Dance Roller Skating Unifies a Community in Los Angeles | L.A. ROLL

In the face of a changing Los Angeles, a crew of dance roller skaters reflects on the closure of their beloved hometown roller rink and seeks out a new space despite adversity and setbacks.
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L.A. Roll
Directed by Helki Frantzen
www.helkifrantzen.net
"The older I get, the more I realize the importance of community. Apologies if that sounds painfully Kumbaya, but it’s hard to deny the power of people coming together in regards to a shared interest or belief. And, in the midst of a pandemic that has advocated social distancing as a means to save lives, it’s hard not to be constantly reminded of our innate human need for connection.
L.A. Roll from filmmakers Helki Frantzen and Thomas Torres Cordova captures this idea of finding community via a highly specific activity-dance roller skating in Los Angeles. It’s a dynamic, visually exciting activity that makes for great documentary material. It’s a crash-course in a hobby and community you probably didn’t even know existed.
But, beyond being a love-letter to skating and those who find joy in it, L.A. Roll becomes an unexpectedly complex portrait on race, gentrification, and gun violence in Los Angeles. Dance skating is primarily supported by the African American community of Los Angeles, and so, the film becomes a celebration of its people, their music, and their collective soul. But, it’s also a portrait of a rapidly changing urban sprawl where these enormous indoor rinks are suddenly on the verge of extinction. The narrative of gentrification and how it’s transforming our public spaces in America has been well-explored in several different forms, but framing it from within the confines of this particular community feels like a highly specific entry point to a complex subject.
Moreover, it’s just a solidly made doc. That may feel like throwaway praise, but in the crowded landscape of online docs, I can assure you, it’s not. The soundbites are well-chosen and edited. The film maintains a sense of pace and momentum across its 17 minute run-time via a strong structural arc of a Los Angeles skate crew looking for a new home. It seems a simple thing to highlight, but strong structural foundations like this are often absent in a lot of the short docs I screen, especially when depicting quirky or unique hobbies.
On top of that, it’s just a lot of fun to glide with these folks on camera, weaving in and out of moving bodies as they groove and pirouette with the music (co-director Thomas Torres Cordova shot the skate footage with a combination DJI Ronin/Easy Rig set-up). The result is fluid and dynamic, but not so polished that it feels artificial or staged. With its sense of authenticity and heart, it’s hard not to be swept-up by L.A. Roll’s flow." S/W Ivan Kander
CREW
Director - Helki Frantzen
Co-Director - Thomas Torres Cordova
Cinematographers - Thomas Torres Cordova, Helki Frantzen
Editors - Arshia Haq, Eric Pritchard
Music - Wynne Bennett & Guillermo Brown
Reproduced on this channel with the permission of the filmmakers.

[@fhxs]

What’s crazy is that skating is making a big comeback just off of TikTok alone so many people are buying & learning how to skate. Hopefully this revives rinks

[@Dee-mw9tk]

Start Sk8'n in them streetz... they'll open them rinks. ThaT's what we do in the CHI. We sK8 all over the place, tennis courts, basketball courts, abandoned LoTs, yuP wherever you find a smooth surface geT to skating 0uTside...!!! 👍

[@Gairuntee]

@@Dee-mw9tk I agree. Wheels have come a loooong way. Skate outside. No one can shut that down.

[@elefanny1106]

Aspng as they be thizzin. Eerything be clozzin

[@NyanNyanNeko23]

Roller skating has picked up since the pandemic, hopefully a rink or 2 can get revived! I dont wanna see this culture/community disappear. Its so wholesome and just all about FUN, something everyone needs

[@godschildyes]

Yes! 100%

[@djbentertainment9176]

Yep! Grew up going to a roller rink here in Hayward CA. I plan on teaching my kids.

[@wraithstrongopark]

"you can't get used to nothing no more, cause you don't know when it's going to be gone." that kid just gained a huge life lesson.

[@swilhelm3180]

The reality is if you don't own it you don't control it. And as soon as you own it you have the management headache of it. Our lifelong dilemma with everything in our lives. But to be fair, this is Los Angeles, with some of the most agreeable weather in the world. One can always skate outside and people can always bring music. There's lots of basketball courts, parking lots not used at times, etc, to do this for free. All you need are skates. No it won't have the same nightclub ambience but its outdoors so the air is better. And it would be free.

[@nowaymangoshtomuchna]

@@swilhelm3180 and soon enough you have angry karens ruining the fun calling the cops all the time cause they are idiots... thats the thing about roller rinks, they have an save enviroment for people to just have fun without being hassled by some crazy ass dumb folks who can't stand when people having clean fun...

[@mr.s1961]

an even better lesson: instead of fearing change, learn to embrace it. Learn to make change switch positivity and dopamine release in your brain instead of fear cowardice and afraid. the only constant in the universe is constant change. you aren't the same you you were 5 seconds ago, or a year ago. your whole body recycled by then. And all those dead animals you eat, put you in a premature grave.

[@nowaymangoshtomuchna]

@@mr.s1961 what i find the most beautiful about this is... if ya really noticed there are whites and blacks just rolling together... no silly black lives matter... no make america great again... no silly nonsense no agenda only a bunch of people rolling and having a grand ole time... this is how understanding and love actually can bloom and grow... when people meet eye to eye and share a passion and love with another that breaks trough any barrier... i feel sorry for people who are so divided and not understand that simple thing these people understood

[@meuswe]

Makes sense why they want to close them down. Anything that unifies a community and cleanses the soul will be eradicated. Skate revolution!

[@lakebing2759]

Especially if it’s the black community uniting

[@meuswe]

@@lakebing2759 we should be uniting as apeople. Forget about color, we all bleed red. Let’s unite as people regardless of creed, nationality or color!

[@Raw200BC]

Buy a lot and build our own!

[@TRILLTRUTH]

No lies told SMH I need a rink in my life man !! Have been resorting to outside but we all know that rink energy is just different 😔🙇🏽‍♀️

[@jonmoore4230]

@@TRILLTRUTH that's facts. That rink life is just a whole different vibe.

[@davidjessee7701]

I live in a small town in kentucky.. When I was a kid all I did was skate at our local rink.. Till I was probably 20, then the rink closed.. I miss those days so much ... I'm 54 now.. My kids have never seen me skate, and I was really good too. I laced up a pair of rental skates at a rink about an hour away .... It had been over 20 years since I skated.. And guess what???? I hadn't forgot!!! I could go forward back and side ways... Sure I wasn't as smooth as I was, but with every lap I got more and more comfortable on the 8s.... I think if my old rink hadnt closed down I still would be shuffling around the floor... Great memories 4 sure

[@jamilgotcher5456]

Isn't it sad that we don't have any video of us doing the shuffle. It makes me sad that my parents didn't think to film me and my brother at the skating rink or even take a picture of us skating. My Dad's a professional photographer too. Although I do have a portrait with my skates in the studio.

[@janarn6887]

Same here … 52 and from Ky … have seriously thought about trying to get something going again … unification/exercise/positive energy/people feeling good while skating/music …. I think it’s a win win !!

[@carolfishwr8703]

I am sick with envy young man! I still have my roller skates in the closet. Taught both my baby girls how to skate when they were two years old. My youngest bought me a skateboard for my 60th birthday! Now I want stylin', new rollerskates for my 70th birthday. I now have four, lively grandsons to join me! My doctor is incredibly unhappy with me even though I'm little and spunky. You have given me hope and a spark, Sir. Thank you.

[@BAM-jc7uy]

You would have had great memories of introducing your children n grandchildren to family skating...My friends n I skated at Rainbow gardens from the 50's to mid 60s on friday nights. Because of closures and other factors my family never skated at a rink.

[@Bstufworldwidegmailcom]

Wow, this was very well done! I worked at two of the rinks shown in this video, but only one was identified. I was at Skate Depot on and off in the mid to late 80's. I was at Skate Express sometime in the early 90's. It was featured in the beginning, but not named. I don't know the people who did this, but it was a labor of love. They were true skates. What they showed you was real. The feeling of family and being is hard to duplicate. A group of us that worked at Skate Junction between 1978 and 1982, get together to this day. The bond we have is unbelievable. I like it is in a small way like soliders on a battlefield. You count on the person next to you. I would have a staff of maybe 30, and a crowd of 1,200. I look back and laugh, because I can't believe what we accomplished. We were a team, and we were good! We provided a safe harbor for thousands of kids. I have learned that we touched so many lives, and kept many kids out of trouble. I am proud of what my staff and I accomplished. Please watch this video, and share it. Let's make this go viral!!!

[@shortoftheweek]

Wow that's such a great story, thank you for sharing.

[@carolfishwr8703]

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! America desperately needs this recreational sport to return. Now! What a wonderful way to keep our youth in shape, away from drugs and alcohol, influenced by super athletes and choreographers and listening to (in my opinion) excellent, modern- day music. Furthermore, the skills displayed on the floor are so difficult and spectacular, I feel that this could be an actual Olympic level Sport category for real!

[@wlofthouse]

I took my skates to LA on a business trip and skated all the rinks in LA county. My favorite was the Skate Depot. The crowd was amazing. I've never seen so many custom made skates. It broke my heart when I heard that it closed down. After I retire (hopefully soon), I want to travel the country and skate every place I can get to. The west coast will be my first trip.

[@jmichelo1]

It's really sad that when the people unify and come together in fun and happiness something always comes along to stop it. We need a roller skating revolution. It gives me such joy to see people skating, dancing sharing their grooves!

[@hlheutte6554]

i just have to compliment the way the scenes of the men taking and working on a car help push the story through time as a second narrator ugh so good

[@darreneffle4891]

My wife and i are early 50s and we grew up skating in all of Cali and we still skate rinks weekly.even travels to other states just to skate other rinks.kept us together for 20 yrs.

[@mzemdet]

That’s beautiful.❤

[@XeXe69420]

I've been roller skating since I was six, (I'm 17 now) about 11 years of skating. watching this shattered a little piece of my heart. Roller skating is such a big important part of people's life's, the people, the rinks, the music, the experience. it's so different. if you haven't gotten into roller skating. Definitely get into it.

[@georgesalas7875]

Damn you guys deserve way more views for this production value

[@georgesalas7875]

Oh wait I'm just realizing you guys just feature films, but still

[@Godluvs1000]

They need to bring Roller skating back it is a good sport for all ages. Loved Roller skating when I was a kid. We would work three days a week so we could skate. I loved every minute of it I want the younger generation to be able to experience skating. It’s better than Playing games all day.

[@davidponcedeleon1110]

In the summer of 82 it was magic for me at Skate Depot. We had surprise guest. Like Donna Summers, Ann Wilson from the hearts, Laura Branigan, Simple mine did a video there, The real Roxanne. At that time believe me when I tell you that place had magic. I was there!

[@sweetpetite1]

Roller skating is a good clean (drug/alcohol free) environment that's family oriented, which keeps kids happily occupied for hours. Hopefully it will one day become drama free, as well!

[@swilhelm3180]

That's a very good point. It would be very hard to skate if you were drunk or really high!

[@sweetpetite1]

@@swilhelm3180 shockingly, many people used to get what they called "TOASTED" before they arrived at the rink, and even skated as if they were sober!!!

[@CopperHueCollectionsChippewa]

Not to mention it kept us from teen pregnancy. Because we wanted to be there every week and we knew we couldn’t skate being pregnant.

[@sweetpetite1]

@@CopperHueCollectionsChippewa Yes Ma'am! Who wanted to be stuck at home while everyone else was having fun!

[@pydepiperproductionsllcjon7585]

I dont know what rink you skated at, lol People I know did every drug under the sun and skated like angels walking on water. I was in the Roxy days. Plenty of coke, dope and drinking.

[@rizaanjappie]

It might seem like another tue, but when you old you will look back and see a beautiful memory stringed together by Tuesday’s and know that you lived authentically, at least once

[@davidhamma8744]

This film is so cool! It completely opened my eyes to a part of L.A. that I was not too familiar with. I've had some fun times roller skating in that area but not like this! I'd love to see a full-length feature version of this beautiful short.

[@theajones-beach1075]

Check out the documentary “United Skates”

[@sdarcher3964]

We need more of this so badly.

[@DLinton]

I want a Brooklyn NY rink soooo badly. Revive Empire!

[@DLinton]

@Chen X Lia There is an "outdoor" rink in Prospect Park (LeFrak Center). It's not bad but It could be better. For instance, they only play top 100 and they have strict rules with respect the the middle area cones.

[@naturalhealing4u]

I know! I miss that place so much. I had a lot of great memories there.

[@PR4U2NV]

..or Skate Key or USA Skate Rink.

[@MIKEDAWGS00]

The Key brings back so many memories. I use to go before it moved from White Plains Rd and Allerton Ave to the Concourse.

[@DLinton]

@@MIKEDAWGS00 Yo know, there's a rink trying to open in the Canarsie/Staret City area. It would be called DaDome. Flatlands and Linwood. It's not ready [as of the time of this comment] but it may actually open.

[@trenawawrzyniak4397]

I am 57 n I first put skates on my feet when I was only 3yrs old. In one week going 3xs I was skating backwards. I skated 3xs a week up until 2003. When I was in a car accident. I was in a wheelchair for 3yrs. To this day I use a rolator Walker with a seat. Well my great nephew had a BIRTHDAY party at one of our local rinks. I put skates on my feet n used my Walker. Most of my family thought I was nuts. But You never know when you'll be able to do the thing you love for the last time. I had a blast teaching my great nephew how to skate better.n his mom helped I taught her n put her on skates at two. My niece was the only one besides her son who got it. I always wore figure skates but had really great wheels, trucks n bearings. I was always able to keep up with speed skaters .I was jumping n spinning going up on my back wheels by the time I was 7yrs old. Doing high kicks were so much fun.Doing scales in a arabesque pose forward or backwards was great it felt like you were flying. There was never anything anyone showed me that with a little bit of practice that I couldn't copy. There were many rinks were I live. N it was always pure fun.

[@Brimuu]

I just started skating and watching this film is insane because I’m from fountain valley and I used to skate at the FV rink occasionally as a kid for parties and always wanted to get into skating but couldn’t afford it until now It’s really beautiful to see the positive impact skating makes on people’s lives

[@aircastles1013]

It was a sad day when the local RollerRink decided to convert into an ice rink (this is the subtropics though so I see the allure of ice). I miss the wheels. This is a great documentary, from the grand old days pre-covid19 when you could hug your friends.

[@CopperHueCollectionsChippewa]

That’s sad because they could’ve kept it as a roller rink is well. Our local skating rink had ice underneath the wood. They offered ice hockey lessons and on those days they will remove the wood and then for the roller sessions they will put it back.

[@lydiakinnaman1106]

Roller or ice skating...... ALL GOOD. !! No age, color, sex barriers. Just PURE JOY. !!!!

[@Aliensarethinking]

Reasons like this is why we need to stick together financially also.

[@mzurilovebeautyfragranceslove]

Skating changed my life for the positive in 2020. I just love it, the most amazing feeling ever when I'm on wheels a cool community... this is so sad that the rinks are closing down. We literally only have one in London and it's hours away from my home, everything is closed, thank God for the car parks and parks and secret haunts, even practising in my living room is cool.

[@aprilmason1616]

💙

[@MyiaLaShaun]

Videos like this make me love being black. We are so cool. I’m moving to LA and I was looking for a black skating culture and I know I found it. Can't wait to skate there next Tuesday

[@Chris_L034]

its a funny thing, skating isnt a black or white culture, its a life style.

[@ertfgghhhh]

​@@Chris_L034sir. There is a style of quad rollerskating that is a part of black culture. It uses a certain type of skates that we prefer, moves we made up, music we made, and a way to perform them. Disco skating is gentrified black culture. It is part of our culture that other people bite off of. Like our dancing, music, and lingo

[@derekreed2854]

Skate Depot (Cerritos), Skate Junction (West Covina), Skate Express (Chino), World on Wheels (LA), Cascades (ATL), and Airline Skate (New Orleans) are the only skating rings I recognize! Hate that I missed the last night of Skate Depot.

[@alicebanks3230]

I'm originally from H-Town Texas, however: I started going to L.A. in the early 70's and that's when the Majic of Rollerskating took over my very interbeing. I learned to first skate in the every so popular Venice Beach and, Long Beach and of course Santa Monica.....the days were sooooo Happy and Bright and even the Police Department were protecting us and allowing us to do what we do without interuption and I 've never been there and anything broke out except smoke !!! LOL Wow you guys can not ever imagine the Music, Corn Dogs, Camp Fires Sing and Playing Guitars both day and night ! If you didn't Skate it just made most of us wonder why you were even out there but we loved you as well. (smile)

[@sourcehauntings8851]

Great documentary! Loved it. Loved Roller skating. Did it all the time as a kid. Watching this during covid lockdown it makes me miss the days you could actually be around people

[@capcom4eva]

Beautiful story and film quality. Really drew me in. It had that positive skate vibe like Lords of Dogtown. There’s just something about skating.

[@xalliarose9425]

😭😭😭 the Skate World here in Eugene Oregon closed a couple years ago n it made me so sad ‘cause I always go there for my birthday 🥺🥺🥺

[@nanatieku5805]

"Anything is possible but there are somethings that are bad idea" 💪🏾🙌🏼

[@ricksaunders]

What a wonderful short! I'm completely skate-challenged and I love watching people who are great at it.

[@joshprendiz71]

I really enjoyed this..Brought back many memories.There was a rink called Stuarts roller world in Fullerton, California...I really miss the 90s

[@ms.teaversation8072]

...the brotha said "it's a healing zone"...✨💫✨ I get chills watching the skaters ⛸️⛸️do their thang!❤️❤️❤️

[@anitamitchell3452]

I haven't seen a skating rink since the 70's. It is wonderful exercise, people really should bring it back .. nation wide. So happy for those who still get to skate.

[@tatyana1230]

Got back into skating recently. Used to go ice skating and rollerblading/skating often. It was the most liberating experiences. Hopefully, we get more rinks in LA and are able to keep the unnecessary shenanigans out!

[@TheDreamhouse2010]

That skate circle is something we do in NYC too . Harlem world, so it's more of a cultural thing than an LA thing. Great documentary ! Love Love Love it!

[@JakeLDS]

Obviously very similar concept here for a documentary as "United Skates" but this is shot so much better. Not to take anything away from "United Skates", it's still a great documentary but this is really my favourite. Somehow I feel like I got to see some more skating on this even though it's short and I love the bit with Sk8 fanatics, gotta get me some Stacy Adams now.

[@warpdrive1178]

Saddest thing to see is rinks closing down. Hope to see World on Wheels reopen, been there several times had a blast, loved the floor. Recently my little community supported my inspiration to build an outdoor rink 55x90. Once the weather cooperates the concrete will be poured to a burnt finish. It way out in the mountains of far northern Cali, but I hope to attract skaters from all over to Happy Camp, CA to come camp and skate with us. Almost makes me cry standing in the middle of the framing at the scenery around the rink, gorgeous! Doing my little part to make skating cool again everywhere for everyone!

[@StretchinBack]

That guy's slide 8:46 was sick. He owned that trophy! Good times had. 🛼

[@jodaciarmani8264]

Man this had me tearing up . I know the loss and how bad it feels to see the rinks disappear . That it’s not only in the area that I’m residing but everywhere.

[@brendaroelfs]

Man this video takes me back and makes me miss roller skating so much!!! Ours was the only rink for miles around and then it closed about 40 yrs. ago. Now that it's gone our kids and grand kids will never know that joy... fun and freedom.

[@RDJ134]

I remember Skating beeing very big in the 80's (yeah i grew up in the 80's) and made major impact on DJ's, Graffiti and Arcades. At least in my country they all combined and people had a good time. Afcourse you had skate plaxed with the rough crowd, but it was awesome. Good to see this coming back :)

[@ThatBastardSnow]

G'day from Australia. That's was so enjoyable for me to watch all those people having such fun. Brought up a lot of memories. sk8er

[@RogerDiotte]

Hey Will...Canada here myself and although I haven't skated for way to long I can't seem to not want to do it more than ever now!

[@ThatBastardSnow]

Thank you@@RogerDiotte ❤ . I'm watching again for the feeling of joy. My best wishes to you.

[@kirksfilms566]

really cool to watch! love feeling the sense of community and how the rinks always bring everyone together. This hits close to home as I just lost my fav rink in So Cal as well... my only recommendation is some more info at the scene breaks (text overlays) maybe explaining each rink's history and why/why not it's closing/reopening. Also when you first showed Fountain Valley it had a grey painted floor, next scene cut to an all wood floor so I was confused if it was the same rink.

[@narwhalofdeath3000]

This was awesome! The skate rink in my town closed a year or two before I moved here, but now I really want to go skate!

[@cicada.k]

Apply for grants to get the rink back open!! In a perfect world... 🧡

[@carolfishwr8703]

I agree with you. Skated all of my life, I'm 70. Taught my babies to skate. Rink was turned into a library a couple of decades ago...YAWN. Joining a Roller Derby women's league 2 hours away, (I'm 4' 11" tall & trim), was not recommended by my doctor, but that was the only rollerskating option. I WAS asked to join a female Hockey League because I'm a cheeky old hippie lady, but No Thank You! I'm great at it, but it's cold and it's NOT ROLLERSKATING! I keep demanding that a rink be reconstructed at every opportunity. Pavement with ramps are constructed outdoors instead. I understand. But I'm sad.

[@shirlebetts9227]

Love seeing this. I’m glad they still have rinks available. My friends and I were big skaters like this in the 70’s in So Cal @ the Roller Derby in Ventura by Golf-n-Stuff and the bowling alley. That was the closest sk8 rink for us. Disco music was the big music played back then. One, those were the days. I’m going on 61yrs old and I live in San Antonio Texas now. We have a rink abt 4 miles from me. It’s awesome to see it’s still open and busy on the weekends. We’ve been here 40+ yrs and it’s still open. Love seeing kids off their video games and have a great time socializing like we did as kids. Y’all be safe out there and live life to it’s fullest. ✌🏻🙋🏼‍♀️❤️

[@daniloucles2024]

I'm from Costa Mesa, gotta go check out Fountain Valley Skate!

[@blackduck65]

This was such an entertaining documentary. Thank you for making and sharing this. I've lived in central florida most of my life, and I truly wish skating here was more like it has been in LA and Atlanta. Grown adults just treating it as one giant vibe session. All respect and positivity.

[@brasstacksboxing409]

2 dope. Been skating 30 years. Still take my kids. Love it! Keep on rolling!

[@shortoftheweek]

That's awesome!

[@kilohotel1202]

Why did they ever go out of business? It’s so much fun for people of all ages.

[@Bstufworldwidegmailcom]

Skate Depot lost their lease. The mall wanted them out. They immediately tore it down.

[@kshillingford4921]

@Shaq GasEngine EXACTLY. Taking away productive, positive, community-building activities and replacing them with garbage "entertainment" or nothing at all.

[@acardona909]

Property rent was to high

[@cowquinta3638]

Did the same thing here in Canada closed them all the love we show each other when we skating ring

[@cowquinta3638]

Did the same thing here in Canada closed them all the love we show each other when we're skating they purposely doing these things

[@donnaviestenz7773]

I skated competitive artistic dance in the 60s. We did this also!! So sad that the skating rinks are disappearing. Such a good time for everyone.

[@AustinWang11]

I’ve been skating for exactly one year now and have met new skaters like me and experienced skaters that have been doing it for at least a few years. Great community of people out here in la

[@Mona-ue5uk]

This documentary was beautiful! I love skating...Chicago native.

[@B_Kerson]

Miss Skate Depot so much 😭😭...but we get active at Fountain Valley now...my first stop after this stay at home order is lifted 😏

[@MR.MA-T]

This is a fantastic short ,So full of heart and soul ! Very inspiring ,well done everybody !!

[@scotthummel4248]

Takes me back when i wuz a sk8er. Shuffle skating to sugar hill gang. (Gave away my age then) so good to see people of all races just enjoying themselves

[@Dennhunt1]

Thanks for bringing back a lot of great memories. Skating is life. ❤️

[@kaitlynbravener3714]

theres a rink about an hour away from me? every school field trip was there from kindergarten to 8th grade, I'm 17 and actually just got my first pair of skates since I stopped really skating almost 10 years ago. Im beyond excited to get back into it, and today I got to test my new skates. When I tell you I ate shit, my went face first

[@350BMW09]

Man, I remember going to the Skate Depot on Thursday nights with my friends in 2007-2008. Great memories!! Sad to see it closed down.

[@Only1Dizzle]

I remember when the skating rink closed in my hometown. A lot of people were upset, including me, even though I no longer lived there. I used to be on the speed team when I was a kid. Every Saturday morning was practice and I would always stay for the open session after practice. We also had "school nights" where my school coordinated an evening session during the week. You would go and get to see all your classmates outside of school and skate together. Those were the days. I remember they would have a race by age group. Then, because they knew I was on the speed team they made me start way behind all my classmates because they knew if I started on the same line as them I would dust them 🤣😂 Man, those were the days. Now, there are homes where the skating rink used to be 🙄

[@sadville13]

I'm glad they were able to continue the tradition at a new skate arena.

[@corymerry3399]

2021 skating is alive in Florida. We have 2 rinks near me. And tonight im driving to the father rink to support it .

[@mignondee]

Hi. What rinks are you referring to?

[@dirtsun]

Great piece. Thanks for sharing. Never stop skating!

[@blablabla2616]

This was so cool !!! great video really could feel what this dose for you guys , some of those shots it felt like I was there with you skating dancing feeling free. I'm so happy you all found new place to skate . Thank you for sharing

[@rawmintvideo]

This is such a powerful film! Congratulations!

[@KlasiqueTV]

This was amazing, I always wanted to get into skating the way the people in this video were. I only have one rink called united skates that's been open since I was a kid and that's one of my favorite spots to go. I just wish I had this experience growing up.

[@casandradavis-lewis]

I really enjoyed this video. Thank you for sharing it.

[@wandastatton7781]

Glad to see it reopened : the happy faces and joy

[@suncoastrollerz2118]

Thank you for sharing, we really enjoy your skate Clean and Sharp videos.

[@Somethingfunny1111]

This was really well done and put a smile on my face.

[@angellynette8258]

Loved this. Where I’m at my town had a roller rink but it’s so outdated and no one goes to it. I wish we had a big skating community like this. I love seeing so many people come together have fun and enjoy skating.

[@ertfgghhhh]

Does it have a floor? If so, it's not outdated. Go.get your friends to go. Get people you meet to go. Go

[@duaneblack7063]

so rad!!! love you helki!!!

[@batteryknuckles6689]

Wonderful film! Keep it rollin' LA!! 😎

[@Bloofewd]

With all the roller skating hype on tik tok, hoping these rinks can be revived once quarantine is over. I've gotten into skating because of the hype, but skate jam culture looks so dope! More new young skaters need to learn about it

[@corymerry3399]

My local rink is booming! Dreamland pensacola

[@Love-Is-Kind]

Cool documentary. Thanks for sharing. Please stay healthy and be safe.

[@Bandemicboy__]

This video is absolutely amazing

[@kerokerobonita]

We have a similar vibe in London Hyde Park! Absolutely love our skating community, it really brings people together. Skating for LIFE.

[@ertfgghhhh]

Yes. You got that vibe from us. Keep skating!!

[@carolfishwr8703]

Gives me hope, makes me happy. I keep hoping that may some day....I'm 70 years old. Skated all my life, raised my babies skating as did my Dad. Here in the north most state, nothing to speak of. Maybe before I turn 100....

[@viciouslady1340]

Would be a wonderful birthday gift to yourself ❤

[@kennykelley5107]

I skated at Cal Skate an King Skate in NorCal for yrs...Then one day they started closing doors on those places...Miss it alot...Rexin an Slidin...rollerhockey on Sat mornings..

[@ShawnonSkates]

What a cool short! I enjoyed every minute. Many thanks🙏🏾

[@ZenZill]

Beautifully shot, and what a beautiful community...the good old days aren't out of reach, you just have to do it.

[@JoshAronoff]

A wonderful story. Grew up skating, getting back into it.

[@SeaUrchinFilms]

Very inspiring, love it! Great work.

[@diane9247]

Excellent little documentary!!!!

[@shadowrider2918]

This is awesome! I'd love to experience something like this!

[@eddiesanchez2293]

One of my first dates was at a roller rink in MS. One of my best memories, shout out Vanessa🔥🙏

[@Vlam1]

Bro this is so well made

[@dominicnegrete694]

This how SkateLand in Whittier made me feel...a place to unwind, a place for our first dates, birthday parties, or just a Friday night

[@SethEden]

I think I fell down in that back quarter back in 1985!!

[@iamdomo5321]

Good Afternoon.....I am 17 years old and in high school. This has really inspired me to skates

[@mignondee]

Did you start?

[@MichaelAlexander1967]

A beautiful example of integration at its best. I'm so glad the people decided to drive up the highway. 😀💙

[@Brix33333]

aww this is beautiful! Can't wait til World on Wheels opens up again after this lockdown! I've been practicing lol

[@stylzgohardvip]

GREAT VIDEO U GUYZ DESERVE WAY MORE LIKEZ !!¡¡

[@hermithollow2024]

I used to use the term “can’t have anything nice”! Everyone deserves a safe, fun, healthy place to go. I used to ice skate back in the day. I’m physically unable to do it now at age 60. Still have my skates and dream of stepping back out there someday…maybe! 😊

[@ertfgghhhh]

Get an adult skatemate and use it

[@esasmokey313]

Glad our skating rinks are still open here in Michigan,💯

[@dakotajett2010]

Aaaaughhw! Mmmann ya got me balling ! I hadn't really thought about it but , I've witnessed the closing of the skate place in Whittier. Thank God they reopened. Of course all this was pre covid. The GREAT Skate in Monterey Park. Oh man wasn't that a great place. Me & my best friend couldn't wait to get to someday hang out at L😍VERSLANE. They closed before we could. The saddest of all was the closing of THE THUNDER DOME😭. ALMOST 60yrs. ago. Daaamn! I'm old but still skating.🖖 😘LATER SKATERS🤙🤘✌☝️

[@f4udhorn]

The most fun I've ever had in my life: In the 80's at Starlight Rollercade, Dallas!

[@malivertt297]

When our skating rink closed ... :( we need to bring the rinks back!