Roller skating appeals to wide cross-section

Press, 7 June 1982, Page 8

Roller skating appeals to wide cross-section

Whether as a recreational pursuit or a competitive sport, roller skating is again becoming popular.

One of the reasons for this is that more permanent indoor skating rinks have been established in New Zealand, according to Beverley Rushton, coach at Rollerland. Prior to these, the only rinks have been in sports halls or similar buildings, where roller skating was only one of several sports played in the hall.

Beverly is a member of the Society of Roller Skating Teachers of New Zealand and the only professional skating coach in the South Island.

She says that the modern rinks will naturally encourage skaters to a higher competitive level because the rinks have been designed specifically for skating.

"It is also a much nicer environment." Beverley says. “The plastic floors are a lot faster to skate on. the ceilings are lower so the building is easier to keep warm, and the people are there to skate." she says.

Beverley has roller skated for the last 20 years and she finds that many children trying out the sport for the first time are very enthusiastic and tend to stay with skating. "They may have tried lots of other sports but skating seems to appeal because there are so many possibilities.” Beverley maintains. “Children find in some sports that they never seem to be getting anywhere and this-can be extremely frustrating.

“In roller skating, there are so many levels they can branch out into.

“As soon as the first figure test is passed, skaters can sit for medals," Beverley says. The hire skates at Rollerland are boot skates with speed wheels, which is also a change for the better.

Children who have learnt ballet or gymnastics find skating very compatible to their previous physical training. Beverley says these children appear to progress faster with skating. Roller skates also have the advantage on ice skaters.

The weight of the roller skates is so much heavier than ice skates that they have little trouble adapting to the plastic floor TRAINING AIDS Skaters from New Zealand are already in the worldclass but rank only about twelfth. But this ranking is still to New Zealand's credit as many overseas countries now treat roller skating as a professional sport. Special schools or Government grants are provided which benefit overseas skaters. Attempts are being made to obtain the best training even if professional skating is out of the question. Video sessions are a big part of the training in the North Island and Beverley says Rolierland will also be introducing this for coaching purposes.

■ Another training aid which Beverley believes is vital, is a harness. It will be similar to a gymnastic harness, and gives children confidence when learning more difficult techniques. Rollerland also will be forming its own skating club which will be aimed at the advanced competition skaters.