Roller Skating is STILL a Family Tradition!

Did you know that the first roller skating centers opened in 1857? That's 158 years strong! Roller skating is STILL a family tradition! ‪#‎NRSM‬‪#‎rollerskating‬ ‪#‎nationalrollerskatingmonth‬

Just Skating By

I remember, do you?  I remember those days in my pre-teen phase, going skating.  It was an escape of sorts.  A time to feel…different. 

I remember feeling awkward, a little uncoordinated and unsure of myself.  Those were the days in which my body was changing, my hormones were increasing and social relationships were changing.  Add to all that moving to a new neighborhood and a new school.  It was all strange to me in my strange new body and my strange new emotions.  

We've all been there, it’s a rite of passage, a phase we all must pass through on our journey to adulthood.  How did we cope?  What did we do?  We went SKATING!

It was those couple of hours every week that we went to the local Skate Rink with our friends.  Those few hours, we felt the breeze through our hair and felt like we could fly; we were free.  We were in control of our body, sure and graceful.  We weren't gangly, uncoordinated and strange; we were perfect.  

With our friends, we felt accepted and more sure of ourselves than anywhere else.  These few hours each week, we weren't little kids, we weren't emerging adults, we were "US", just us; no other expectations.

Now, don't get me wrong.  There were definitely social issues present.  I give you the intensely awkward "Couples Skate" as an example.  There was the pressure of having someone to skate with. Did you hold hands?  Were your friends going to jump to any conclusions like, "couple skating means you're going steady".

Don't forget when the DJ decided to change things up like:  Speed Skate, Backward Skate, Reverse Skate, etc.  If you weren't a confident skater, these were the times those insecurities crept into this Utopian night.  I was not a FAST skater, so Speed Skate turned me into a wallflower.  I stood along the wall and watched others speed by, the wind whipping past.  I could backward skate just fine, but I had some friends that struggled with that.  Reverse skate just felt weird, a little disorienting; like the world decided to spin the other way.

Fear of these moments had us practicing daily on our driveways or in someone's basement.  The driveway was somewhat of a challenge with the section cracks.  It was a rough skate, but improved balance and coordination.  We practiced skills like cross overs so we'd look cool going around the corners at the rink.  We practiced backward skating and other fun moves like squatting, shoot the duck, etc.  Basement skating was SMOOTH.  My wheels were quiet and glided along the concrete floor.  I could skate faster in a basement.  Then, I'd grab a support pole and spin around it, my hair flying from my head and that adrenaline rush.

We’d return to the skating rink each Friday evening, ready to show off our new skills.  One of my favorite things to do, get with a friend in the middle of the rink.  You know, just under the disco ball.  During a song, with the lights spinning all around, spin with a friend.  We’d connect arms, lean back, throw our heads back, close our eyes and SPIN!  WOW!  Freedom from the world, from all our pre-teen craziness.  An escape to nothingness for just a moment.

Do you think the Pre-Teen Skate Night experience has changed much?  I wonder how the 10 – 14 year old kids feel about “skate nights” today?  Do they still find that utopian escape?  I wonder as I remember.  Do you?

Bringing Home the Medals! Great Skate Dance and Figure Skate Club

Congratulations to the Great Skate Dance and Figure Skating Club! Six of our girls competed this weekend at the Regional Skate Meet in Union, MO and brought home 16 Medals! That is superb! We are so proud! Our results are: • Juvenile C loops, 1st Chavi, 2nd Haley and 3rd Jamie • Juvenile B girls loops, Kaitlin was 3rd and 2nd in Juvenile girls figures. 3rd in combined. • Primary girls figures, Chavi was 2nd and Haley 3rd. • Junvenile C girls figures, 1st was Adianna • Elementary B solo dance, Chavi was 1st and Haley 2nd • Primary girls freestyle, 3rd Jamie • Primary solo dance, 1st Chavi and 2nd Haley • Juvenile A solo dance, 1st Jade and 3rd Kaitlin Now they will prepare for National Skate Championships in August!

Fundraising Events at Great Skate

Fundraising for your group or organization can be a challenge.  Estimating how many participants, finding a suitable location, dealing with up-front costs for the event, promoting the event and then running the event.  It can be a lot of work.

Great Skate offers a variety of Fundraiser Event programs; 

we take the stress out.  It is so easy!

For over 18 years Great Skate has been a cornerstone of our community, providing hundreds of thousands of dollars in support for community schools and non-profit organizations.  Our facility can accommodate large groups, multiple activities and we facilitate a variety of fundraising programs.  

We host Fundraising Events for:

• Schools: Elementary, Middle, High School, DARE programs, Colleges, Clubs, Sports
• Churchs: Committees, Youth Groups
• Athletic Teams
• Dance and Theatre Schools
• Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts

In addition to providing a fun atmosphere for your fundraiser event, Great Skate can help you promote your event: pre-printed postcard invitations, customized flyers and/or posters, stickers, we can park our Great Skate mobile at your facility the day of the event, and other promotional assistance to make your fundraiser a success.  

Please reserve your fundraiser event as early as possible to secure your preferred dates. Call 636-441-2530 or see our website at  www.greatskaterocks.com for information or reservations. You can reach us via e-mail at greatskaterocks@yahoo.com.  

We guarantee the best rebate structure which means more money for your organization. We have the fundraiser for you.  

Congratulations to the Great Skate Artistic Skate Club!

Sixteen members of the Great Skate Artistic Skate Club participated in the Halloween Invitational Meet in Union, MO on October 26 and 27, 2013.  Ten of them brought home a total of 19 medals.  Categories in which the club participated are: Figure 8’s, Solo Dance, Free Skating and Beginner Stroking.  There are multiple levels of competition based on age and skill.   

 

• Kaitlin DeAngelo won 2 medals:  1^st and 3^rd in Figure 8’s
• Sara Bass won 4 medals: 1^st and 3^rd in Figure 8’s, 2^nd and 3^rd in Solo Dance
• Haley Bravsar won 3 medals: 2^nd and 3^rd in Figure 8’s, 2^nd in Solo Dance
• Chavi Khanna won 2 medals: 2^nd in Figure 8’s, 1^st in Solo Dance
• Kendra Braucksick won 1 medal:  3^rd in Figure 8’s
• Kaley Fletcher won 1 medal: 1^st in Figure 8’s
• Caleb Bass won 2 medals: 3^rd in Figure 8’s and 2^nd in Free Skating
• Jade Fletcher won 1 medal: 2^nd in Beginner Stroking
• Sarah Stewart won 2 medals: 1^st in Beginner Stroking and 2^nd in Solo Dance
• Abigail Corns won 1 medal: 1^st in Solo Dance 

 The Great Skate Artistic Skate Club is for all skaters who love to skate: beginners through advanced skaters.  All ages and skill levels are welcome to join the club.  We have approximately 30 members at this time.  Participation in competitions is determined by the skater and Coach.  Some club members choose not to compete, however they continue to improve their skill and enjoy the additional skate time that club members enjoy.


Great Skate Artistic Club dues are $35.00 a month.  Dues entitle members to all free practices and free roller skating sessions, with the exception of HOLIDAY or SPECIAL sessions. 

For more information, contact National Skating Champion and Head Coach: Bernie Gilliam at 636-441-2530

Does Roller Skating Count?

Did you know that Roller Skating is recognized and recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) as an aerobic fitness sport? Studies have shown that roller skating provides a complete aerobic workout and involves all of the body's muscles, especially the heart.

Oh! That's good news. Right? So, if I go hang out at Great Skate for two hours of fun, I'm getting a workout? Well....maybe. The number of calories burned per hour while skating at 6mph is 350, or 600 if skating 10mph. Cool! That burns off the pizza and soda I had at the concession just before skating. So, I have another hour of my 2-hour skate session left to do some real good.

Even if I don't skate continually during the next hour, I can skate an average of 30 minutes and get some heart-healthy action. I could expend about 285 calories and get my heart rate up to 148 beats. That is very good for the heart.

Skate Inquiry:

If you roller skated one day, bicycled another and swam or ran on another. You will be:

A) Passed out on the couch, not able to move

B) Feeling great having gotten all the benefits of aerobics

C) I'd never do all that

Although Great Skate has been in our community a little over twenty years, the story of roller skating dates back much, much further.  Where does roller skating come from?  There is some confusion and disputing stories behind skating, however the video "The History of Skating - Part 1" http://youtu.be/AKsR3ngpvEE provides a great introduction to roller skating history.
No matter how it started though, it's definitely not the "same ol' skates".  Going from metal wheels to plastic to rubber coated, adding ball bearings, changing the skate surface and line of wheels has had dramatic impact on the skates and agility of skaters.
Although skating started as a mode of transportation, a faster method to get from here to there, it is now a recreation sport.  Competitive sports such as:  Speed Skating, Roller Derby, Roller Hockey, Roller Dance or Artistic Skating, etc. have added a new dimension to skating.  It's the thrill of speed, agility or grace while gliding along on wheels; a sense of flying.
What is your history with roller skating?  What's the attraction?