Friday, April 25, 2008
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Friday Night: Time to Shuffle at the Roller Rink
I've been a roller-skating buff since about the age of 24. I took it up the same year I stopped drinking. It was something fun to do, there was music that you could "dance" to on skates, and no alcohol. I needed an outlet instead of longing to go out drinking. Pretty soon I discovered there was a whole world of cool skating - "jamming" - that I loved to watch and do myself once I got the rhythm and the confidence developed. One of the local rink rats - Rudy - taught me some moves, and over time became one of my best friends. He and I still "shuffle" together sometimes when he's in town, kind of like the two guys in this video doing the "Dream Team Shuffle". Rudy was so talented on skates, but he was more of a street kid so he didn't get any attention for it in school like all the football and basketball jocks, but man was he talented on skates.
My inner spirit responds to rhythmic skating like this. I discovered while doing some Youtube surfing that they actually have national championships for jamskating, and shuffling is one of the categories. Friday nights at the local rink they have a three-hour jam night, playing all the classic roller-skating jams like Atomic Dog, Diamond Girl, Party in the House, Electric Kingdom, you name it.
So turn the lights down, start the disco roller ball, get your groove on and shuffle around the rink. Friday night, time to jam.
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Comments (3)
LOVE IT!!! So glad to see them on quad wheels instead of inline. I grew up watching this stuff and dancing on my skates. For some reason girls didn't jam as much in my day. The pinnacle for me was the all-hallowed romantic back-front couple skate. Anyway . . . this is great timing too Jeff, because I'm taking my daughter to a skating party tonight. This roller queen will be hitting the hardwood in a major way. However, I do have one beef with skating rinks today (or the one I'll be going to, in particular). What is up with the MUSIC? They play this modern day crap with no beat. (Don't I sound like an old fart?) A strong base line is a must for good skating. What do you think that little rat in the sound booth would do if a mid-30's minivan Mom requested Atomic Dog?? HA HA!!
I loved roller skating...still do on occasion...always wished i had the time to get better.
Sounds like a great way to keep in good physical condition while having an enjoyable time socially. Very wholesome I would say!
David