The US Figure Skating championships are this week, but though the ice skaters in Spokane and elsewhere get all the press,
another group of skaters toil in near-obscurity.
Roller figure skaters (also called
artistic roller skaters) skate on
quad (
or sometimes inline) skates, do
all the moves that ice skaters do (and even more -- notice the "heel" and "broken ankle" spins in
this program, spins that are not possible on ice), and compete,
as they have for decades, in local,
national, and
international events. In 1978, skating was at a peak of popularity and
Time magazine wrote
"skaters are hoping to be included in the 1988 Olympics"; nearly 30 years later, roller figure skating still hasn't reached the Olympics, some roller skaters like Tara Lipinski have switched to ice to get famous, and the number of clubs and participants in the US have declined precipitously, but dedicated roller figure skaters still spend many hours practicing
school figures (on circles painted on the floor), dance, and free skating,
for the love of their sport. Want to see more?
Skating videos from RollerSportsTV.
posted by litlnemo
on Jan 23, 2007 -
33 comments
Finally, a Reason to Watch Court TV? An Olympics skating vote rigging Russian mafia fraud trial--what fun! Hope this happens, and I hope in happens in New York's Federal Southern District, because, well, what fun to bring down a stupid sport (And remove it from television); discredit the French, Russians... I want seats to this one! Or Perhaps E! will provide the coverage?
posted by ParisParamus
on Aug 2, 2002 -
14 comments
What were the skating judges watching? What a robbery! The Canadian pair, Jamie Sale and David Pelletier were just fantastic, and deserved the gold. It is hard to imagine what the judges were thinking, because they had it all - technical merit, drama, passion, and excellence. And after the decision, dignity.
posted by wpeyton
on Feb 11, 2002 -
68 comments
