We all want to be better skaters, yeah? So practice, practice practice. But where else can you skate to hone those rad skills?
Roller disco!
No, we’re not kidding & this aint no 70s throwback either (although that’d be nice in a retro kind of way).
The very lovely folks at Skaters Club North East run 3 roller discos on Tyneside most weekends. They’re family affairs, so yes there’s a lot of kids to dodge, but loads of parents too who are always happy to see more grown-ups on skates.
A lot of the skaters, young & old, have some pretty awesome moves on them, and are often happy to teach you how to do their favourite trick. Particular mention has to go to the Dads who used to hang out down the Whitley Bay Plaza in their teens & those who got into roller hockey – you’ll know them by their speed & agility (& age!).
The organisers run beginners classes before the main sessions if you feel you need it.
They also play some games during the main session, which are a great way to practice your speed skating & quick turns.
Heads up though – sometimes sessions are cancelled, so keep up to date with Skaters Club North East Facebook page.
Fridays
- Lakeside Leisure Centre, Killingworth. NE12 6SA
- 6:00-7:15pm, £3 (Skate Hire – £1)
Saturdays
- The Parks Leisure Centre, North Shields. NE29 6TL
- 6:45-8:15pm, £3.50 (Skate Hire – £1)
Sundays
- Temple Park Leisure Centre, South Shields. NE34 8QN
- 7:00-8:30pm, £3.50 (Skate Hire – £1)
Outside
Really? well yeah, why not? Somewhere flat & smooth is good for starters (well duh…). Some of our skaters regularly practice in basketball/tennis courts. Some skate to work.
In the North East, you’ll’ve spotted all the water what with the coast & rivers & what not. Well they often have flat smooth footpaths for your skating pleasure.
Do I need special kit for skating outside?
First off, check out the FAQ on kit. After you’ve got yourself suited & booted, the only real difference for outdoors is wheels.
If you’ve got a £30-40 pair of disco boots, you’ll be fine. The wheels are very rubbery & will provide you with plenty of grip without tearing themselves up on the stones. This is what the kids in the street are skating in anyway & they cope fine, so you will too. Some of our skaters have hung on to their disco boots specifically for skating outside.
If you’ve bought derby skates, they’ve probably come with indoor wheels. This doesn’t mean you can’t skate outside in them – far from it. You just might not get the same level of grip as you do inside.
But whatever your wheels, remember to clean them when you get back home. Wipe off the grime and pick out any grit.
At home
Definitely kidding now, right? Nope. Some of our skaters didn’t skate as kids, so had to start from scratch as adults. Without the luxury of long hot summer days where they could skate all day long, they wore their skates whenever they could: at work, round the house, doing chores like the washing up & the laundry; rolling along the garage, kitchen, hall, bathroom; practicing derby stance in the lounge in skates…
p.s.
If you find anywhere else awesome to skate – please let us know!