Visit a roller rink

“My first time at the roller rink was similar to many other people’s first time. I walked up to the guy standing at the counter with rows and rows of quads and inlines lined up behind him. He looked bored, and I could tell by the way his inlines were scuffed and improperly laced that this guy knew what he was doing. [...] I nervously eyed the rink as I strapped my feet securely into my rollerblades. Even then I still felt insecure and nervous as we ventured out onto the wooden floor. My boyfriend held my hand after my feet almost rolled their way out from under me [...] I looked around at the many people rolling around the rink and smiled at the diversity. There were college students from the five colleges in the area, gripping onto each other and laughing. There were young hockey players, zipping around, dodging the slower moving folks. There were moms, skating next to each other with ease as they quickly glanced at their children skating, falling, and getting right back up again. There were young adults doing various tricks as they sped by. There was every possible kind of person you could imagine, and everybody seemed to be having a wonderful time in their own way.”

“So I had the bright idea of going to a roller rink for the first time in easily 25 years. I’ve had my moxie beach bunnies for at least 6 but have only ever skated outside, and even then not nearly that much. But never did bad, never ate shit, I do ok on the pavement. I can even do some tricks and whatnot. Welllll friends, a skate rink is not pavement. [...] I maneuvered like a new born deer on a froze lake. I fell and hit my boobs and knees so hard multiple times I actually got chastised by an old lady who told me if I didn’t know how to skate I had no business being there.”

“So yesterday I went to a roller rink for the first time (after having only really practiced in my kitchen and once outside) and I found it harder somehow? Idk if it's just cos I could build up more speed so I had different momentum to usual but I kinda presumed skating in a rink would be easier cos of more room. For example I'd been practicing turns at home and got to the point where I could do it without needing to steady myself but at the rink I felt like I couldn't pick up my feet as well. Interesting experience overall!”