Remember those old elementary skating parties? Those were the best, weren't they? I used to LOVE to go roller skating. Granted, I was not very good, BUT I could skate backwards. Not the really good skating backwards where you can cross your feet over each other, turn around and shake your bottom...no, in order for me to skate backwards, I had to do the figure 8. Anybody know what I'm talking about? You carefully turn around and make sure that no one runs you over. Then you get your feet parallel with each other and slowly start the "figure 8". Your feet go out and then in, out and then in. And, miraculously, you go backwards. It usually only lasted a few feet because my thighs would start hurting and I would have to stop COMPLETELY (if I didn't come to a full stop, more than likely, I would fall down). After stopping, I would slowly turn myself around again and take off.
One year for Christmas I got a white pair of roller skates with pink rollers. I loved them! I don't even know now why I wanted them. It's not like I spent 4 of the 7 nights at the rink, usually it was once a month, if that. I do remember a girl in my class being on the roller skating team (what!) and I thought she was beautiful. I'm sure I wanted to be like her, so I begged my mom for some skates. I wonder what happened to those?
My favorite parts of the roller rink were "red light, green light" and partner skate. I don't think it was actually called "partner skate" (not to be confused with "couple's skate" which I did not like! Did they seriously expect me to hold someones hand and stay upright at the same time...come on!). In partner skate, you get a partner (duh) and one of you gets really low to the ground, usually extending one leg while keeping the other leg tucked underneath, and the other person pushes the knelt one around the rink. I always liked to do the pushing because I was afraid that my fingers would get run over if I was the one doing the tucking.
I have only been skating a few times since elementary school. A few times happened in college. We would have to drive all the way to Little Rock to go skating though because Searcy did not have a roller rink. Come on Searcy, get with the program! Although, Matthew did inform me that Searcy used to have one. I guess that got rid of it when the 90's started. My social club (HU version of sorority) even had a skating function one time. We all dressed up in 80's gear. It was so much fun!
Tonight, our church had a skating night. It was hilarious! But, the best part, was to see the 30 and 40 year olds skating who you KNEW used to be on their town roller skating team and dreamed that one day the Olympics would make roller skating an event. When they pulled out the limbo stick, I have never been so impressed to see "how low" so many of them got. The way they were able to practically do the splits while still keeping their rollers on the floor was inspiring. I'm sure most of them are using ice packs and hot pads tonight to quiet the hurt.
I think I should get on ebay and find me a pair of white roller skates with pink rollers...maybe the Olympics is in my future after all.
10 comments:
I remember for sure. I was a regular at the Rink and would always have my wheels loosened. I thought i was the coolest. I havent been in a very long time. I need to go. I wonder if i still got it? I wish i could have seen all the 30-40 year olds. I am sure it was a sight. I hope you took some pictures.
Yes, Searcy DID used to have a skating rink because I was a regular in my elementary school days. I had a friend who had a crush on several (skanky?!) guys that went there regularly so she would beg me to go with her.
That skating function in college was fun -- I had forgotten all about it!
Don't forget that the Hokey Pokey was a part of the roller skating fun! I remember as kids we skated atleast every weekend and my brother would wear his black "Members Only" jacket..pretty cool!
Aahh skating parties!! Those were the best. We always had to go on Saturday mornings because the scary high school kids went on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. I too was a "figure 8er." I never learned the really cool moves. Good times.
how awesome! wow. you just took me to memory lane. remember wipe out? they would play that music and when they said wipe out, everyone had to fall on their knees and quit skating? ok maybe that was only in Alabama...womp womp
Don't forget about couple skating to "More than Words" by Extreme.
Nothing like holding hands with your junior high or high school love interest while you skated in circles.
Previous post by Jim.
Searcy does once again have a rink. The world is right again. Whatever, I think I have been once for a function with the club I sponser. I've never been very good.
-Sarah Baines
Every Saturday, 10a-1p, I was there. Favorite game-Shoot the Duck; also loved lip sync contests and limbo contests...I was a rink rat for sure.
I, too, was a regular at the roller rink! I had several birthday parties at the roller rink. I loved couple skating with my 4th grade boyfriend!
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