By Elizabeth Newman
Daily Bruin Contributor
[email protected]
The skateboard, after 50 years, is still going strong, and busy
dot-comers in Silicon Valley routinely use scooters to fly down the
street for lunch as well as to traverse their offices.
But in-line skating? The craze of the 1990s has, on the surface,
waned significantly. Yet on closer inspection, numerous Bruins
testify that the sport is alive and well.
“I skate on the beach bike-path from the Palisades to
Venice and back at least once every day,” said social welfare
professor Jorja Prover.
“It’s only about 28 miles for two round
trips,” she added, nonchalantly.
But why in-line skate? Why not run, or bike?
“I can turn a three hour walk into an hour and a half
rollerblade session,” Prover said. “It’s a fun,
social activity ““ for a family with a child.
“I’ve even been on a date rollerblading. You always
meet interesting people at the beach.”
Sean Green can testify to that. After often skating by the
pick-up roller hockey games in Venice, the third year
business-economics and history double major student decided to join
in one weekend.
“They just take over the parking lot, and first ten sticks
thrown in play,” Green said. “If you win, you stay
in.
“There’s no serious league, but there are definitely
serious players.”
On campus, he doesn’t throw his skates in the closet,
either: “I skate to Lot 32 … Some people may laugh, but
it’s a whole lot faster.”
In-line skating on campus, however, is not restricted to simply
transportation.
Dana Blindbury first started skating in elementary school,
following her older brother’s lead. And while at home in
Westlake Village the second year business-economics student skates
around the lake to take in the scenery.
During the school months she frequents a pair of locales,
including the beach and the UCLA Medical Center.
Yes, that medical center.
“I take the elevator to the top of the Medical Center
parking lot and skate down the ramps with my boyfriend,”
Blindbury said. “Its actually a lot of fun, especially at
midnight.”
With the arrival of the new Skechers 3-Wheelers and 4-Wheelers,
it looks like the retail world is ready for a skating revival, even
if it’s a slow one.
Ranging from $50 to $100, the shoes were going to revolutionize
the way people got around by combining a sneaker and in-line skate
in one shoe.
“We probably sell about one to two pairs a month,”
said Gary Gorden, the manager of Copeland’s, a sporting goods
store in Westwood. “Skateboards are the hot craze, but
in-line skates are still selling well.”
Even if it appears the sport has lost the cult following it had
in the early ’90s, there are certainly many avid in-line
skaters who enjoy the sport.
If only for a reason to go to the beach and exercise.
“People will always ride bikes … but rollerblading will
come and go,” Prover said on the sport’s future.
“The Olympic speed skating encouraged people to try the
sport, and now the sport’s popularity has waned a little.
“But it’s so much fun. People won’t be away
from it for long.”