The Skating surface is not at all smooth
- If you would like to do skating tricks, rather choose to skate outdoors
- Again because it is in the open air, weather conditions affect your fun
- There is a lack of care during emergencies when you are skating outdoors
Whether you prefer to roller skate or rollerblade, you can do either in any setting. Yet roller skaters will struggle to glide down the gravel path.
Inline skates with softer wheels are great for outdoor skating as the gravel surface is meant for softer wheels. You must remember that the outdoor roller skates also have wheels of a smaller diameter. These wheels are best for moving on the pavement. Favour skates with harder wheels when skating indoors as they allow you to skate fast on the smooth surface.
Roller Skating Inside
The first step to having a pleasurable experience skating inside is choosing the right type of skates for the indoor setting.
If you are going to the roller skating rink, you most probably will be spoilt for choice in terms of the skates that you can choose to rent for skating on the rink. It works out cheaper if you take your own skates to the roller rink. However, if your skates are inline skates, we would suggest that you opt to pay for hiring the skates. Freestyle skating also known as slalom skating is a skating style allowed in most roller rinks. Yet again, if you enjoy doing all the tricks associated with freestyle skating, you would be better off skating in an outdoor skate park.
One of the rules of the roller rink is that you must be aware of other skaters in the rink at all times and you must never do styles, tricks, or skate at such a speed that you cause harm to another skater. This means you are more restricted in terms of your skating style indoors than you are outdoors.
Familiarise yourself with all the skating rules before you visit the roller rink.
If you are a fan of a more aggressive skating style rather opt to visit an open-air skating park than an indoor skating rink.
Were you inspired to skate from documentaries like Roller Dreams?
The skaters said that all they wanted to do was skate, dance, and play. In fact, they called skating, "sex on wheels" and "poetry in motion."
If you too want to learn how to skate dance so as to get that same feeling of freedom, you need to learn how to skate on a smoother skating surface. You must remember it is easier to skate on a smoother surface without having to worry about a stone getting stuck in your skates.
Thus we suggest that you choose the indoor skating venue if you are a beginner skater.
Beginner skaters need to start somewhere!
The indoor skating rink is the best option for a beginner roller skater to learn how to skate because of the safety that the skating rink offers. The rink usually has rails that you can hold on to as you are starting out. The rink staff are also there to help you if you do hit a dip and fall over.
Perhaps you could consider taking skating lessons outdoors with a skating coach. That way you will have someone to support you if you do fall over. Otherwise, you are safer skating indoors where someone can assist should you scrap your knees.
Rollerskating in the '80s meant skate dancing and if you watch videos from the past, you will see just how important these indoor skating rinks were.
Even if you are just looking for a venue to hang out on weekends, you can make your way down to your local skating rink but you can also choose to visit an outdoor roller skating park.
Outdoor Roller Skates
While the Covid-19 crisis continues, it always best to choose an open-air outdoor venue to hang out at. What better way to make the most of a beautiful day than being outdoors?
RollEgoli offers the best of both worlds. It is an open-air skate park that offers the same smooth floors as the indoor skating rink.
You have more of a choice to try out skating tricks and jumps when you are skating in an outdoor venue.
Although it focused mostly on the skateboard (an invention that came about after the roller skates), the Netflix movie Skater Girl speaks of how important an outdoor skatepark really is.
From the movie, you will begin to understand how enthusiastic young children and teenagers can become if they start to see skating as something they are passionate about.
A skate park offers a free space for enthusiastic skaters and you need to note there is no need to follow too many rollerskating rules if you are skating outdoors.
Roller Skating Rinks
Clearly, both the indoor roller skating rinks and the outdoor roller parks come with their own pros and cons. You can still experience freedom and carefree vibes whether you choose to skate indoors or outdoors.
If we could label the indoor skating rink as the best hangout spot, we would. Most indoor skating rinks are well maintained for your skating pleasure only. Plus you can also stop in between a skating session so as to grab a milkshake or something to snack on as many roller skating rinks have snack cafes and restaurants.
Plus you want to make sure that the skates you have purchased last you for a long while. In terms of durability for your skates, the outdoor skating venues are harsher on your skates. The wheels usually get affected the most when you are skating on the harsh outdoor floors.
Undeniably, we can't resist the pull factor of Thrashers Skate Park situated in Pretoria. Aggressive skating is also allowed at this venue. Importantly, venues like Thrashers Skate Park take all of the Covid-19 regulations into consideration. The venue has gone cashless and you have to wear a mask to enter. The skate park also has a kiosk from where you can buy burgers.
If you are still in favour of an indoor roller rink, decide to visit Skate World for heaps of fun for the whole family.
Perhaps all this talk about roller skating means that it is indeed making a comeback.
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