Roller skating has made its way into popularity for another generation, and this time, social media has contributed a lot to creating the hype.
Lockdown was a tough time for most of us. But it gave us all a break, and a chance to get in touch with old hobbies or form new ones. Fitness became a huge thing, especially during this time, since after a while, people realized sitting all day at home was taking a toll on their physical and mental health. Recreations such as online breakout escape rooms and virtual movie parties became trendy options for mental health breaks.
For physical wellness, instead of going down the route of normal exercises, the trend for alternative, fun workouts caught up much more widely. Roller skating is one such activity that got popular for being both fun and productive.
Roller skates have been going in and out of popularity since the 1880s in different parts of the world. We often associate the 70s with the rise of the activity since that is when it really took off in America, but this fun-on-the-wheels concept has been around for ages. Let's look at some of the lesser-known facts and anecdotes related to this timeless amusement:
1. The unforgettable entrance of Joseph Merlin
John Joseph Merlin was an entrepreneur who invented roller skates. He had a thought to make an entrance with a violin and debut his latest invention, the wheeled shoes. He hit the masquerade party as he planned, and the viewers were astonished. But he couldn't control his invention and collided into the lengthy mirrors lined in the ballroom.
2. The patent owner
Even though John Joseph Merlin is the inventor of roller skates, Monsieur Petitbled owned the patent in 1819. His skates were different as they were three-wheeled inline skates that could not turn back.
3. Olympic athletes on roller skates
Yes, roller skates haven't made the way to the Olympics yet. But ice skaters are trying these wheels as well. Some Olympic athletes such as Chad Hedrick, Apollo Ohno, and Tara Lipinski have admitted that roller skating has helped them train their bodies for balance and deliver better performances.
4. 100 years to take a turn
After Merlin, several people tried the same shoes and wheel combination. But none of them could turn around on the wheels. For a century, roller skates moved only in a straight line. At last, a man named James Plimpton tried to attach the trucks (as we call it now) to the bottom of the skates. And this brought a paradigm shift in skating as it became useful for transportation.
5. Making vows on skates
In 1912 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a couple named Miss Hattie Baldwin and Mr. W. McGrath took their vows on skates, and it was the first recorded incident of its kind. After this, several couples got married on wheels, honoring their common love for skates.
6. Bringing the first meals on wheels.
In the 50s and 60s, waitressing on roller skating was common in the U.S. These people were known as Carhops. The brand Sonic continues to honor this tradition today. They conduct an annual Sonic Skate-Off and award the best car hop across its 3500 locations in the U.S.
7. Roller skaters: the geographical trait
The 1970s saw the height of roller skating, and it led to the invention of different styles of roller skating in different cities. It became easy to spot the city of the skater just from his style of skating. Have you heard of JB style? It is named after the famous musician James Brown.
8. Amish youth's transportation
Amish communities have avoided cars, motorcycles, and even bikes as a mode of transportation. Even after their parents' disapproval, the Amish youth took rollerblades for everyday transportation in the 1990s. The sport remains in many Amish communities even today.
9. The Cardio
Roller skating can be counted as one of the best cardio workouts. It uses 80% of your muscles and burns up to 650 calories an hour while having fun!
10. The national museum
There is a national museum for roller skating in the United States. This very place has the largest collection of roller skates and related gadgets. Hence, this place is frequently visited by roller skate lovers from across the world.
11. The Pan American games
Pan American Games and the World Games have included roller skating as an event. Even the Olympics have Roller Derby and Speed skating as demonstration sports.
12. Even a 3-year-old can skate
Kids can learn roller skating from a very young age. If they show an affinity towards skating, you can buy them a pair with all the associated safety gear, and in all probability, they will learn the sport on their own. It is a fun way to allow them to train their bodies from a young age and grow tolerance towards physical exercise. Kids as young as age three can learn to roller skate under supervision.
13. The trend of roller rink disco
The 1970s were fond of roller skates, and it was during this time that roller rink discos became popular. The invention and creation of polyurethane wheels in the decade led to the launch of roller discos. Due to this change, roller skates became a tool for entertainment as well.
14. The rollerblades
Many usually use the terms Rollerblade and inline skating interchangeably. Rollerblade was the most famous inline skates brand in the 90s. Then, it just became the replacement of the actual word. Several other brands of the time followed the design of Rollerblade skates because of their popularity.
15. The rink
1916's The Rink was the first-ever roller skate movie. The movie starred Charlie Chaplin, who was actually an experienced skater. But the fact was unknown to the audience back then, who were awed by his skills on the screen.
Conclusion
Roller skating has made its way into popularity for another generation, and this time, social media has contributed a lot to creating the hype. You can see people get creative with this activity and elevate it to a level of performance art on any social media feed. Some things just never go out of vogue, don't they?
