Harry has had a passion for roller skating since childhood, and boy does he have some stories from those days! When he was only 11 years old he accidentally shot himself in the upper thigh with his parents 0.38 calibre pistol – an injury that Dr’s believed would be with him for life. Here’s how Harry describes coming back to skating after the accident: “When I got home from the hospital with a cast on my left leg my friend came over to sit with me and play checkers everyday, I looked at him and said I miss skating, Will you go get my right skate and put it on my foot.  Once again I became the neighborhood night show,  with sparks coming from my right foot, a cast on my left leg and 2 crutches under my arms. By age 12 God  healed me completely  and I’ve been skating on 2 feet ever since.”
Growing up in Birmingham Harry had the opportunity to spend time with his grandmother, Yvonne Turner, who was involved in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and a lifetime member of both the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth-cofounded American Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR) and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.-founded Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). “Every time I would go by to visit my grandparents, [my grandmother] would tell me one of these stories about what it was like when she was arrested protesting the Woolworth’s stores,” he recalled. “She was part of that protest for them to break down those segregation barriers.” Activism was in the family, and Harry took to it the same way that he did with skating – with great care and passion. Harry once ran for Mayor of Birmingham Alabama, is a former Volunteer Birmingham Police Chaplain, the former Special Projects Coordinator for Birmingham Metro NAACP, and is the current Legislative Director for the State of Alabama America Postal Workers Union. He is also curretly enrolled in the FBI Citizen’s Academy program. As you can see Harry serves daily as a (very busy) Community Activist!

Harry got the nickname ‘Travelling Shoes’ when he started preaching as a young man, and included the old gospel song “(Got On My) Traveling Shoes,” as part of his sermons. Harry would play with the lyrics and invent new verses to the song. One day at church the pastor introduced him as “The Travelling Shoes Preacher” and since then the nickname has stuck! Here’s a version of “(Got On My) Traveling Shoes,” by the Clara Ward Singers to give you an idea of the tune. (Note: Harry was originally inspired by Bishop Jasper Roby’s version of the song, but I wasn’t able to find that on YouTube)
Currently Harry runs a program called Stay in School with Travelling shoes, which I’ll let him describe in his own words: “I tell people all the time I don’t skate because I know How I skate because I know Why.  If people are going to take out their time and watch me then I wanna make sure I’m giving them more than just something for the eyes,  I started a program called Stay in School with Traveling Shoes Free Skate Night,  I pay out of my own pocket once or twice a month for 20 to 50 kids to skate for free, That’s probably why I’m broke now. Lol The program helps me to encourage children to stay in school and don’t give up on their education, then it also helps me address childhood obesity, while teaching them when someone fall down we all pick them up.  We have a great issue with gun violence  In our community, So my motto is if they are skating with me they are not shooting at you. I told you I don’t skate because I know how, I skate  because I know why”

You can join Harry’s Facebook groups here:
HARRY TRAVELING SHOES PREACHER TURNER
TRAVELING SHOES HEALING SKATERS
… message him via those groups if you’re in Birmingham and are looking for roller skating lessons from a caring professional.

If you want to learn more about Harry’s life and activism in Birmingham, check out this article:
Harry ‘Traveling Shoes’ Turner: The Ministry of Activism By Birmingham Times – September 14, 2022

If you’d like to join Rolla Skate Club as a Certified Instructor, check out our program here:
https://online.rollaskateclub.com/courses/instructor-training-indie 

The post Instructor Feature: Harry “Travelling Shoes” Turner appeared first on Rolla Skate Club.

Rojen is our new Community Builder here at Rollerland Rojen (she/they) has been a constant and colourful presence at Rolla YVR since we first opened our Rollerland facility in December. We are so excited to be working with her to further our collective goals of creating an Empowered Community of Strong Skaters

My name is Rojen and I also go by loudgurl – often living up to that name with my loud, vibrant personality! I live, work, and play on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, also known as Vancouver, and have recently been inspired to focus my energy on the parts of my life that inspire happiness. If there is one thing I have truly learned and understood in the last two years of the pandemic, it is the importance, power, and necessity of our local and global communities. Being isolated and longing for a change, I had a lot of time to reflect on my role in my own community. I wanted to make a meaningful and lasting impact for myself and others, not just through the pandemic, but for many years to come. This catalyst for change came in the most peculiar of ways: A pair of brand-new purple roller skates. I am an intermediate roller skater, spending most of my time at the skateparks and slowly progressing, having learned during the pandemic. Roller skating brought me a lot of peace and community during some of the most uncertain and traumatic times of the last two years, and I am grateful to the power of wheeled shoes in keeping me whole through it all. I am one of the founders of the East Van Skate Crows, a local skate park roller skating project here in Vancity. I enjoy documenting our local park scene through the East Van Skate Crows, showing our diverse community proudly taking up space in the skate parks, and giving back to the community in a variety of important ways. I see the big-picture vision of a more inclusive and impactful community, one that would include the needs and views of underrepresented groups of people when collaborating with the city and other community groups. I am also a dancer in the local Vancouver dance community, having amassed self-love, body confidence, and a sense of belonging over my years of dancing, and I enjoy sharing the joy and confidence that movement and community in all forms brings with others.

Check out Rojen skating skills and at the skate park in the videos below!

Rojen skating at Rollerland Rojen at the Skate Park

Where were you born?

Born in Vancouver and grew up in North Van!

When did you start working at Rolla?

December 2021, just as Rollerland opened!

When did you start rollerskating?

April 28, 2020!

 What do you love the most about rollerskating?

I absolutely love the freedom and confidence rollerskating gives you to be your most authentic self. I always feel like I can pull up to a skate space on my rollerskates as my most LOUDGURL self, and my skates further empower me to do so. It has challenged me in ways I never thought possible – pushing me to try things and work on movements that have made me reconsider what my body is capable of, and truly has given me so much body confidence. I helped put together a group of amazing new skaters at the peak of the pandemic, and we go by @EastVanSkateCrows – you will often find us kicking ass and holding space for each other at the skateparks. The community of incredible people and skaters I have found through skating has helped keep me committed when mental blocks have been especially difficult, and I am forever grateful for everyone I’ve met along the way. And through my role as Community Builder, I love facilitating that sense of belonging for other skaters. Rollerskating feeds my inner child and has made me a happier adult.

What’s your favorite skating move right now?

You’ll usually find me at the skateparks! I’m addicted to coping tricks and learning 5050s right now in the skatepark! And sliding floor moves on the rink!

What is your skate setup right now?

Currently, I’m riding my purple Beach Bunny Moxi skates (my first ever sk8s!) with wide XOXO trucks, @Wildbonesofficial sliders, and the Estrojen Bowl Bomber wheels – my current park setup until new skates arrive! People often know it’s me because of my all-purple everything!

Tell us something random and non-rollerskating about you

Ooooh what should I share? I have my degree in Criminology and have worked in Criminal Justice for many, many years! :’) I am a huuuge Amy Winehouse fan and got a tattoo of her when I was 27! Something I love sharing is my background! I am the first generation child of Immigrants – half Iranian and half Kurdish-Syrian and extremely proud of where my family comes from. Farsi was my first language and I love meeting other SWANA skaters that can relate to my story.

Share a good book, podcast or Netflix show

Honestly, I’m just going to recommend my favourite show of all time, if you haven’t seen it – you gotta! The show LOST. It was groundbreaking television at its time and I love the character development and storylines.

The post Meet the Rolla Team: Rojen appeared first on Rolla Skate Club.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rolla Skate Club Vancouver (@rollaskateclubyvr)

What’s your name? Marcela

When did you start skating? November 2020

 Tell us a bit about your skating history: I started skating with Rolla Skate Club during the pandemic. Once I got myself a pair of my own skates, I would bike to skate spaces around town, hit play on some tunes, and play around for hours…kicked out by the dark or by tennis players. I felt super lucky and welcomed to join up with fellow skaters throughout the summer of 2021 who also love to flow skate, hit up discos, and get lost into our own little skate zones with some good tunes and maybe a beer or two

What do you love the most about rollerskating? I love the feeling of the first few strokes of skating on a nice smooth surface. Everything in my body and mind relaxes and the muscle memory kicks in to rolling again— it’s like taking a deeeeep breath. The way music and skating go together so seamlessly. Cracking open new moves and skills — e.g. when they finally “click”. Sharing excitement for skating with other skaters!!!

What about coaching do you enjoy? Giving education to help folks discover new options/perspectives to guide their own journeys. Learning from other skaters (students, friends, coaches, whoever) about skating and having laughs while doing it!

What types of skating do you do? Artistic & flow. A bit dancey. All about the music. Slow or funky. And will get into park skating asap!!!

What’s your favorite skating move right now? Grapevine! And (working on) giving those dips a little more funky flavour

What is your skate setup right now? Jackson vista skates (purple), nylon plates, radar 62mm 78A wheels, dance plugs

Who/What inspires you right now in the skating world? Libby Williams, Estro Jen, Bfunkphenomenon, Coach Smokie at Rolla, Jason Acosta, Fairyquadmuva, Caro Hernandez

Who/What inspires you right now outside the world of skating? My friends and family are the people who inspire me the most every day

Tell us something random and non-rollerskating about you: I want to get into surfing on the West Coast!
I’m a helicopter-mom to my cat Cheeto :s
I can never say no to candy

This is Marcela’s cat Cheeto!

From this month forward we will be focusing on some of Rolla’s fabulous individuals – sharing their stories with you and giving you a glimpse into what keeps them inspired and rolling! Keep an eye out on our social media channels (Facebook & Instagram) to get to know them!

The post Meet the Rolla Team: Coach Marcela appeared first on Rolla Skate Club.

Get to Meet Coach Loca!

How do you like to be called? I like to be called by my short derby name “Loca” ( Loca Smoke-Ya)

When did you start skating? I started skating 11 Years ago.

Tell us a bit about your skating history: Besides skating in my teens, I really started rollerskating when I turned 40. I joined “Raw Meat”, a group run by 2 former roller derby players. They taught me how to get back to skating again and Introduce me to the magic world of Roller Derby. shortly after I Joined The League TCRG “The Terminal City Rollergirls” and played Roller Derby for 6 years. These were the best days of my life! I met great humans on the way and some of them will be my friends forever. I kept skating around the seawall and around the East van street areas until I heard that LuLu and Bizzy were opening Rolla! I started taking their classes and eventually took the Certified instructor Course that lead me to now coaching at Rolla! I will keep skating until the end of days!

What do you love the most about rollerskating? I love the freedom it brings to me, to my soul, the power I feel when I can use my whole body and dance, enjoy and feel the music as well. It’s a connection, a zen, My therapy.

What about coaching do you enjoy? I love sharing my knowledge with everyone that wants to learn how to skate. I love the feeling of accomplishment in people’s faces when they learn something from me, It is so rewarding and a huge way to give back to our community.

What types of skating do you do? Right now I love dancing on my skates, I also tried some skate park, did Short Track Roller Derby with Rolla. During summer I love to do the seawall and street skating. There is so much to learn on your skates that I cannot do only one thing!

What’s your favorite skating move right now? There are so many moves that are my favorites! I will say right now I’m into Downtown Variations.

What is your skate setup right now? I have a pair of Moxies (Lolly) with Power Riedell Revenge Plates and a set of the Moxies Fundae wheels. I also have a pair of custom-made (done by a very good friend of mine) Vans Booties with Reactor Fuse plates and Radar Energy outdoor wheels and lastly my roller Derby Skates Riedell Torch 495 boots with Reactor Neo Plates and Radar Halo 95A wheels.

Who/What inspires you right now in the skating world? I have so many people that inspire me in our skating community, people I skate with, and people I follow in social media but I get most inspired by the ones that share their love for rollerskating by teaching and learning from each other, especially the ones that advocate rollerskating history and inclusion. Some of the accounts I follow on IG @lilyskatesalot , @a.j.bolton , @skatelisa, @rollergirl_ca , @quadsk8 , @sormskater , @richardhumphrey , @dee_upshaw.

Who/What inspires you right now outside the world of skating? I love to learn about how I can be better myself everyday and love to get inspire by women, I’m listening to “Becoming” by Michelle Obama Audiobook, podcast “UnF*ck Your Brain by kara Loewentheil, I also like to watch empowering documentaries about woman throughout history.

Tell us something random and non-rollerskating about you: I’m originally from Peru but I’ve been living in Canada for more than 29 years! When I was 37, I found out that I was born HOH (Hard of hearing). If you don’t see me skating I’m probably dancing my butt off! I got married very young and I have a 34-year-old daughter. I love to make Pom poms for my skates. I only sing in the shower!

Anything else you want to share? My skating Journey has brought me so much, I have met (and still am) wonderful people and gained long-life friendships, learned so many skills both on my skates and in my personal life that I don’t see myself at 51 years old stopping any time soon.

Loca is an amazing human and coach and we are so lucky to have her as part of our awesome team! Check out this video of Loca’s moves teaching the downtown on our Instagram channel!

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rolla Skate Club Vancouver (@rollaskateclubyvr)

From this month forward we will be focusing on some of Rolla’s fabulous individuals – sharing their stories with you and giving you a glimpse into what keeps them inspired and rolling! Keep an eye out on our social media channels (Facebook & Instagram) and our blog to get to know them!

The post Meet the Rolla Team: Coach Loca! appeared first on Rolla Skate Club.

Coach Cupid has been spreading the joy of rolling at Rolla since 2019. They’ve taught everything from the kids programs to the derby bootcampers and are especially loved by our adult beginners for their patient and encouraging attitude.

Your name, skater name, or how you like to be called, and your pronouns: Sage / Cupid Stunt / Bustylicious (formerly)

When did you start skating? Rink skating: Glenwood Centre, Friday night roller rink for youth in Port Alberni (Circa early 90s) / Street skating – Port Alberni Safeway parking lot / Kitsukus Dike in my in-lines (most of the 90s, lol) / Roller Derby – 2006 with the start of TCRD!

Tell us a bit about your skating history: -Last TCRD founding member still playing with the league for its 15th Season. *if that happens this year
-I’ve played for many teams but love none of them like I do the Bad Reputations
-Played 2 years in a row at Burning Man with the Black Rock City Rollergirls
-Have been coaching new skaters and roller derby players for over ~12 years
-As a player I’m known for offensive plays to help my jammer score and have won many “Jammer’s best friend” awards
-HUGE Strategy and Rules nerd. I started watching roller derby avidly when I started playing… AND AM ADDICTED. Just as big a fan of watching the sport as I am of playing it.

What do you love the most about rollerskating? I love to skate fast. Playing a sport where you can also hit people while skating fast … is just dreamy. I also love the calm and control that you feel when your team comes together on a play, or when a blocker and jammer work so closely together that you don’t need to call a play using words at all … just an eyebrow or a hand gesture and you’re on the same page. Scoring points, winning games … but doing it TOGETHER! (Can you tell that I miss roller derby a bit? Lol)

What about coaching do you enjoy? -Teaching the kiddos!
-Watching when a skill clicks for a student for the first time.
-Seeing the skills and confidence build from a newbie on skates … to a fierce roller derby player.

What types of skating do you do? Rink Skating / Street Skating / Roller Derby …. still aspiring to learn: Artistic, Dance, Park! 😀

What’s your favorite skating move right now? I’m really enjoying working on all kinds of spins. I get dizzy really quickly so I need to practice this more!

What is your skate setup right now? New skates! Riedell Solaris with custom colors / Venus aluminum plates / Radar Halo wheels

Tell us something random and non-rollerskating about you: I am a dual Canadian / US citizen and love travelling south along the west coast. Vancouver to Baja is my favorite drive.

Anything else you want to share? Still aspire to play BANKED TRACK roller derby! Possibly with Tilted Thunder Railbirds in WA <3 … once there’s an open border.        

Check out Coach Cupid’s amazing skating skills on our Instagram channel!

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rolla Skate Club Vancouver (@rollaskateclubyvr)

From this month forward we will be focusing on some of Rolla’s fabulous individuals – sharing their stories with you and giving you a glimpse into what keeps them inspired and rolling! Keep an eye out on our social media channels (Facebook & Instagram) to get to know them!

The post Meet the Rolla Team: Coach Cupid! appeared first on Rolla Skate Club.

Your name, skater name, or how you like to be called:

Amandine

Where do you like to skate? Either your home skate setup or another spot you like to go to?

Unfortunately, my current flat is carpeted throughout (good old UK houses…) so I go to the nearest park to skate. It is lovely, the paths are relatively smooth, and there are tennis courts I use sometimes.

What’s something you do when you’re not rollerskating? (work, hobbies…)

I go to the gym regularly (I do barre and yoga) and try to go to the cinema often. I have a membership with a chain that shows blockbusters and independent, more niche productions so it is great to see such a variety of films. I also like to read and set myself a challenge of reading 10 books this year. I must say I am quite a slow reader so it genuinely is a challenge for me!

What big goals do you have for yourself with your rollerskating right now?

Right now my biggest goal is to get over my fears, letting go and be more adventurous. I am freaking out a bit when I pick up speed and suddenly forget all the basics. I have never hurt myself too badly when skating but I guess it is more difficult when you start learning in your thirties! There are more mental blocks to get over. I want to get to a point where I do not have to think about where to put my weight before a transition for example. It maybe does not sound like much but I think once I feel like I control these little wheels then I will be more daring. (I am the type of gal who prefers to nail the basics before moving on to the next step)

Any big successes or milestones for you recently (in life or on skates!)?

I am in the process of buying my very first flat! It is scary but it feels like a pretty big step in my adult life haha! Skating wise any new move I manage to do feels like a milestone, really. Recently I have been working on shooting the duck forward, transitioning low, and shooting the duck backward (does this full move have a name??). Just this morning I managed to unlock a couple without falling on my bum or putting my hand on the ground. I left practice pretty stoked!

What’s your favourite Online Class to take and why?

The skills library is where I spend most of the time but I really want to try one of these dance class with Dirty Deborah and develop my footwork.

What is your favorite thing about skating with Rolla Skate Club?

 I think it would have to be the monthly challenges! It brings variety to my practice and I just love the engagement between Rolla and the members in general. It is fun and helps progression.

Anything else you want to say about yourself, rollerskating, or Rolla?

I was skeptical at first about using an online platform for roller skating but I am really happy so far. The resources are humongous and skills are broken down well. And interaction is definitely there! Joining live classes is nearly impossible because of my time zone but I can watch the recordings. I am also glad I found such a kind community. I tend to be really hard on myself and having an external opinion helps. You guys made me want to travel to Vancouver and skate with you IRL!

The post Rollerskater Spotlight: Amandine Thierree appeared first on Rolla Skate Club.

Photo Credit:  Amanda Bowie

Your name, skater name, or how you like to be called:

Kat a.k.a. Alotta Java

What’s something you do when you’re not rollerskating? (work, hobbies…)

 I work as an ER Nurse at VGH and I am also studying Pattern Making and Clothing Design at the Cut Fashion Academy.

What big goals do you have for yourself with your rollerskating right now? 

 Tackling the skate park, working toward different stalls, and maybe learn to slide eventually.

Any big successes or milestones for you recently (in life or on skates!)?

I recently retired from the Canadian Armed Forces after 10 years of service.

Pretty happy with how my distance skating is going. Been getting a few 30+km long skates in this summer.

What’s your favorite Rolla Class to take and why?

Int/adv Derby skills for sure. This class has been helping me to improve my footwork and stability so much. I am so excited for when we can actually start playing again.

What is your favorite thing about skating with Rolla Skate Club?

 Rolla has helped to build so much confidence in myself and my skating. I have been able to push myself to do things I never thought I could. With every class, I am able to take something forward and I keep seeing improvement. It feels incredible.

Anything else you want to say about yourself, rollerskating, or Rolla?

Rollerskating with Rolla has brought me so much joy when I really needed it most. Starting out I was very insecure and nervous about failure, but now I never want to take my skates off. Classes with Rolla are my favorite part of my week for sure.

Photo credit: Amanda Bowie @abowie_123

The post Rollerskater Spotlight: Kat “Alotta Java” Boucher appeared first on Rolla Skate Club.

Primarily, I barely knew how to play roller derby. I’d only been training in Terminal City’s “fresh meat” new skater boot camp for about 2 months.

I definitely had no idea that 13 years later, I would still be playing the sport, and still be known to many as “Booty Quake.”

I did not think ahead to how I would ultimately really wish I was not named after a body part (everyone calls me “Booty” for short).

I had zero clue that I would go on to start two derby and rollerskating-centered businesses (Roller Derby Athletics, and Rolla Skate Club), in which I would be very visibly personally associated with the brand. Basically, “Booty Quake” became my professional name and reputation. I introduce myself this way in many hundreds of videos on YouTube and gated content platforms through these businesses, which are out there in the world forever now.

But most critically, I had no idea that the name would come to be associated with cultural appropriation.

I’ll explain.

The name Booty Quake was based on the very common defensive move in roller derby known as a “booty block” in which the defender gets her body and butt in front of an opposing skater to slow her down and control her movement. Sure, it rhymes with booty shake, which could be a dance move, but every good derby name should be a double entendre. I like to get busy on the dance floor as much as the next gal, but a quake is the good, solid derby hit you’ll feel if you meet me on the track.

Back in 2008, (white, mainstream) pop culture had not yet learned what “twerking” is. We were about 5 years away from Miley Cyrus taking that dance move viral to white audiences.  It’s a dance move that comes from African dance (specifically, the Mapouka dance from Cote D’Ivoire, according to some), and has been known to the Bounce music scene out of New Orleans since the ‘90s. Queer, Black artist Big Freedia was known as the Queen of Twerk long before Miley (or Katy Perry, or Taylor Swift, or a long list of white artists) sought to capitalize.

Not being a big follower of pop music, and living as I do in my white privilege, I was oblivious to the discourse that took place after the Miley Cyrus VMA performance about how it was deeply racist and appropriative. I learned very recently (thank you, my forever roller derby teammates of the Bad Reputations, especially my Black teammates) that some Black women most definitely DO NOT want white women to twerk.

It is painful for me to know that folks both inside and outside the derby world may have associated my roller derby name with something insensitive, appropriative, harmful, or racist.  Whatever my intention was (or was oblivious to), the harm has been done. For that, I am deeply sorry, and ashamed.

I should be clear that the racist systems and structures that allow some of us to be oblivious to issues affecting oppressed groups remain in place. Changing my name doesn’t fix that. We all (white folks especially) have so much more important work to do, to dismantle them.

I share this story not to exonerate myself but in hopes of helping educate other white folks on how our choices, made in our oblivious privilege, impact others — particularly women of colour, and queer folks.

On the flip side, I am happy for this opportunity to introduce to you my new skate name. It’s time.

It will be hard work to scrub the old name from wherever I can on the internet, not to mention my own brain. It will be impossible to do it completely. But this “hard thing” was the easiest choice to make.

See you on skates,

– BiznessTime, #8

aka Coach Biz, Coach Bizzy, or just, “BT”

PHOTO CREDIT: Nicolas Charest, courtesy of our favourite skate shop, Rollergirl.ca

*This post was edited on 21 August 2021 to reflect feedback from my community, for which I am grateful.

The post Why I Changed My Roller Derby Name appeared first on Rolla Skate Club.

She will be joining us on August 20th for a live class, Rolling at the Rink! 

This 45-minute virtual class is for everyone who wants to learn more about the rink scene and the moves that are lighting up our feeds on a daily basis. As long as you are comfortable balancing, rolling, and stopping on your skates – you can do this class!

50% of proceeds to charity – Half the proceeds from drop-in tickets will be donated to My Sister’s House – a non-profit organization based in Atlanta that provides shelter for women and children in crisis. Learn more about this organization at www.atlantamission.org

<<< grab tickets here!

We asked Skate FantaCee to tell us a bit more about herself and what she enjoys and loves the most about rollerskating!

Where do you live? ATLANTA GA but have resided all over the globe (military brat)

When did you start skating? I’ve been rolling on all wheels (skateboard, bikes, roller skates & inlines) all my life since toddler age; professionally approx. 7 years; Riedell superstar since 2020

What do you love the most about rollerskating? Everything about roller skating is about having fun for me and experiencing the best on 8 wheels while moving to the rhythm of every beat & all genres of music

What types of skating do you do? I am a Universal Skater (my signature style of skating), i skate everything (artistic, park, rink, rhythm, styles, jam, etc) but my fav and the most fluent for me is RHYTHM DANCE SKATING since I am a hip hop dancer and choreographer

What’s your favorite skating move right now? ATL RYDE & SLOW WALK are my favorite skate moves right now

What’s your skate set up? 3200 Riedell Superstar Custom designed by me/Arius Platinum plate/ Custom Wheels by Chris Dreamskates

Tell us something random and non-rollerskating about you Being an only child, I’M NATURALLY AN INTROVERT I enjoy my own space and time alone, but skating with others whether outdoors or indoors makes me feel like an EXTROVERT with all the fun and excitement I feel…it’s like when I was a cheerleader and being hype at the games made me an EXTROVERT with all the fun and excitement surrounding me.

Anything else you want to share? Just a reminder to all: no matter what or who comes at you, remember to STAY POSITIVE AND ALWAYS HAVE FUNand be a star keep shining bright

Check out her website and find her on Instagram at @skatafantacee

We’ll leave you with this video from her YouTube channel where she talks more about her rollerskating journey!

Want to be YOUR strongest skater? We’ve got Yoga, Derby, and lots of on- and off-skate workouts in our Online Membership! Try it out FREE for 7 days!

The post Get to Know Skate FantaCee aka The Universal Skater appeared first on Rolla Skate Club.

Your name, skater name, or how you like to be called:

My name is Ryan or my skate name is Mojito.

What’s something you do when you’re not rollerskating? (work, hobbies…)

I’m a single mama, social worker & lover of muumuus, hammocks & classic VW bugs. In my spare time (besides skating) I like hiking, burlesque dancing, riding my cruiser bicycle, gardening & going to concerts (pre-COVID). 

What big goals do you have for yourself with your rollerskating right now? 

Soooo many! Just getting outside to skate as much as weather & time allows. I’m hoping to work on stalls at the skate parks & I would love to cartwheel into a bowl. I would love to nail a 540 or a 720. I would also love to finesse some 1-foot spins & hurricane kicks. 

Any big successes or milestones for you recently (in life or on skates!)?

I dared to be vulnerable & wrote an article titled “My Voice Story” which was featured on our provincial website for work. I got my first vaccination.  Take that COVID! 

What’s your favorite Rolla class to take and why?

I love the dance classes, Rolla square sessions & anything outdoors including the skate park classes. 

What is your favorite thing about skating with Rolla Skate Club?

I love how positive & encouraging & badass everyone is! It is an amazing community & you can truly feel free to be your best self! 

Anything else you want to say about yourself, rollerskating, or Rolla?

I absolutely love skating the seawall in a muumuu! I just feel so ethereal & free with the most amazing backdrop.

The post Rollerskater Spotlight: Ryan “Mojito” M. appeared first on Rolla Skate Club.