Roller Skating, Retro style in Edmonton
A mass of memories comes flooding into my brain as I tap my fingers to the beat. The long, off the shoulder t-shirt, Sunday disco’s spent kissing some boy behind the curtains, cerise leggings matched with a banana yellow shirt, practicing dance moves from Fame, wishing I had made it to the Wham Final concert ….
Teetering on my feet slightly brings me back to the present time. I am skating, rather skittishly with traditional Roller Skates on my feet. Why do both feet move in opposite directions? Was it this difficult aged 13 and skating the roller disco every week? Did it hurt this much to fall to the ground back then? Perhaps not, although falling, accidentally-on-purpose in the hope that some gorgeous, manly 15 year old would assist, was not necessarily the same situation.
Ah, those were the days..!
But I regress; the present day venue is Sports-World Inline and Roller Disco, a former military base and home to Edmonton’s only indoor roller disco. Located on 13710-104 Street, first impressions of the building can seem somewhat desolate; imagine the scenario of entering high school, alone, when it’s a snow day (did they announce it on the radio?).
This soon changes on entering the hallway leading to the “Roller Disco”. Sounds of Duran Duran, Wham, Michael Jackson and Madonna pump from the stereo enhanced by brilliant flashing red, green, blue and orange disco lights, accentuating what looks like an old school gymnasium. Many gyrating bodies are already circling the floor with various levels of ability.
There’s nothing else for it but to forget the nervousness and join the rest of the crowd. By the time the roller skates are fully laced up, already wheels are tapping and the head nodding in time to the music.
An hour later, after gingerly skating around in a circle (always the same direction), and 2 wobbly falls, I feel the beginnings of a slight blister on my right big toe, am very thirsty for a large coke and am smiling from ear to ear.
Okay, so I am not 13 again, far from it, but it was fun to pretend. I knew those leg warmers I kept hold of would come in handy sometime!
Sports-World Inline and Roller Disco is located at 13710-104 Street, Edmonton. Tel: 780 472 6336. www.sports-world.ca
Cost for skating at time of print is $10 per person, family rates available.
