mond3y april 21. t980
daily nebraskan
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Roller skating editor: Craze started long ago
By Betsy Miller
Roller disco, outdoor skate rentals and movies featur
ing roller skaters have helped spark a new nationwide
craze about roller skating.
This phenomenon seemed to reach a high point just
last year, but according to one skating expert, the
activity's momentum started "rolling some time ago.
"Roller skating seems like an overnight sensation, but
it's been building for five or six years, Susie Theis, senior
editor of Roller Skating Business, a Lincoln-based trade
magazine said.
Theis attributed roller skating's popular development
to several reasons.
She said she feels "Skate-a-Thons for Muscular Dys
trophy started some interest in the pastime and also noted
that during the last five years roller skating promoters
have been working with ad agencies and movie producers
to gain exposure.
Theis said another important factor in roller skating's
new appeal is the connection of the activity with celebri
ties. Roller disco
"Cher wore roller skates on her show, and then Linda
Ronstadt had them on one of her album covers," Theis
said.
After this came roller disco which started in California
and spread throughout the nation, Theis said.
The fad of outdoor skating hit the Lincoln area recent
ly and now there are two outdoor rental firms that
provide skates to patrons who want to skate outdoors.
"Roller skating always does well during periods of de
pression and repression, said Theis.
This theory accounts for the large number of people
who go to roller skating rinks and outdoor skating rental
places, Theis said.
According to Theis, skating is cheap and allows a per
son one form of transportation that doesn't use gas.
Dennis Runyon, the manager of Holiday Skateworld
North and Holiday Skateworld South, agrees with Theiss
estimate of roller skating's appeal.
"Here in Lincoln, roller skating has always been good,
Runyan said.
Runyan also said he feels the publicity skating has re
ceived lately has alerted the public to the fun of roller
skating.
"AO the commercials you see are bound to help," he
OUTDOQ
SPOR
said.
Changes made
The current roller skating rage has prompted Runyan
to update his rink facilities, he sail.
According to Runyan, he has installed a complex light
ing system and a sound system he feels is one of the best
in Lincoln.
Runyan's rink also sells a full line of skating accessor
ies. He says the new skating scene has really changed
tastes in styles of roller skates.
"We sell very few white skates to girls anymore, he
said.
Theis noted that a big favorite for skating fans is the
jogging shoe mounted on roller skates.
The shoe is manufactured in just two places, California
and Kansas City, Mo., and both factories have three and a
half months worth of back orders, Theis said.
According to Theis, the next new style of roller skate
will be a cowboy boot with skate attached. The book will
lace up the front.
Other sales up
"The way it looks attracts young adults," Theis ex
plained. Theis also noted that companies which sell elbow pads,
knee pads and other protective equipment used by roller
skaters are getting increased sales.
What will be the next step for skaters in Lincoln?
Runyan said his skating rinks may try to make a deal
with some Lincoln dance studios. The studio instructors
would come to the rinks and give lessons in disco and
other dances to those who want to learn, he said.
Runyan said he is expecting "another banner year" and
Theis claims to be even more optimistic about the future
of roller skating.
"If the same thing happens as last year, there aren't
any limits to what we see happening. This is not a fad. It's
got too much going for it , she said .
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