Newsgroups: rec.sport.skating.roller,rec.answers,news.answers Subject: Conventional (quad) Roller Skating FAQ, part 0 of 2 Summary: Conventional (quad) Roller Skating - Introduction to Newsgroup References: Sender: Followup-To: rec.sport.skating.roller Reply-To: grr@tharsis.com Distribution: Organization: George's Pet Unix System Keywords: skating,roller,quad,FAQ Expires: Sat 31, Dec 1994 23:59:59 GMT Archive-Name: roller-skating/roller-faq-0 Posting-Frequency: monthly Last-Modified: Tue Sep 17 12:20:45 EDT 1996 *** Copyright 1995-1996 by George Robbins - see detailed note at end *** This document is posted periodically to the rec.sport.skating.roller usenet newsgroup, and can also be accessed via the world wide web (www) using the following URL: http://www.netaxs.com/people/grr/Roller Introduction The rec.sport.skating.roller newsgroup is intended to provide a forum for discussing conventional (a.k.a quad) roller skating as opposed to the "roller skating" on in-line skates or Rollerblades(tm). Here's the official charter: rec.sport.skating.roller This group provides a forum for discussion of all forms of skating on conventional (quad) roller skates, including indoor rink skating, outdoor skating, figure/artistic and social roller skating. If you're really looking to talk about in-line skating, the newsgroup you want is rec.sport.skating.inline. There's also a .racing sub-group to discuss all forms of skate racing, but you can also try talking about quad "speed" here. The charter isn't meant to limit discussion to just the topics specified, however as a guideline, discussion should be related to "roller skating". Anyway, this is just the "first pass" at an introduction to the roller group - suggestions, additions or questions are welcome: Send e-mail to grr@tharsis.com Some (predictably) frequently asked questions: Some of these have a tongue in cheek component, but it's important to avoid being defensive about *our* skating, and to try to keep things in a reasonable perspective, especially when you seem to be outnumbered! Q: Isn't roller skating dead? A: No, it just went through a "boom-bust phase" in the late 70's through early 80's, there are still plenty of roller rinks (about 1500 in the US) and lots of roller skaters. Q: Why isn't there more disucussion of roller skating on the Net? All I hear about is ice skating and in-lines! A: The "traditional" skating population is largely kids 6-16 and adults that have gotten past those "pay the baby sitter" days. It's only during periods like the current in-line skating boom that you get a lot of "adult" late-teens thru 40's involvement in a participant activity. Unfortunately, since this age group is the biggest class of internet users, you don't hear about much but in-lines. Then too, skating is something that you *do* and talking about skating is best reserved for those odd moments when you can't be skating somewhere! Q: Are there other sources of on-line Roller Skating discusisons? A: Yes, America On-Line (AOL) is said to have a very active roller skating forum under the "Grandstand" sports area. Nothing limits you to a single forum... Maybe you get "on the internet" for free, but there are usually AOL introductory "free time" offers available or included with the last modem you bought, so you can visit and see if there's more there for you. Q: OK, I've already got AOL, but where on earth is the Roller Skating stuff hidden? A: It's in the Grandstand "Other Sports" area. Here's the procedure that someone (Preston) supplied: Mac Version of the truth: First, get to the Main Menu with the Flashbar showing. Click "Keyword" Icon. Enter "Grandstand" in the box and Click "Go". From "The Grandstand" Home Page, Click "Sports Boards" Icon. Click Arrow Down to "Other Sports". Double Click on "Other Sports". - At this point you will get a message about how "Other Sports" is the area for all sports not covered elsewhere in the Grandstand (a bit discriminatory, but I digress...;-) ). Click "Browse Folders" Icon and Voila! Artisitic Roller Skating, as you requested. Windows Version of the truth: Log in and get to the main menu. Pull Down the "Go To" menu Select "Keyword" Enter "roller skating" This gets you to the "Grandstand/Other" menu. Select "Roller Skating Area" You're getting closer... Select "Roller Skating Message Area" Select "Find New"... Q: AOL - gag, puke... How about web (WWW) sites? A: Well, there's always *my* web site, which has some links: http://www.netaxs.com/people/grr/roller. The mother-lode of all skating related sites is Robert Schmunk's "Skating the Infobahn" web page - links to almost any/everything: http://www.skatecity.com/Index/ Larry Lawson has a nice Artistic Skating Web Page: http://www.europa.com/~llawson/roller.htm Q: When I was a teenager, the roller rinks were clean, well-lighted places and a good spot for parents to drop off the kids for a good time, but now the only rink is in a bad neighborhood, and I don't like the looks of the crowd there. What Happened? A: It's that boom-bust thing again. During boom phases skating is cheap recreation, during bust phases it's seen as recreation for those to whom "cheap" matters. The difference between glitz and tawdry is mainly in perspective and a little dust. Also the rinks that sprang up to serve "boom times" were financially dependent on "boom crowds" and were the first to close, while lower-budget rinks serving a neighborhood or broader need survived. Don't judge on surface impressions - call/visit and see what the skating is like during both general or adult sessions. Q: Where can I buy "good" roller skates? A: The shop at your skating rink is a good bet, though there are some mail order firms that carry conventional skates. See the rest of the "Roller FAQ". Q: How can I find a good Roller Rink? A: Look in the phone book for your community and also those for other communities withing a comfortable driving distance from your location. You might also want to check out the rink directory at the web site mentioned at the top of this FAQ. Q: There's a pretty nice rink nearby, but all they play is "Rap Music". A: Skating works well with music having a good strong beat. Musical tastes change, but currently Rap (aka Hip-Hop) and related club dance music are popular and deliver the beat. You can attempt to ignore the words and let the music work, try ear-plugs, or look for other rinks with Adult "Rock", "Disco", "Oldies" or "organ music" sessions. Q: You talk a lot about "Adult Sessions", but every rink in Utah has only "family" or "general admission" sessions. A: Sigh - most adults have "more fun" skating when they don't have to worry about hordes of unpredictable children zipping around below eye level. Some areas have such a bias towards "family activity" that an adult-only session isn't viable, in others the adult skating participation dropped to the point where adult-only sessions were cancelled. Talk to the rink manager so that they become aware of a demand and you get *their* point of view. There's always the chance that they're sitting on a fence or willing to give something a try. There may also be an un-advertised coffee & donut daytime sessions or social/dance skating associated with an artistic club, rather than the skating rink. Q: Speaking of organ music, what rinks have real old-fashioned pipe organs? A: A few of those exisiting in the 70-80's timeframe are gone, but: The Oaks Park rink in Portland, OR has a Wurlitzer Pipe Organ ca. 1905 The North Avenue Rollerway in Chicago, IL also has a Wurlitzer. The Wheels in Motion rink in Wharton, NJ has a Pipe Organ of unknown type. Q: What ever happened to roller skating waitresses? A: Ray Kroc...when McDonald's established that folks were willing to walk up to a window for service instead as opposed to the traditional curb-side waitress service, the old style drive-in and all those waitressing jobs went into a decline. There are still a few real or revival drive-in's - mostly in the South, and some have still have roller skating waitresses in poodle skirts, usually on special 50's or hotrod days. Q: Is it OK to talk about in-lines? A: Yes, but try to keep the discussion comparitive and sane. Starting with "roller skates are old fashioned" or "in-lines suck" is more likely to generate arguments than reason. Q: OK, *are* in-lines better? A: They are *different* - there are some things where they are clearly better, other things where its pretty much the same, and some areas where they aren't yet competitive, though future designs might be. Skating involves personal *preferences*, some people prefer "figure skates", some "speed skates", some "in-lines" and some even prefer "ice skates". Some skaters actually enjoy multiple modes. Q: Everybody's getting in-lines, shouldn't I consider it too? A: If you're curious or want to try something new and different. Q: If I can roller skate, can I also ice skate or in-line skate? Vice versa? A: Yes, but... The basic skills are the same, however it always takes time and practice to get used to the "feel" of the other skates. The more comfortable you are with what you skate on now, the more frustrating the accomodation period. Q: OK, I tried switching, and didn't have much trouble "gettng going", but stopping turned out to be another matter - HELP! A: The one stop that works fairly well and safely across all types of skating is the "T-drag" where you glide on one foot, while holding the other nearly at right angles up againt the heel of the gliding skate and drag it cross-ways to slow down. Beyond that, make a concious effort to learn the "normal" braking method for each kind of skate, so you don't rely on something that's "not there" or that "works different" when go to brake whithout thinking or in an real emergency situation. Q: I tried hockey skates, and not only was the steering/turning wierd, I felt like I was about to fall off the backs of the blades every minute. My friend tried figure skates, tripped on the "toe pick" and went down really hard. What gives? A: Each skate has it's own "feel" for where you weight goes fore-aft on the skate during normal stroking and moves. Experiment a bit to find out what really happens as you move away from the "safe center" and what feedback the skate gives you when you're approaching either extreme. Remember that on all skates, you normally keep your balance toward the center and pick up the skate "parallel" at the end of the stroke rather than rolling off the toe. You usually "learn" these differences more quickly than you gain general confidence, but there are always a few nasty falls waiting when an unconcious response takes control. Q: Is "In-line Skating" a "fad"? A: Most participant sports go though boom-bust cycles. It's unlikely that in-line skating will ever "go away", however the broad-based popularity of in-line skating as an outdoor recreation/fitness activity will probably ebb after some years with cycling, bowling, running, aerobics, disco dance or some new activity/sport will be "hottest" in the public eye. Q: All my friends went and bought in-line skates and talk about how great skating outdoors is, *but* I don't think they actually skate very much! A: Maybe they dropped big bucks on the skates, but didn't understand that it takes a fair amount of learning to skate well, before skating really becomes comfortable and enjoyable. If there's a good rink scene in your area that allows in-line skates, get them to come out a few times. They may find that it's a nicer way to learn and that music and company help. Remember that if you are patient and like teaching, you can help your friends learn to skate better even if they're on in-lines. However, saying "this would be easier on real skates", is not a valid teaching technique - it either embarrasses your friends for making a foolish purchase or makes your instructions seem less relevant to their problems. Q: I *know* that real roller skates are better than in-lines, how can I get my struggling in-line friends to try them? A: Don't try to force it - when someone's used to in-lines or ice skates, they run into several common quad problems: the wheels stick out and can lock if your feet get too close; the steering action which makes quads nimble makes them seem trecherous or unstable; and all rental skates or boots suck. It's best just to set an example and when they're ready, try to explain the good/bad points, otherwise someome tries it once and and all they have are horror stories to report to all their in-line skating buddies. This ends up being counter-productive to the cause... ======================================================================== Copyright Notice: This material is Copyright 1995-1996 by George Robbins. Rights to reproduce or distribute via on-line services offering general usenet or internet access is freely granted, provided that such services do not impose contractural or copyright restrictions upon further free reproduction or re-distribution of the material, and that this copyright notice remains intact and visible. All other rights are reserved, contact George Robbins (grr@tharsis.com) regarding permissions.