Roller Skating is a fun hobby for both children and adults. Unfortunately, not everyone lives close to a roller rink, or has access to dry, warm weather year round. If you need somewhere for your kids to skate when it's raining out, or are just learning the basics before hitting the rink, you may be eyeing the smooth surfaces inside your own home.
As a general rule, wood, laminate, and linoleum floors will not be damaged by the wheels of roller skates or roller blades. Make sure your wheels are clean and are made of smooth material with no sharp edges. Toe stops can leave marks, so test yours on a piece of scrap or hidden flooring before you start.
Home flooring materials are made to withstand wear and tear. High quality skate wheels will not do any more damage than you would see from shoes. Certain types of wheels, especially the cheap plastic wheels that can come on some children's skates are a different story. These will certainly scratch flooring. Make sure your wheels are smooth with no sharp edges.
It's also important to make sure your wheels are clean, especially if you often use your skates outside. Sand and dirt can build up on your wheels and this could scratch your floors, or make you have to clean more often. Use a damp towel to wipe down wheels before skating indoors.
Be sure to check the toe stop before skating inside or turning your kids loose. The safest toe stop will be natural rubber colored or white, and be made of natural rubber materials. Gumball brand toe stops are highly reputed to be the most non marking and are the preferred toe stop for many roller derby teams. If you have a piece of flooring similar to the floor in your home, try dragging your toe stop across it to see if it leaves a mark. You can visit a local flooring store to find a piece of floor to try if you don't have one. Alternately, try the toe stop out on a small, hidden piece of floor.
The type of flooring you have in your home will have an impact on your skating experience. Wood and laminate flooring provide a sturdy, smooth skate surface, but are also the most costly types of flooring to replace if they become damaged. Take care to watch how the surface of your floor reacts to your wheels the first time you skate. The only way to know 100% that your floors are safe is to skate on them a little and see how it works.
Linoleum floor is often the only smooth, hard surface in rental apartments and other small homes with carpeting. Linoleum tends to be in smaller areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. These places are not large enough for much skating, but can be a good place to practice tricks and small jam moves. Be aware, however, that small tricks can be the most damaging type of skating to do on your floors. Spins, moves involving toe stop use, and falling can all damage your floors more than skating around in circles.
What about carpet? If your wheels are clean, there is very little damage you can do to your carpet with your roller skates. Practicing on carpet is a safe way to learn balance and tricks.
If you have a garage, concrete flooring can be a great place to roller skate indoors. You cannot damage concrete with wheels or toe stops, and it is a smooth skating surface. Make sure you sweep up debris and do not skate in oil or water.
If you are skating inside, you might think that hard indoor wheels might be the best choice. This is not the case. Rink wheels, numbered 84 and above, are best for rink skating, where the floors are specifically designed for wheels, and there are not a lot of obstacles or sharp turns. In your home, you will be better off choosing a gummy outdoor wheel, which will help you grip on slick flooring and keep your speed down so that you can avoid crashing into things.
Children's skates often come with cheap plastic wheels, but they can usually be changed to a higher quality gummy wheel for skating in your house. These wheels will give your child a much better experience outside as well! Low quality wheels are no fun, no matter where you skate.
There are many factors to consider when it comes to skating in your house. If you live in an apartment with downstairs neighbors, choose a time to skate when your neighbors are not home to avoid getting a noise complaint.
While skating inside can be a safe, fun activity, there are generally more obstacles in your house then there are at the rink or outdoors. Take care to move furniture and breakable items out fo the way. It's easy to lose control and not be able to stop on skates.
Beginners and children often stop by grabbing onto things, so think ahead about what they will grab onto in your home. Are there door jams or large pieces of furniture that hands can grab onto? Having everyone wash their hands before beginning can save you from having to clean dirty hand prints off of your walls.
Lastly, while it might seem more safe to practice spins and tricks in your kitchen with the counters to hold onto, remember that if you were to fall in there, there are more places to hit your head or injure yourself. Skating is safest in wide open spaces. Safety gear is recommended for skating in any enviroment.
]]>Are you new to roller skating, or skating in a new city and looking for a crew? Roller skating is a great social activity, and it's fun to learn with friends. If you are trying to find people to roller skate with, we have some great ideas for you!
The internet is often the best place to find people to roller skate with. Search for local Facebook groups or Derby teams, check out Instagram hashtags, or post on your local subreddit. In-person places include local skate shops or skate parks, public parks or paths, and the roller skating rink.
Instagram is queen when it comes to online skate communities. Every roller skater seems to have an account, and you can easily fill your feed with tutorials and inspiring videos. Finding local pals can be more challenging on Instagram if you don't live in a metro area or skating mecca, but try searching local hashtags to see if other skaters in your area are posting there. If you want to start a community, you can create a skate account for your town. Be sure to use a local hashtag that others will be likely to search, such as #rollerskateaberdeen and location tag all of your posts. Promote your skate account to others in your community by sharing it on Facebook and Reddit, and by following local people and organizations that may be interested in the sport.
Facebook can be an easier place to organize with local, in person roller skaters. If you can't find local roller skating Facebook group, you can start one and people will find it when they search. When I was starting our local community, I began first by gathering everyone on an instagram account, because the roller skaters were much more visible on that platform. Then I encouraged everyone to also join a Facebook group so that they could all post about meet ups and questions.
Searching for derby players or teams is a great place to start if you don't know any local skaters. Roller Derby players often have public Facebook and Instagram profiles and are involved with the local skate scene. If you are brave enough, you can even try out for the derby team! Derby is a great way to learn to skate and make friends.
Another online resource for roller skate friends is Reddit. If you don't have a local roller skating subreddit, try putting a post in your town or city's subreddit to see if there are roller skaters in your area who want to meet up. This was how it all began for me, with one post in our local subreddit, I learned that there were a lot of people who were also looking for people to skate with. Keep in mind that if you are signing up for Reddit for the first time, you have to wait 24 hours before making a post.
If your town has MeetUp, check to see if there is a Roller Skate group. If not, you can start one! MeetUp is a handy organization tool because it gives you access to a diverse member base who are there to find local activities, not just to scroll. Try hosting a meet up at a local park or school basketball court on the weekend. You could also host a meet up at you roller rink's public session. You will have confidence going into session with a group, and roller rinks often provide tables and food, so you can use the opportunity to get to know people better.
If you are lucky enough to have a rink in your town or within close enough driving distance, you can find a community of skaters there. Head out for an open session, many rinks have all ages and adult sessions during the week. Visit your rink or check out their website to find out if they offer any classes. Roller skating classes are a great way to meet people, and can be less intimidating than trying to talk to strangers at public session. Chances are, if skaters are in your class, they are at your level and are looking for others to skate with.
Your local derby players are also often at public sessions, they are easy to spot because they are all geared up! Don't hesitate to approach a derby player to talk about roller skating! They are passionate and friendly, and may know of local skate groups or meet ups that aren't advertised online.
Head down to the roller skate shop and ask about roll outs or meet ups. You might find info about derby leagues, classes, or local places where roller skaters frequent. Not every town has a roller skate shop, but almost every town has a skateboard shop. If that's all you have, head down anyway and ask the people there about the local roller skate scene. Even though they may not be roller skaters themselves, they are likely to know of anyone in town who skates. Skaters of all kinds head to skateboard shops for help with bearings, extra bolts and parts, and safety gear. They are also a great place to put up a flyer for a roll out that you host! Could be the start of something great.
Not everyone will feel comfortable approaching strangers in parks, but it has been my experience that if a person is wearing skates, you can go talk to them about skating. When I was first starting a skating group, I had an Instagram account and Facebook page, and I printed the info for them on little cards and I would hand them out anytime I saw someone roller skating. Our community has grown to almost 300 members just in my town. It's amazing how many people you will find who roller skate or who want to get into roller skating. In my experience, people who are skating alone would like other people to skate with, but haven't found them yet- just like you!
Sometimes you have to start by getting the friends you already have to join in the fun! There is a pair of skates in almost every price range these days, and the rink has rental skates for people who don't have their own. Sometimes it's just as easy as inviting your friends to a fun night at the rink to plant the skate bug. Make it a weekly event and you will have a solid skate crew by the time summer rolls around. If you friends are new to skating, invite them to join you at one of the classes offered by your rink. They will be able to use rental skates for the class, and it might be just the confidence boost they need to get their own pair and start on the roller skate journey. If everyone has a pair of skates already, you can host a class in your garage or a local park. There is a wealth of tutorials and classes available on Instagram and Youtube that you can use to learn with your friends.
]]>When it comes to grammar in the English language, there are a lot of rules and many of them are unclear, to put it nicely. Roller Skate and Roller Skating are words that seem to be spelled differently everywhere you look. Let's take a look at these two terms and the rules that govern their usage.
As a general rule, Roller Skate as a noun, "This is my roller skate", it is most correct to use two words, not hyphenated. If you are using the term as a verb- "I am roller-skating", it is most correct to add a hyphen. This is because it is considered a compound verb and the hyphen shows that meaning is derived from the two words being used together.
You will see the terms Roller Skate, Roller Skating, Roller Skater, etc used in all grammatical forms. There are many possible reasons for this, but one stands out from the rest:
The meaning of the words roller skate will be understood no matter how you present them grammatically. Look at these examples of verbs whose meaning could be misunderstood without the hyphen:
"Dry Cleaning is best for wool jackets." Most people would understand what is being said, but if you were unfamiliar with what dry cleaning was, you could take this sentence to mean that you should find a dry way of cleaning your wool jacket.
On the other hand...
"Dry-Cleaning is best for wool jackets." The hyphen makes it clear that the two words are connected and that their meaning comes from them having been used together.
Roller Skating, however, passes the test in all of it's forms:
"Roller Skating is a great way to exercise."
"Roller-Skating is a great way to exercise."
"Rollerskating is a great way to exercise."
All of these examples make the same meaning clear to the reader, even if some may be more technically correct than others. Roller Skate is a term that doesn't have alternate meanings, it would be difficult for people to misunderstand it's meaning, even if you used a less technically correct form, such as rollerskate.
The grammar rules tell us one thing, but spell check and programs such as Grammerly tell us another. As you can see in the photos below, I typed three different forms of both the noun and the verb usage into Grammerly and the only one that got the red squiggly lines was the usage of rollerskate as a noun as one word.
This tells us that, even though it might not be the best "technical" form, most forms are common enough in everyday usage that they will be acceptable and understood.
If you are ever unsure about what is right, you can turn to a free site like Grammarly, ( I am not an affiliate, it's just awesome and free!), or simply type the term you are wondering about into Google Docs, Word, or any word processing program. They will let you know if you are using an acceptable form or offer suggestions for a better way write it.
The words roller skater are not technically proper nouns, so you wouldn't automatically capitalize them. If you were speaking of a Roller Skater, you could capitalize the term to indicate that it is a title you are giving them or that they use themselves, but you don't technically have to. There aren't hard and fast rules about when to capitalize words that are not titles, names, or proper nouns, but here are a few good practices to think about:
Roller Derby? Capitalize if you are talking about a player, team or league, but not if you are just using the term more generally.
"Roller Derby star Bruiser is playing tonight's bout." Capitalized to show respect to the player.
"I am going to play roller derby." Not capitalized because no person or team is mentioned.
Roller Rink? Same idea here. Capitalize if you are referring to the name of a rink, but not if you are just talking about a rink in general. Double word terms like this can seem awkward if they are at the beginning of a sentence, where you have to capitalize one word but not the other, but that would be the correct choice. Have a look below:
"The Bayview Roller Rink is my favorite." Capitalized because it's the name of a rink.
"I am going to the roller rink." Not capitalized because it's not the name of a rink, it's just rink in general.
"Roller rink snacks are the best." Roller is capitalized here because it's the first word in the sentence, rink is not capitalized.
]]>If you are just learning to roller skate, or just bought your first pair of skates, you may be wondering if it's easier to skate down the sidewalk and skip the hassle of driving all the way to the roller rink. I am here to tell you that isn't necessarily the case.
As a general rule, roller skating inside a roller rink is much easier and safer than skating outdoors. Indoors you don't have to worry about tripping over rocks or debris, avoiding traffic or people walking into your path. At the rink it's simple to stop by rolling into the wall, outside you might not have objects around to help you stop.
When you hit the park, parking lot, or sidewalk in your roller skates, you are setting off on a journey of uncertainty. You will likely encounter many obstacles in your path, which can be overwhelming for someone who is just trying to get the hang of balancing on skates. Something as small as the cracks in the sidewalk can be terrifying to a new skater, I know that they were for me! I googled, " how to skate over sidewalk cracks" several times in my first few weeks!
If you are a brand new skater who is determined to skate outdoors, some planning ahead will make all the difference. Scout around your town or neighborhood on foot to find a basketball court or public walking path that is smooth, crack and mostly rock-free. Once you find your spot, plan to drive or walk, carrying your skates, and get geared up once you get there. Bring knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, and a helmet. Some skaters even opt for padded shorts to protect their hips and tailbones, but this is more common in skate park skating.
When I started roller skating outdoors during lockdown, I began by going back and forth on one part of a public bike path near my house. Bike paths can be great if they aren't too busy because they tend to be continuous stretches of asphalt, rather than concrete sections like sidewalks. The first few days were awkward and a bit intimidating, but I soon gained confidence in my balance, and in my pads to protect me when I fell. From that path, I moved to a middle school basketball court that was smooth and flat, perfect for learning!
When you are looking for your first skate spot, surface and traffic are the most important things to look for. I know a lot of people who think that taking off down the sidewalk looks easy and fun, but that was a terrifying experience for me my first week of owning skates. Do yourself a favor and find a nice empty flat top, tennis court, or even your driveway to get the hang of being on wheels before you set out on any adventures.
You have to be able to stop yourself whether you are skating indoors or outdoors, but when you are out in the elements, it can feel like a huge undertaking. Start by identifying a pole, wall, or your car that you can use to stop yourself if you need to. Stay away from hills or inclines of any kind until you have stopping under control. Practice your stops slowly at first, and build up speed.
Remember, all of the forward stops, such as the toe stop drag and the plow stop are really more of "slows" than fast "stops". If you are new and need to stop super fast to avoid traffic or a child and there is nothing around to grab onto, dropping into a cannonball and bailing is going to be your best option. This is another important reason to be wearing your safety gear. Dropping straight down onto your knees to stop is no problem if you are wearing hard, protective knee pads.
Watch this lesson from Dirty Deb before heading out!
Roller rinks are not in every town like they used to be, and it's possible you don't live within driving distance of a rink. If you are lucky enough to have one close by, it's a great place to learn. Not only is the floor smooth, rock-free, and designed for skating, but there are classes and other resources for learning.
At the roller rink, you are surrounded by other skaters who are moving in predictable patterns around the floor. Outdoors, walkers, bikers, cars, dogs, and other moving obstacles can prove challenging for a skater who is just learning to skate and stop. Starting out in a place where there is not a lot of other traffic can be important for outdoor skating.
When skating inside, people tend to wear less safety gear because you are less likely to fall over debris in your path or careen out of control down a hill. It can be a more budget friendly entry point into skating, as you will have access to the rental skates included in your session fee, as well as not having to buy so much safety gear. Spending a few weeks attending public sessions can be a good way to know for sure that roller skates are an investment that you are ready to make.
If you just bought your kids their first pair of skates and are wondering whether to take them outside or inside, the answer is a little easier. Indoors, outdoors, and both! I am constantly amazed by the bravery and resistance of children on skates. Get them fully outfitted in safety gear, find a smooth, flat blacktop or path, and let them go. They adapt to skating so quickly and have so much fun.
All of the advice for adults applies to children as well, avoid places with heavy foot or car traffic, and save the sidewalk skating for next month. Cracks cause falls and you want to let them build confidence first!
If you have access to a rink, start there. You may find that your kids don't enjoy it as much as they thought they would and you can save yourself a lot of money not investing in all of the equipment right away. If they do take to skating, you can continue to rent skates for as long as you need, rather than buying new skates every time they grow out of them.
Many rinks have skate clubs that include a lot of children who are all learning together. It is a great hobby to get your kids started in, as there are zero screens involved, ever! Your kids will be active, having fun, and challenging themselves. What more could you want?
Taking a class at your local rink can give you the confidence you need to keep practicing your new hobby. Check the schedule at your rink to see if there are any beginner classes for you. If you don't have a rink, you can turn to the amazing teachers of YouTube to show you the basics. I started my outdoor journey with Dirty Deb, Rebel from Queer Girl Straight Skates, and Estro Jen from Moxi. Check out the videos below for great beginning outdoor skating lessons!
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If you are heading out the roller rink for a night time public skate, you want to dress accordingly! You may be wondering how to craft your look so that it looks as cool as possible when the blacklight comes on.
As a general rule, any clothing or materials that are white, florescent, or neon will glow in the blacklight. Items that are made for "glow in the dark" will glow brightly under blacklight. If you don't want to glow or stand out, choose black or darker colors for the majority of your outfit.
Public skate at the roller rink will almost always have black-lights, but it isn't a "black light party". You probably don't want your entire outfit to glow while you are skating. It may be best to choose an outfit that mostly won't glow, darker colors, and then add a pop of glow with a white or glow in the dark necklace, bracelet, or roller skate boot covers. Adding florescent laces to your boots is another way to show your style!
What colors really shine under black light? White, florescent shades of pink, green, blue, yellow, or orange, anything neon, and all materials that are designed to "glow in the dark".
A cool rink outfit could be: jeans or jeans shorts paired with a dark colored tee or tank and a glow in the dark bracelet. You will get some black light action on your jeans, because the white threads will glow but the dark threads won't, which can be really low key cool. Your top will likely not glow, but your bracelet will be super glowy and move around as you skate. Add a white headband or hair clip if you are feeling bold!
A fun idea for black light skating is tie dye- the different colors will all glow different, giving you a really unique look.
Lots of people choose to use light up wheels at the rink. This is a run way to add a lot of flair to your outfit, and to keep the attention on your skates. Ask if they have some for sale at the rink, or order a pair of Luminous wheels. Skate covers are another way to add a pop of color and glow that isn't on your body. There are lots of makers on Etsy offering cool neon covers. If you are using rental skates, boot covers are an easy way to make the skates look like they are your own, and coordinate them to your sweet outfit!
Blacklight can have some unintended affects on clothing. Here are some ways to avoid looking silly at the rink:
A common concern for black light newbies is: will my teeth glow? The short answer is- probably. We have natural phosphors in our teeth and nails that will glow under black light. Tooth whiteners and some tooth whitening toothpaste contain compounds that will make your teeth glow more brightly. Porcelain veneers generally match the florecens of natural teeth, but crowns may not.
Before you freak out and cancel your plans, consider this. The roller rink is not a black light party, where it is completely dark except for black lights. There are lots of other lights on, and it is a big space. The concentration of black light, and therefore florescence, is much lower than what you are imagining. The brightest glow will be for the 15 seconds it takes you to go around the far end of the floor, the one that is farthest from the house lights in the lobby and snack area.
Another thing to think about is that people are working really hard to not run into others, and to just keep upright their skates. They do not have the time to give your teeth a close inspection! The nature of roller skating means that you are only looking at the backs of people as you skate around, so you are safe on the floor. Your teeth will absolutely not glow when you are off the rink floor, which is the time when you are most likely to be face to face talking and socializing. The concentration of black light in the lobby and eating areas will not be enough to make your teeth glow.
If you want to put your best teeth forward, try this: give your teeth a good brush with just water before heading out. Because it's the cleaners that have the most glow affect, try to get your teeth free of those to avoid super glow.
]]>Anyone who has purchased a new pair of skates, or even a stiff new pair of shoes, knows that the break in period can be painful. If you are just learning to balance as well as breaking in a new pair of roller skates, you have a tough road ahead. Some of this break in can be done at home, on your carpet, and make your skate sessions easier and more fun.
Brand new skates have stiff ankles and boots. It can be challenging to bend your knees as much as you liked to the ankle stiffness. Some of this can be remedied by loosening your laces or not lacing your boots up to the tip top, but lots of the stiffness just needs to be broken in. Do this in your living room by holding onto your couch or a chair and moving your ankles around. Do some squats, bend and twist. The stiffness will ease with use.
Spending time in your house with your skates on can also save you from blisters and other uncomfortable rub sores when you first take your skates out or to the rink. Getting your ankles and shins used to the feeling of your boots, trying out a couple different pairs of socks, try different styles and tightness of lacing. All of these things will save you when it comes to your first skate sessions!
For the more advanced skater, carpet can be the safest place to try out new tricks such as hops or 180 jumps. You will be able to feel where your weight is landing in the skate and adjust accordingly before you try it on a hard surface. Being able to perfect your weight placement is so important to roller skating, and will save you a lot of falls on your bum!
You can even practice wight placement and leaning into edges on the carpet at the rink. Head over to the carpeted side of the low wall and you will be able to hold on with one hand while practicing leans and one foot moves. Once you are comfortable, you can head out onto the floor to try out your balance.
Another great reason to wear your skates around the house is the resistance it offers for strength building. When you are at the rink or on the pavement, each push of your roller skate moves you forward easily. This is not the case on carpet! Each push on the carpet will move you just a few inches, giving you the opportunity to build up those pushing muscles in a small space.
We use all sorts of small, stabilizer muscles in our feet, ankles, legs, hips, and core when we are roller skating. Putting your skates on in the house will allow you to workout those muscles. I know skaters who wear their roller skates for hours in the house while doing chores, just to make them feel like a natural extension of their feet.
Check out the fun video at the end of this post for ideas for doing some skate warm ups on the carpet. You will have fun and work up quite a sweat! This skater uses the small space that she has, and works around her family to get a great workout on skates. I love this video because it helps me to remember that we do not need to have the perfect skate spaces that we often see on social media in order to practice our skating or have a good time. Use the space you have, the skates you have, and go for it!
Roller skating in the house and on the carpet can be very safe ways to practice, but the house also has built in dangers. As you can see on this video, kids and pets will be underfoot so be sure that you have enough balance to hold your own with whatever crew you have practicing with you!
As well, there are a lot more trip and fall hazards at home then you would find at the rink. Be sure to clean your space ahead of time! If you are working on balance and feel comfortable bending and squatting, clearing the floor on your skates can be the perfect exercise!
Watch your head! As scary as the concrete or skating rink might sound, one thing that can be safer about them is that they are designed for skating and have wide open spaces. In your house, there are many more opportunities to hit your head or other body parts on the way down. I spend a lot of time practicing in my kitchen so that I have a counter to hold onto on either side. This makes me feel comfortable when trying new tricks. I always wear a helmet, though, because falls happen so fast and my head could easily hit the counter on the way down.
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Have you been wondering what the term Memento Mori Means? If you have been seeing art this time of year that features that phrase and it’s got you confused, you are not alone!
Memento Mori translates directly to “Remember that you must die.” It is used in art to remind us that life is short. Many cultures throughout history have used this idea to keep in mind the sweetness of life, and help people make the most of it.
Memento Mori appears in historical records dating back to antiquity. It is said that slaves in Ancient Rome used to whisper the phrase to each other to remind themselves that their commanders and captors would one day die, to keep their spirits up. Christianity used it as a moral compass of sorts, reminding their followers that this earthly life is but a precursor to heaven, and that when they die, they will be judged.
The idea that death gives life its meaning is something that comes up often in Buddhist teachings. It is taught that you should remember death, and think of it often, in order to feel the full sweetness of life. In the same way that we would not know the fullness of pleasure without pain, we are unable to appreciate the greatness of our lives without remembering that they are short and will one day be over. All we have is the present moment, and that is what Memento Mori strives to teach us.
When I came across a collection of Memento Mori coins and keychains from The Shire Post Mint, I could see right away that they were special. They include a second message on the flip side: Memento Vivre, or “Remember to live.” By including this mantra, the coins can help us to remember that life is short, while also encouraging us to live the life we do have to the fullest. These beautiful coins are hand stamped at a small family forge in Alabama using traditional techniques. Each one contains 30 grams, or ½ oz of pure bullion grade copper. They come with a ring attached so you can hang them on your fanny pack, back pack, keys, or anywhere you need a reminder to live your life to the fullest!
Got yourself a pair of skates that need carrying? The rollerskate leash is a great solution. Bags designed to fit skates can be bulky and uncool, not to mention the fact that they hide those lovely skates away! You didn't work so hard on seeking out all of the best accessories to create your perfect skate vibe only to zip them inside of a bag!
If you have seen people around with their skates flung over their shoulder, you can be sure that what they are using to carry them is a skate leash.
Roller skate leashes are pieces of belt or strapping with metal D rings or sewn loops on each end. The loops are designed to widen to fit around the wheels of your skate and then cinch tight when you pick them up. It's a quick, secure, and hip way to carry your skates to the park, the rink, or the boardwalk.
Attack Cat Bags has a huge variety of colored skate leashes for sale for only $10! Our products are high quality, crafted in the USA in our studio in Bellingham, WA.
Already got your fab leash and want to know how they work? Check out the video below where Laura shows you the super fast and easy way to use a skate leash to tote your roller skates around:
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How to wear your new fanny pack? Around your waist? Across your chest? Slung over your shoulder like a purse? I can tell you that there is no wrong way to wear your fanny pack, and that I wear mine in all of the ways. Different ways have their different purposes, though, and I am here to give you some examples so you can decide what’s best for you!
The main reason why people seek out fanny packs, bum bags, hip bags, waist bags, whatever you call them!, is the hands free aspect. You strap it around your waist, and you are good to go. This is super handy for sports, bike riding, hiking, skating and roller skating, as well as for child wrangling, cruising festivals or anywhere you may need all hands on deck to deal with other things. Around the waist is great for bathroom trips- no putting your purse down on the dirty floor, it stays securely around your body. It’s also fab for driving, there is nothing I like better than getting in my car with my fanny pack on and then hopping out with it still on. So easy! I never forget things because I can fill my hip bag when I am thinking about it, and then just strap it to my body. Whenever I head out the door, my stuff comes with me.
If it’s cold outside, your waist bag can fit great under your coat, even providing an extra layer of security. Lots of people get a super slim fanny pack to wear under clothes when traveling, to keep the extra important stuff like passports, tickets, and money safe from pickpockets or loss.
Your fanny pack can be a great accessory as well. Get a belt bag that matches your outfit, or that is a solid neutral, and it can blend right in. Grab one that is more of a statement piece and it can add flair in the same way jewelry can. There are lots of outfits that will benefit from not having the purse strap across your chest, in those cases, a fanny pack strapped around your waist may be the perfect option.
In other cases, around your waist just isn’t the way to go. Some dresses that have waists that fall somewhere other than your waist can make an odd pair for a belt bag. You may not feel like you want the extra bulk down there at the moment, or maybe you are heading somewhere where you will be sitting in tight quarters. All of these cases make fabulous times to sling that baby across your chest.
Men often feel more comfortable wearing their bag as a sling. Don’t get me wrong, I see plenty of men rocking the fanny pack around their waist, but we see men slinging their bags a lot.
If I am choosing to carry a larger fanny pack, in order to fit enough goodies for the day’s adventures, I will generally sling it instead of strapping it around my waist. In that way, it takes on some characteristics of a backpack, and I am really used to the feeling of carrying weight on my back.
There is no denying that sometimes, the bag is only on you temporarily. As a fanny pack maker, collector, and connoisseur, I carry one even in situations where a traditional purse might make more sense. You will find, however, that your fanny pack is a purse if you just toss it over your shoulder instead of strapping it to your body. When I am getting dressed up, or going somewhere where I am going to be hanging my coat and bag on a rack or hook, I can don my fanny pack temporarily just like a purse, then get rid of it once I am there. In this fashion, you lose some of the security and convenience of always having your precious items strapped to you, but you must do what the outfit requires, am I right? I get so used to having my bag around my waist that I will feel kind of naked without it, and I am always regretting leaving my phone so far away from me! You know whatever fancy outfit I picked out doesn’t have pockets, right?! These are the sacrifices we make!
How do you like to wear your fanny pack? Hung on your stroller handle? Strapped around your dog? There are endless possibilities. If you thought of a way that I haven’t mentioned here, let me know in the comments! I am always looking for new fanny pack intel.
]]>If you are contemplating buying your first pair of roller skates so that you can join in the fun of learning to roller skate as an adult, you may be overwhelmed by all of the options! This was definitely true for me. I am going to share with you my skate buying journey, the skates I use now, and a great video I found that breaks down the process for you. Enjoy!
If you want to skip to my conclusion about skates and the great video I found, they are at the bottom! I won’t be offended!
My skate buying journey:
When we went into lockdown last March, I started walking everyday, like so many other people. On my walks, I began to notice roller skaters. Had they always been there? I am not sure! All I know is that once I started seeing them, they were everywhere. Seeing the fun they were having, as well as getting to see what a perfect outdoor, socially distanced hobby it was, inspired me to run home and start looking for my own first pair.
For my first pair of roller skates, I chose Chaya Melrose Glitter skates- a $100 pair of hot pink and aqua glitter skates. I ordered them from Pigeon’s Skates. Luckily, I got my order in before the MASSES of people started buying skates, so they arrived pretty quick. They were so beautiful and comfy. They came with outdoor wheels stock, so I didn’t even worry about new wheels. I rocked those babies every day for months, timidly hitting the pavement on my own, decked out in the finest safety gear Fred Meyer had to offer. It was terrifying and fun and freeing. It was my first experience skating outdoors as an adult, so I was unprepared for how scary it was going to be. All those videos of skaters flying through the streets? Ya, those aren’t beginners! I found one nice, flat, rock free basketball court and just went back and forth.
A few months in, still terrified and progressing much more slowly than I wanted, I began to get jealous of the inline skaters who would wizz past me, seemingly fearless and unconcerned with rocks, cracks, and bumps. Would I also become fearless if I had a pair of inlines? I managed to convince myself that I would. I hopped on craigslist and there they were- a brand new, still in the box pair of inlines that were just my size! I snapped them up, so sure that all of my skating worries were over. Now, mind you, I got such a good deal on those inlines that I managed to ignore the fact that they cost twice as much as the quad roller skates I had chosen. So, I now had a baseline pair of quads and a midline pair of inlines. The next day, when I hit the basketball court, I strapped on my inlines, ready to leap off of curbs and fly over those terrifying sidewalk cracks! But, of course, that’s not how it worked out. My fear of skating and my inexperience were just as present on the inlines. I was a bit less scared of hitting rocks, having convinced myself that the inline wheels would go right over them. When I was skating in my quads, I lived in terror of each and every pebble sending me flat on my face. But I was not instantly a better skater. Buying different or fancier skates won’t make you a more confident or experienced skater!
I continued on the inlines for a few weeks, until I convinced some of my friends to get skates and start learning with me. They all wanted quads, so I switched back to my quads. I haven’t looked back. Switching between rollerblades and roller skates ( quads) is tricky, but that’s a convo for another time! What I had gained during my time on inlines was a few weeks more skating experience, and that made me a better quad skater when I switched back. The only thing that can make you more experienced is experience!
In the fall, I started skating a bit at the rink when it opened back up. What a treat that was! Smooth floor, no rocks, music, warmth! So, so much fun. I could tell right away that I wanted to upgrade my skates but that was right in the thick of the skate crunch- a period of about 5 months where so many people were wanting skates that you couldn’t find them anywhere. All the skate shops were sold out, Moxis were taking heat for the months and months of backorders, it was a dark time in skate land. I kept my eye on instagram, though, and before long, I found a pair of black Impalas in my size in stock at Wicked Skatewear.
Now, I won’t claim that Impalas are an upgrade from my Chayas, they are different, not necessarily better. What they were was black ( not hot pink glitter like my Chayas) and I was able to fit them with indoor wheels so that I could have an indoor and outdoor pair. Impalas have gotten a lot of flack for some boot heel separation problems that some people experienced, but I never had any problems with mine. The boots were much less comfy than the Chayas, which are more or less like wearing slippers, and the ankle was very stiff, but once I got them broken in a bit, they provided great support. I rocked these two pairs until about February, when I got the new skate bug again.
By this time, I was doing several days a week at the rink, and as many days outdoors or practicing dance skate at home. I started to see Moxi Lollys popping up at shops on instagram, so I started keeping my eye on that. I also started to think about wanting to invest in a pair of indoor skates that would be better suited for artistic roller skating, which I had started learning with one of the coaches at our local rink. I ended up finding a pair of Moxi Lollys in my size at Sin City Skates and I snapped them up! Fastest $400 bucks I have ever spent in my life! I added on some Radar wheels because everyone on instagram had them. Looking back, I think that I had just been waiting for Moxis to come back in stock all along. I had thought about buying them for my first pair, but had decided on the Chayas because I wasn’t sure if I would keep skating for very long and didn’t want to invest. Once I proved to myself that I was into it, I was going to get the coolest skates as soon as I could. It was inevitable. Moxi Lolly’s have their pros and cons, but you can’t deny the fact that they are the IT skate and if you have them, you are stoked. I will go into what I like and don’t like about them in a later post.
For indoor skating, finding skates was far more challenging. Good artistic boots and set ups can be hella expensive, and the good skate companies were out of everything. I follow an awesome skater and teacher, Kim Manning, on instagram, and I saw her post about a new skate company she was trying out- Golden Horse ( she still has an active discount code for them, go grab it from her channel if you are going to order skates! 10% is a lot when you are making such a big purchase!). I checked out the Golden Horse site and they seemed legit. I chose a mid level pair and they cost about $320 bucks with my discount. They require all sorts of measurements and photos of your feet to custom make your boots, which is pretty sweet for three hundred dollar skates. I had to get new wheels and dance plugs for them, but they are really good skates. They had a hell of a break in period, but I love them and I wouldn’t change my decision.
So, in a 9 month period, I bought 5 pairs of skates, which is an investment of several thousand dollars, as well as all of the time spent searching for the right ones. What would I do if I could do it over, knowing what I do now? I would start with the better skates. I know that it can be hard to imagine dropping $400 bucks on an unproven new hobby, but I think that if you hit the streets in better skates to start with, you start with an advantage. As well, a pair of Moxis will hold their value, so you can easily resell them if they end up sitting in your closet for 3 months. If you can swing it, just get them. I understand that not everyone can, of course. My favorite story about skates comes from another great skater and teacher, Nicole Fiore. She tells about winning her first nationals wearing second hand skates that were two sizes too big, skates that her parents had bought for her thinking that her feet would keep growing. It was several years later before they realized that her feet were as big as they would get and she finally got her own brand new pair of boots. If that isn’t inspiration to feel good about learning in whatever skates you have, I don’t know what is!
Laura’s Conclusions:
And now for some really solid advice on how to choose your first skates!
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Congratulations on your brand new Fanny Pack! I hope your is wonderful enough to make you a waist bag convert for life. Those of us who are in the fanny pack club know just how convenient and freeing it is to wear your stuff around your waist, rather than in your pockets, or in a heavy bag hanging around your neck and shoulders. You are free to move, dance, run, spin, and go to the bathroom! What joy!
If this is your first hip bag, belt bag, bum bag (whatever term you have decided on!) or even if you have a collection, you may be wondering the best way to make your bag fit your waist perfectly. A great feature of fanny packs is that the strap is adjustable so that your bag will fit around your waist, and then again if you want to sling it, carry it, or strap it around yourself and a friend. There is a technique to the adjustment hardware, however, and it can be tricky to figure out on your own. Luckily for you, we have taken to YouTube to give you a quick, easy to follow lesson on how to work the best adjustment hardware once and for all!
How to adjust your fanny pack belt:
To make the belt longer:
To make the belt shorter:
You can do either of these actions while wearing your fanny pack, or you can take it off to change the length with a bit more ease. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, I am always here to help!
]]>When Chipp and I took the deep dive into full time bagging, we knew fanny packs were going to be our thing. We love them, all of our skate friends love them. Moms and kids love them, hipsters love them, everyone loves them. They are the fashion accessory most searched for on etsy ( according to me). One of the most fun parts about making the bags and starting conversations with people from all over the world about them is that we have gotten to learn a buuuunch of different names. Here is a run down, I will add more as I come across them.
Do you know of one I missed? LMK!! You can comment here or message me on Instagram @attackcatbags.
Top names we hear and use:
Fanny Pack- Of course! The OG name, the one we hear the most. I also hear a lot- from old men mostly- that we shouldn't call them that because in some parts fanny means "something else" or is a "dirty word". But we already know that, and the word they are referring to is vagina, which I don't think is a dirty word at all! Vagina, Vagina, Vagina! VAGINA! Aren't they surprised by my response! True story, though, in the UK and Australia, fanny is another word for vagina. Now you know!
Bum Bag- I really like this one, but there is a big skate bag company that is literally called Bum Bag co, so we don't use it a lot. It's kinda Brittish, kinda hip.
Hip Bag- This is our second most used term, one of our sizes is called hip bag, to differentiate it from the smaller Fanny Pack. Hip bag is a term used by people who don't want to say Fanny Pack- teenagers, cool people, and men, mostly.
Sling Bag- This can mean so many things, we use it to distinguish bag sizes again, this is our largest sized bag. I hear people refer to all types of belt bags as sling bags, though, it's more about how they wear them. If they don't like them around the waist and prefer to wear them across the chest or over the shoulder- sling bag!
Other randos:
Tummy pack, belly bag, moon bag, belt bag, waist bag, butt pack, sling bag.
People stress a lot over what to call them, but don't even worry! Just call it what you like. Growing up we called them fanny packs, but the other day my mom referred to hers as a tummy bag which cracked me up! Tummy bag?!
Anyway, whatever you call them, they are all the rage. We make our bags in our small studio in Bellingham, WA. That's right- Not Made in China! Check them out in our shop Attack Cat Bags!
]]>If you are a beginning roller skater, or just learning to roller skate outdoors, falls are no doubt at the front of your mind. No one wants to fall, no one wants to fall in front of other people, and no one wants to get hurt. But the reality is that falls are part of skating. Everyone, even pros, fall sometimes when they have wheels on their feet. When you are skating outdoors, those falls can be even more dangerous because the surface you are skating on is often harder than a rink floor. Learning to fall properly can save you from injury, and keep you rolling!
I have gathered a few great videos on how to fall. This might sound crazy, but one of the best things you can do when you are learning to roller skate is practice falling. If you do, you can train yourself to fall correctly when the time comes and hopefully mitigate some of the damage and get right back up. These videos will also give you tools to learn how to avoid falls, and advice on what safety gear to wear.
Our first video is from Queer Girl Straight Skates. Rebel and Shove do a great job of going over safety gear and helping you to practice falling. I did some practice falls after watching this video and it gave me a huge confidence boost to learn that it' didn’t hurt that much to go down on my knee pads. That’s what they are there for!
No tutorial round up would be complete without a video from Dirty Deb, the queen of online skate lessons. Here are two fabulous videos about how to fall, why we fall, and how to get back up and keep skating!
Nicole Fiore is better known for her more advanced tutorials, but I love her take on falling safety, so I included this video as well. She is great, be sure to watch!
As always, don’t forget to gear up before you head out! Check out the Roller Skate Bag Fanny Pack shop! Our bags are glam, functional, and designed to photograph perfectly for your feed!
If you are a beginner roller skater, learning to skate outdoors, or an adult learning to rollers skate, chances are you have faced some confidence set backs. Whether it was a fall, a close call, or a group of “cool kids” at the park, you are not alone! It takes time to learn a new skill, and it’s not often that we, as adults, learn hard new things in public where everyone can see us struggle.
If you need a push to get you back out on those skates, check out these skate tutorials and videos I have for you today! They will give you some great advice, little things to work on, and a big dose of You Are Not Alone!
This first video is from the Moxi Podcast. It’s a chance for you to hear skaters you for sure follow on IG describe their own insecurities and how they manage them, as well as offer you advice. It’s full of heart and vulnerability, and could be just the thing you need to get back out there!
Next we will get Rebel and Shove, a couple of bad ass skaters talking straight to you about how to skate with less fear. These ladies speak from the heart about their experiences as beginner skaters and how they manage their fear of skating even after all these years on wheels.
I hope you found some advice that resonated with you today! If you haven’t already, be sure to go dive into the Instagram skate community. It’s welcoming to everyone, super beginner friendly, and easy to find.
Don’t forget skate style when it comes to giving yourself a confidence boost! Sometimes a little glam is all you need to feel like a star on your skates. If that’s you, check out our sweet roller skate fanny packs! There is one for every style!
When I started learning to skating outside, stopping was the first thing on my mind. When you are skating at the rink, stopping isn’t something you have to learn, you can just skate over to the wall or barrier and stop yourself- you don’t even have to slow down! Outside is a different story. There are usually no walls to help you stop, and grabbing onto light poles can throw you off balance and really make you feel uncool. If you are a beginning roller skater who is heading outside with your skates, you need to have a few stopping tools under your belt for safety and style. These tutorials will give you skills, confidence, and some great things to practice when you are out skating.
This first video comes from Dirty Deb, it was the first tutorial I watched on stopping. I had just come home from my maiden voyage on my new skates and I was terrified and feeling pretty low confidence. I had been trying to use my toe stops in all the wrong ways. Watch Dirty Deb give the low down on stopping for beginners in her signature no nonsense style, you won’t regret it!
This next video comes from Estro Jen at Moxi. She has a lot of good tips and a slightly different take on stopping. Plus, her skate style is really on point. Those pants! I want them! Anyone else?
I hope you have gotten a few things to practice next time you are out skating. Don’t forget your protective gear and, of course, your fanny pack!
If you are just learning to skate, or if you are hitting the streets for the first time, you are going to need the right gear. Chances are really high that if you found a pair of back or white leather skates in a closet or at the thrift store, they have rink wheels on them. How to tell?
You look at the number! 85-103a are the hard wheels, these are meant for indoor skating. 73-85a are the softer wheels, which are good for outdoor skating.
Why does hardness matter? It has to do with the surface. In the rink, you are unlikely to encounter any change in surface or debris. You can have a wheel that is nice and hard, which allows you to go faster and makes your skates more reactive. This is great for indoor figure skating, speed skating, or freestyle skating indoors. When you are outside, you want the wheels nice and soft so that they can adapt to the changing terrain. Also known as gummy wheels, outdoor wheels can go over bumps and cracks better, and they will give you a fighting chance to stay upright if you hit a rock or other random small object.
There are lots of great resources out there to learn about which wheels you should choose, but a great place to start is with this rundown from Dirty Deb.
When you buy a pair of skates, be sure to check out the number associated with the wheels. Lots of skates these days are coming standard with an outdoor wheel, which is super handy. Getting the right wheels for your terrain is the difference between a fun skate and a lot of time spent on your butt!
Don’t forget to check out the post about safety gear, and the post abut how to fall safely. Even if you don’t want to fall ( no one does!) you will fall at some point. It’s much better to be prepared for these falls when you are learning to skate, so that you don’t get hurt and have to quit.
If you are heading out to skate, you need an Attack Cat Bag on your waist! They are super stylin, and protect your gear. One of the most important parts about skating is those headphones, am I right? You need to keep that phone close so that they still work. Our bags are the perfect solution! Look good, rock out, stay safe!
]]>When the world shut down, a lot of people either bought new skates or dusted off the skates in their closet and headed outside. What a lot of learned really quickly is that skating outside is very different than skating at the rink. First of all, it’s possible that the rink skates are miles better than the skates you found at the bottom of a pile in the garage, or for 5 bucks at the thrift store. This might sound crazy, but rink skates are actually pretty good. They have sturdy boots, metal plates, and wheels that are designed for the surface that they are being used on. A good rink will clean and maintain those skates as well. If you found an old pair of skates laying around, chance are none of those things will be true. I am going to cover beginning hardware in a different post, so we will move on for now.
The second thing thing that may have become apparent when you hit the streets is that it’s a lot scarier than rink skating, especially at first. There is no wall to hold onto, there are bumps, cracks, and uneven surfaces. You may encounter cars or bikes or ROCKS! When you hit the ground, it’s really, really hard. All of these things make it even more important that you take time to learn some skills and learn to skate outdoors safely.
I have gathered a few videos from some of my favorite skate teachers who will give you the basics for learning to skate outdoors, and for basic learning to skate as an adult.
First up, I love this video from Rebel at Queer Girl Straight Skates. This was my first tutorial when I bought my skates back in March and hit the streets. It provides a lot of really useful info about sidewalks, and safety info for skating in the street.
This next video is near and dear to my heart. I discovered it about a month into outdoor skating, and it gave me a serious confidence boost. Not only does Dirty Deb give the best technique tips, but she opened my eyes to different strides and styles of skating, and gave me a whole new skill to practice. This video also inspired my to find a parking lot to skate in, rather than sticking to the narrow path I had been using. With a wide open lot, there is more room for playing around, and there were less people to avoid in my case! Definitely check out this video if you are learning to skate or just learning to skate outdoors and pay attention to all of her tips!
This next one is a bit longer, but it’s full of really great tips. It’s like a class! Take notes! Estro Jen started this series right after lock down hit the west coast in March, and she made some really good videos. I think I actually watched this on live! Oh, those were the days. Set aside an hour and listen to what this pro skater has to say, it just might save you someday if you find yourself on a hill or rolling into traffic!
As always, if you want to look fabulous while you are learning to skate outside, you need an Attack Cat Bag!
Skating backwards is one of the first things that people want to learn after mastering the whole staying upright thing. It’s scary, though! Add the element of skating outside and you have a recipe for low confidence. We have all watched way too many beautiful videos on instagram and tik tok of pro skater flying around backwards, cruising down the street or down the boardwalk backwards. And then we strap on our skates, head out to the parking lot, and end up on our butts after hitting one little pebble! Learning to skate backwards takes hard work and practice, just like learning any new skate move. I have gathered a few videos that helped me a lot when I was first starting my outdoor backwards skate journey. I hope you find some inspiration, and some helpful advice!
This first tutorial comes from a fun teacher, Rebel from Queer Girl Straight Skates. She is upbeat, funny, and gives you the real rundown on how to get started with backwards skating. If you are learning to roller skate, or trying to figure out how to roller skate outside, Rebel is an incredible resource!
Next video comes from Dirty Deborah Harry from the Dirty School of Skate. I love Dirty Deb. She teaches skating for real in her own skating rink, and her videos are what it would be like if you went to actual skate school. This video is indoors, but the techniques are solid. She doesn’t throw you right into anything, she talks a lot about body alignment, as well as why certain movements make certain things happen. I think about some of her catchy phrases while I am out skating still to this day and they help me a lot! Definitely watch this video and take notes!
Lastly, this great video from Estro Jen. This was actually the first backwards tutorial that I used when I was starting. I really like how she goes over issues of balance, and how to look backwards while you are skating backwards. As a bonus, she gets kicked out of the garage she is filming in and has to move the shoot. We have all been there! I never thought I would be getting kicked out of parking garages in my 30’s, but here we are!
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