Grab some roller skates, get wheely fit
Strapped on a pair for a wobbly roll down memory lane (without a glitter ball in sight).
Stephen Heard
Roller skating may have fizzled out with disco, but the leisure activity is still going strong for those wanting a fun and alternative fitness routine.
The basics
By and large, it’s wheels on shoes. The first recorded use of roller skates harks back to 1760 when Belgian inventor John Joseph Merlin decided, as a publicity stunt, to wear some metal wheels to a masquerade party – with no turning or braking mechanism. The idea didn’t take off particularly well after he severely injured himself smashing through a mirror.
Popping up in history books a few times thereafter, the hobby really took off in the mid-1930s and peaked in popularity in the 1970s when its flawless mash-up with dancing and the disco genre turned it into an international sensation. But not before being pushed into the background by the more extreme and cooler wheel sport: roller blading. The most common forms of roller skating comprise rolling around a rink with musical accompaniment, artistic performance, or the competitive contact sport, roller derby.
Give it a bash
Immediately after strapping on my skates a familiar feeling of uneasiness came hurtling back. There’s a certain vulnerability that comes with having your feet laced into boots on wheels, perhaps because of the potential of coming face-to-face with the asphalt because of one wrong move.
Getting used to the motion of wheels underfoot doesn’t take too long, though my legs seemed to be in a permanent state of tense pigeon toe. Once you start to relax and make some progress moving forward, key factors like learning how to stop and turn are next in line. The objective on this occasion was to just skate around an oval rink without holding onto the barrier or falling over. After a successful circuit, the paranoia of faceplanting subsided and my penchant for shredding on wheels was back.
Why you should try it
Roller skating is recognised as an aerobic sport by the American Heart Association. It’s particularly good for the heart when completed at a moderate pace – increasing a skater’s heart rate up to anywhere between 140-160 beats per minute. With an even swifter pace and longer duration, it can be quite the cardiovascular workout. When compared to running, there’s the bonus of less impact and stress on the joints thanks to the rolling motion. Further health benefits include strength training of muscles in the pelvis and leg regions, and improved balance and co-ordination. It also can make you happy: big bonus for anything.
Risk rating
The most obvious risk is falling over. You should always wear protective gear to prevent injury such as a helmet, elbow, knee, and wrist guards. A survey of 111 cases of roller skating injuries conducted by the British Journal of Sports Medicine reported that males were more commonly injured than females and the wrist was the most common area for injury when breaking falls, followed by the shoulder, elbows and ankles. Collision with other skaters and loss of control were the main factors leading to injury.
Getting used to the motion of wheels underfoot doesn't take too long, though my legs seemed to be in a permanent state of tense pigeon toe.
Any surprises?
As a once-adept inline skater, there were no real surprises here. Just some wrinkles to iron out.
More info
skatenz.org.nz