Michelle+P’s+OpEd+Article



I’ll be the first to admit that competitive roller-skating is a dying sport. It’s in a rut right now, and the number of participants is dwindling. But what I’m really sick of is the lack of respect in regards to the sport (yes I count it as a sport!) First off, I guess it is my fault for choosing skating as my sport, but I am beyond fed up with trying to explain to people what I do: “Do you play a sport?” “Well I skate.” “Oh, like skateboarding? Or ice skating?” “No, actually I skate on a wood floor. With roller skates.” “Oh so you’re in roller derby.” “No actually, I’m not. I’m a competitive roller skater.” “Huh?” “I’m a figure skater. It means I do all those jumps and spins like you’ve seen those ice skaters do, except I do it with four wheels on each foot.” “Oh… That’s lame, why didn’t you just become an ice skater? That’s cooler.”

UGHH. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been through this conversation. Yes, I know skateboarding is more common, derby is on the rise, and ice-skating is more popular, but that doesn’t mean roller is any less worthy. I love the sport; been doing it for 12 years. Roller-skating is just as arduous as ice-skating. We do the jumps, we do the spins, all with heavier skates than ice skaters. I’m not trying to say roller-skating is better than ice-skating, I’m just asking for a little respect. Before you say it’s lame, or stupid, watch it! Seriously, because I know for a fact that the majority of these people had never watched it before calling it those words. Just because it isn’t in the Olympics, for reasons that are an entirely different story, and too aggravating to go into, doesn’t mean it is a stupid, worthless sport. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and practice. Did you know Olympian Tara Lapinski started in roller-skating? Yes, I realize that obviously she left it to be an ice skater, but that has to do with politics and other factors because many people make the switch in hopes of the chance to be a famous athlete, something you probably won’t get as a roller skater. Still, that doesn’t change the beauty of the sport, and it certainly deserves respect.

PS my “favorite” thing is when people are at the rink during practice hours, see with their own eyes, that I’m clearly practicing on roller skates, and they come up and ask if I’m an ice skater. Come on, people.