On warm weekends in New York City's Central Park, follow the sound of the thumping music. It may lead you to a crowd of people strutting their stuff…on wheels. The park has an area that's dedicated to roller skating. There, skaters gather to groove to the beats of live DJ music. Roller skating has taken off in recent years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic that sent people outdoors for exercise in 2020. Social media has helped get the sport rolling, too. And today, the roller skating craze of the 1970s is back in a big way.
A Spinning Revival
Michelle Steilen is the CEO of retailer Moxi Skates. She reported that sales jumped by 1,000 percent after the COVID-19 pandemic began. At the same time, outdoor roller skating venues sprang up in urban areas. In Detroit, Michigan, for instance, an outdoor skating area features lights and a sound system. There, roller skaters enjoy spinning their cares away in the shadows of the city's tall buildings.
Rolling Back the Clock
Roller skating is a new experience for some, but the sport reportedly dates back to the 18th century. Inline skates were invented first. They had three wheels down the middle. But it wasn't until 1863 that American inventor James Leonard Plimpton revolutionized the industry. Known as the Father of Roller Skating, Plimpton introduced the quad skate. That's a boot with two pairs of wheels. Indoor roller rinks, where people could rent skates and glide on a circular track to organ music, quickly multiplied. In the 1970s, disco music hit its peak, and so did roller skating. Roller rinks were the grooviest places to be. The end of disco's popularity in the 1980s dealt a blow to roller skating. But many people insist it never went out of fashion.
Cultural Roots and New Moves
Roller skating has played an enduring and important role in Black culture, which influenced the many styles of jam and dance skating seen today. Roller skating has also remained a central part of urban culture, and many major cities are known for their distinct styles. Chicago, Illinois, for example, is famous for JB-style roller skating. It was inspired by the dance moves of singer James Brown. Meanwhile, South Jersey and Philadelphia are known for fast-backwards skating. New York City is home to the Central Park Dance Skaters Association. And Venice Beach in Los Angeles, California, hosts the Black Roller Dancers. Old moves are evolving and new moves are catching on. But the roller skating community generally believes that anything goes. It's all about having fun.
Gliding for Good
Throughout the years, roller skaters have turned their love of the sport into ways of giving back. In the 1940s, rink owners and skaters teamed up. They raised money for the treatment and prevention of polio. It's a deadly and disabling disease that gripped the country at the time. Since then, roller skaters have raised funds for many organizations and schools.
Roller skating has proven itself to be a feel-good activity in many ways, as Steilen affirms. "[Roller skating is] the closest feeling to flying," she said. "It's really great to just tune out the world, and it's good for your physical and mental health." It seems that many others agree. Scores of roller skating enthusiasts are lacing up their quads. They're hitting the pavement and trying something old in a new way.
Which of these is most important to include in a summary of this article?
A. Roller skating can be good for both physical and mental health.
B. The sport of roller skating has become very popular again.
C. Most major cities have their own distinct style of roller skating.
D. Roller skaters have raised money to help others.