Have you visited Pretville in Hartebeespoort Dam?
Pretville is a little film-set town but it brings back flashbacks of an era where roller skating was popular, the 1950s. We'd recommend a visit if you'd like to get a feel for another era.
But, would you believe that roller skates were actually invented in the 1700s?
Skates were created by the Belgian inventor Joseph Merlin in the 18th century, however, they weren't immediately popular. They only gained popularity in the 19th century.
The earliest versions of roller skates were inline skates, which would later be called rollerblades.
The original inline skates were very loud! We bet parents were not the biggest fans of having their children use them.
The noise was came about because the wheels were connected to a wooden block that was strapped to a boot. Skating was definitely a rough ride in the 1700s, and turning around on skates was incredibly difficult. Even worse, there was no braking mechanism, so you actually had no way to stop!
Four-wheeled roller skates were invented in the 1800s, and became hugely popular. They caused a massive craze amongst teenagers and young adults, and the roller skating phenomenon was called "Rinkomania" by the press.
Over the decades, roller skating went from being simply an enjoyable pastime to a recognised sport. Although the sport's popularity slowly faded over time, it's on the up again.
Below are some of the reasons roller skating is rising in popularity again:
- Roller derby’s popularity: This full-contact sport played on roller skates has drastically risen in popularity over recent years, and this has helped boost the popularity of roller skating in general.
- The corona virus pandemic: When social distancing was enforced as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, roller skating stood out as a socially distanced and therefore safe outdoor activity.
- The influence of social media: Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok prominently featured roller skating, helping to raise awareness of the activity and making it more accessible.
Perhaps it's time to look at a few roller skating rinks which may be quite close to your home. Not only are they great for a fun night out, but they also make for a unique birthday celebration venue. Gather your friends, get dressed up, and reminisce about the days when rollerskating was at its peak.
Roller Skating Rinks
You might shrug your shoulders at the idea of taking it back to the '80s where roller skating was a popular sport, but perhaps it's time to explore this leisure activity from the past.
If you're in Gauteng, there's an open-air roller skating park called RollEgoli in Bryanston. RollEgoli came into being because the owner took a liking to roller skating when she was younger and wished to rekindle her memories of rollerblading from her past. Over 500 pairs of roller skates await eager skaters who are as passionate as the owner is about roller skating.
If you’re not having fun, you’re doing something wrong. Groucho Marx
If you're looking for a family-orientated roller skating rink, check out Skate World in Boksburg.
All you need to do is strap on your skates to wheel your way back into time. In terms of value for money, you pay R4o per person to enter the roller skating rink if you don't plan to skate, R90 if you bring your own skates along, or R140 if you hire skates on-site.
You may find that you get more than your money's worth.
Wouldn't it be great to put your electronic devices aside for a while and see what it means to engage in a fun activity from the past? On the other hand, the roller skating rink is also a great place to film content for your social media feeds ...
Perhaps its time you find a new hangout spot for Friday or Saturday night.
If you are in the New Doornfontein area, you could think about spicing up your weeknights with a visit to the Rolling Cherry roller skating arena.
This arena oozes pure Johannesburg vibe and is the ideal venue for Joburgers who want to skate to good beats.
In the past, roller skating arenas hosted special themed events and offered discounted entry fees to try to get a maximum of enthusiastic skaters through the door.
Although discount nights are rare these days, you'll find that rinks are much busier at the weekend than during the week. So, if you want to learn how to roller skate, we'd recommend scheduling your practices on weeknights to avoid the crowds and get uninterrupted skating time.
Learning to Roller Skate
By the end on the 1980s, thousands and thousands of pairs of roller skates found their way into bins around the world. They were seen as unwanted because new trends, like the skateboard, took over.
However, we hope there's a pair of skates hiding in your garage or at the back of a cupboard, as roller skating rinks, and roller skates themselves, are coming back into fashion in a big way.
Have you ever roller skated? Are you interested in learning how to roller skate or improve your skating skills?
As a beginner, you'll probably have to choose between learning on inline skates or quad skates. Both types of skates have their own pros and cons. It's likely that once you start your private roller skating tutorials, you'll develop a preference for one or the other.
Drop us a line in the comments section to let us know your skate preference.
Aside from keeping up with trends, why should you learn to roller skate?
Well, for one, roller skating enhances your muscle endurance.
Roller skating just one hour per day could also improve your ability to concentrate. Since roller skating is a form of exercise, it actually helps to increase your brain's cognitive functioning.
Getting Started: Roller Skating for Beginners
Rule number one: it has to be fun. Anonymous
As a beginner skater, a great benefit is that rollerskating is a relatively cheap sport to take up. It doesn't cost much to hire a pair of skates. If you are serious about taking up roller skating as a competitive sport, consider buying your own roller skates. This will save you quite a bit over time, as you will merely pay for entry into rollerskating rinks. You can buy skates from places such as Mr Price Sport, Mark, and Takealot.
Below is an outline of the different types of roller skates, so that you can have an idea of which to to choose when you first go roller skating:
- Inline skates/Rollerbaldes: These skates have one row of wheels positioned in the middle of the skate. Rollerblades tend to go faster than quad skates, and it'll take a bit of practice for you to find your balance at first.
- Quad skates: These skates have four wheels with brakes in the front, and are perfect for beginner skaters.
As a beginner skater, it's best that you start skating with quad skates, as it will be easier to find your balance on these. Once you've mastered quads, you can then move on to inline skates, if you want.
Where to Find Roller Skating Lessons
By the late 1980s, roller skates took a backseat as skating enthusiasts became more intrigued by the idea of skateboarding. Skateboard parks started popping up almost everywhere.
If you can't find a roller skating rink nearby, you could consider checking out your nearest skateboarding park to see if there are areas in the park that would be suitable for roller skating.
If you really want to learn how to roller skate well, you should consider private roller skating tutorials with a Superprof roller skating coach. Our private coaches will come to you or meet you in a skate park or rink near your home in order to teach you how to roller skate.
You'll learn all the rules and etiquette of roller skating, and will also get expert guidance on your technique, and tips on how to avoid injury.
You will, undoubtedly lose your balance many times before you actually start cutting figure 8s on the rink, so it's important to have a skilled skater overseeing you sessions.
Everything from getting to grips with skaters' equipment and what is considered a misstep in skating will be explained by your coach. Learning to skate with a professional coach could mean that you can eventually take on the pathway towards becoming a professional and competitive skater participating in roller derby.
You'll be well on your way once you know all the rules of roller skating.
Some of the rules that all beginner roller skaters will need to remember are:
- Keep skating: You are not allowed to stand still on the skating rink.
- Be polite: You are not the only skater on the roller skating rink so you must make sure that you are respectful of other skaters around you.
- Safety and security first: We advise you to keep your safety in mind at all times. This is why it's always best to start skating under the watchful eye and guidance of a roller skating coach. You are encouraged to wear protective gear, like a helmet meant and knee pads for roller skaters, when you first start off and throughout your roller skating learning journey.
- Don't overdo it: When you first start finding your feet on the roller skating rink, you may want to skate for hours on end, however, roller skating is a sport that should be fun. If you overdo it, you might find that you lose your enjoyment of the sport.
A key rule is that you must always roller skate for sheer enjoyment.
So don't overdo it, don't overthink it, just skate for the fun of it!
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