Rollerskating: the revival (did it ever even go away?)
Rollerskating is back on the agenda according to Vogue. (Did it ever go away?)
Following a summer of outdoor skating, there’s apparently a shortage of quads available, with brands like Moxi achieving last year’s annual sales of its 70s-style skates in one month.
What brought this on? The combo of great summer weather, the need to exercise, and the fun of sharing such a beautifully energetic form of movement on social media – especially in 15-second clips – has anointed instant celeb status on skaters like Oumi Janta.
If you’re a newbie, follow Kim Manning on TikTok for her starter how-tos. And to learn more about the roots of the roller disco scene, watch HBO’s United Skates documentary, which covers the history of the dance movement. And if you’re a passive observer, sit back and enjoy this NYT profile (pay wall*) of an art couple, whose Berlin loft – below – doubles as their own private roller disco. (*Sorry about the pay wall, the couple known as The Infamous Skating Couple are on YouTube too.)
WORDS: Disneyrollergirl/Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGE: Juergen Teller; Robert Rieger
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3 September, 2020 @ 11:55 pm
I’m old enough to have gone to and had birthday parties at rollerskating rinks here in the New York suburbs in the 70s and 80s; they were so much fun! I’d love to get back to skating again now!
4 September, 2020 @ 12:42 am
I’m so, so jealous Jennifer! Did you watch the documentary? I’m not sure how I feel about ‘the Nutcracker’!