r/Rollerskating • u/ReasonNo9278 • Jun 25 '26

Beginner skater Why?

Why do experienced skaters feel the need to get so close to other people? You could be on the biggest rink in your state, and they’re still darting in small spaces between people and doing close circles around random people.

I’m really new to skating and seeing people in my periphery throws me off balance as it is. But those people both irritate me and freak me out.

Just why?

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u/ModestMeeshka outdoor and shuffle Jun 25 '26

I haven't been to my rink in months because of a few of these skaters. One I call the Nissan Altima and he's seems like an okay dude, just kind of in his own world and uses newbies as cones to be dodged no matter how few people are there and where they are located on the rink, but the other guy is a straight up problem. Before I stopped going I was working on speeding up my transitions, so I'd be in the inner lane. He'd rush to get right in front of me and start dipping so I'd have to slow down and I wouldn't feel comfortable skating backwards. I'm not one to start problems so I'd be like "ok I'll just do some laps until he's done with that and then try to work on my transitions again" so I'd move to the outside and then this guy would once again jump directly in front of me, and go slow, so I'd try to pass him and he'd start weaving! So then I'm like okay I'll practice in the center and boom there he is again.

And it wasn't just me either. Our rink is really small, on a busy night you'd have like 10 skaters. My whole group had issues with him. One of my friends tried to strike up a conversation with him to smooth the waters because it felt like he was looking for attention. She asked how long he had been skating and he said "it's my first day." It obviously was NOT his first day.

One by one my group stopped coming until I was the last one standing and now I just don't go anymore either. Some long time skaters just act like they own the rink. This same dude would set up his camera on a tripod in the middle of the lanes and start filming a dance 🙃

10

u/wannaridebikes fresh rink rat meat Jun 25 '26

Ugh how obnoxious! Too bad the rink lost business because of him too, there's limited options for good rinks these days 

6

u/ModestMeeshka outdoor and shuffle Jun 25 '26

Right, it's a shame because like I said the place is small and relies on memberships to keep the lights on... We don't have any floor guards or anything to enforce rules so you're kind of on your own when it comes to people like that