San Francisco does not have an indoor roller rink. The nearest rinks are over a half-hour away. But that doesn’t stop the Godfather of Skate from searching out unique venues that he can turn into great indoor skate spots.
The latest spot is the former Sacred Heart Church at 554 Fillmore @ Fell St.
The first ‘rolligious’ service got underway last week and was a big success!
Service is from 7-10pm
Check it out, you might even be able to score a “Church of 8 Wheels” T-shirt, designed by yours truly.
I LOVE a good roller disco party!! I enjoy sharing my passion with skaters and non-skaters alike. However, it’s a complete bummer when a few people are acting thoughtlessly and ruining all the fun. Safety is extremely important so that we can ALL enjoy ourselves without fear or frustration.
In the spirit of education & fun, I’d like to share some basic tips and etiquette for your next skate shindig;
1. The Glide Lane
This is where you generally find people skating around in a large circle (Counter-clockwise, unless the DJ says otherwise). Try to maintain the pace of the general flow.
Please don’t skate against traffic for any reason. If your friend falls, don’t turn around and start going the wrong way to retrieve them. Chances are, they are fine and they will catch up with you. If not, a more experienced skater can help your friend and prevent other skaters from falling over them.
If you fall, no big deal, just GET UP. Especially on a crowded floor. Oncoming traffic does NOT STOP.
If you’re at a crowded party, it’s probably not the best time to try and learn how to skate backwards or some other super crazy move you’ve never done before.
Experienced skaters, don’t stop and bust a move in glide lane where everyone has to stop or skate around you. Keep it moving, you know better.
2. The Middle
This is an area reserved for skate/line dancing. This area is for slightly more experienced skaters who wish to practice/perform moves that can’t be safely done in the glide lane.
NO PARKING ON THE DANCE FLOOR. (Please do not stand in this area.)
ONLY if the session is not crowded, this can be a good place to practice. Just make sure to keep watch for others. (Especially over your shoulder.)
Seasoned skaters, please look out for each other as well.
If for some reason you don’t have skates on and still wish to dance, please DON’T dance anywhere in the skate area. Because space is very limited, it’s very dangerous and you are basically in the way of all the people trying to skate.
Or I’ll be forced to give you a ticket, so GIT WITH IT!
3. Skating in Large Groups
Everyone loves to skate with a buddy, (COUPLES SKATE!) but if you’re with a large group of pals huddling around talking, or hand-to-hand in a chain, please know that you could be a potential road hazard. If people cannot move around you and cannot stop, they may have to run into you and no one wants that. Break it up every once in awhile so people can pass.
4. Horseplay/Showing off
Please remember a roller disco party is not a race or a derby bout. Please don’t chase others, play tag or any other kind of fast, erratic skating. Predictability is important in a crowded area of less-experienced skaters.
Also, don’t be that person who starts showing out beyond your actual skill level and winds up wiping out and taking a bunch of people down with them. It does not make you look cool or impress anyone, it makes you look like an obnoxious JERK. (And you could seriously hurt yourself or some one else.)
5. Food/Drink
NEVER EVER bring food or drink onto the skate floor. I mean EVER! If you do accidentally spill something, make an effort to clean it up. (Your MOM doesn’t work here.) Spilled liquid on a skate floor is EXTREMELY dangerous. Try to find someone to help locate a mop/towel, or at the very least try to alert oncoming skaters that there has been a spill.
6. HAVE FUN!!
Above all, just be friendly and courteous, the same way you’d like to be treated. Be aware of who is around you at all times. Respect the space and the rights of other skaters who are also just there to have a funky good time!
Was there anything I missed? Did you have an experience you wanted to share? Am I just a big party pooper? 😉
Leave a comment below!
One of the best things about skating is how it brings together all different kinds of people who might not have had the opportunity to befriend each other otherwise. It totally helps to expand your worldview and your circle of friends.
Since I started skating, I’ve been fortunate to find a home among several skate communities. Each one inspires me in different ways. I also learn different skills from each one.
There’s nothing better when different types of skaters get together and exchange ideas. For example, I often talk to derby skaters who tell me that they wish they could skate dance, but everything they learn in derby is the opposite of what you would do when you skate-dance. To loosen the girls up during one session, I asked them to show me some of their drills and I showed them a way to add a little funk and make it a dance “move.”
Pretty sure “Derby Dance” is going to be a ‘thing’ one day. We’ll keep working on it. 😉
Recently the SF Roller Girls were invited to entertain during the B.A.D. Girls Derby halftime show. The result had the crowd roaring!!
ENJOY.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Special thanks to D. Miles and Jane Hammer (B.A.D. Girls), for mixing up the chocolate and the peanut butter.
When I talk to people about skating, it can be a little challenging. Some automatically think I skate derby, just because I’m a woman. A lot of people think of it as being stuck in a time warp with images of rollerblading in a 80’s power suit conjured up in their minds.
Then, a few weeks ago I saw this incredible trailer. It actually gave me goosebumps.
THIS is what I do.
There is a vibrant community of skaters and artists across the globe doing amazing things on 8 wheels. These film makers really seem to get what this movement is about. Fortunately, they’ve hit their fundraising goal. But there’s still a little time to donate if you like what you see. You can check out their Kickstarter page here: http://kck.st/1d3m8yX
Every Sunday afternoon, you’ll find the original “Church of 8 Wheels” in session at the Skatin’ Place. It’s one of the only outdoor skating rinks in the whole country! It’s located in Golden Gate Park at 6th & Fulton St.
Here are 10 reasons why you should get down there and experience some ROLLIGION!
10. It’s FREE!
All you need is a pair of skates. If you don’t have a pair, you can rent some for the day at: Golden Gate Park Bike & Skate 3038 Fulton St San Francisco, CA 94118 (415) 668-1117
If you don’t feel like skating, have a picnic! There’s plenty of room to dance on the grass hill.
(It may be hard to fight the urge, but for your safety, don’t dance in the skate area, unless #7.)
9. You get to play outside.
You’ve been cooped up in your office all week, bleary eyed from the computer screen. Enjoy the sun (and the fog) and feel the wind blowing through your hair!
The only time we don’t roll is in the rain. (But sometimes even then, we might.)
Come outside and play!
I’ll have extra sunscreen.
8. It’s great exercise
Skating does a body good. A good skate will make you sweat. 16 times around an average size rink is about 1 mile, one hour of skating burns 600 calories if you skate constantly.
Skate around the glide lane, or learn some new dance moves in the middle. The people there are super-friendly and happy to try and teach you some basic moves to get you started.
7. Audience Participation
Come learn epic group dances like Thriller and Cupid Shuffle!
6. Roll with Legends
You can roll with San Francisco skate legends like the Rollerdance Man and The Godfather of Skate!
The Rollerdance Man (Classic clip of the Golden Rollers)
The Godfather of Skate
5. The Fashion
Bright colors and funky patterns everywhere! You can see everything from hip-hop to playa-wear. There’s often special guests like cowboys, angels, super heroes, Morpheus and even Jesus!
Abe Lincoln perhaps?
4. The Funk
Skatin Place has it’s very own jumpin’ sound system, courtesy of the Godfather.
Enjoy the dance hits from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and beyond while you skate.
3. This guy.
If you’re lucky enough to observe this specimen in his natural habitat, you won’t be able to take your eyes off his funky dancing, never-ending energy, and infectious smile!
2. The SF Roller Girls & The Roller Divas
Never underestimate a woman on wheels. EVER. No really. I MEAN it.
Whether it’s dancing the coolest moves, or racing long distance, these women roll HARD, and look GOOD doing it too.
1. It’s a party ya’ll.
I’ve never seen any other place where people of all ages, colors and creeds get together and have a funky good time. It’s like having a family reunion every weekend!
White Chocolate - Roller Skating 