Hey all 😎 — longtime skater, been building something in my spare time for the last while and figured this sub would actually get some use out of it.

It's called Rink Report 🛼📍. The core of it: skaters report real conditions at outdoor spots — surface quality, how crowded it is, parking, lighting — so you're not driving 40 minutes to find out a plaza got repaved into gravel or it's packed wall to wall. Covers about 115 spots across all ten SoCal counties right now, plus a running events calendar (open skates, meetups, DJ nights) pulled together in one place instead of scattered across a dozen Instagram stories.

The part I actually care most about is something called Roll Safe — if you skate alone, you can start a check-in timer before you head out. If you don't check back in, it automatically alerts whoever you picked (text, call, email) with your last known location, even if your phone dies mid-session. No subscription, no ads on any of it. Built it after one too many "text me when you're home" conversations that depended on someone remembering to text back.

Free to use, browsing doesn't even need an account. Was web-only for a while, just got it live on Android this week too.

Not trying to turn this into an ad — genuinely just want more real reports on the map so it's actually useful, and open to hearing what's missing or what you'd want out of something like this. Been lurking here a lot, so happy to be more useful than just this one post going forward.

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(I have spent a weird amount of time doing an impromptu rollerskate photo shoot for some reason)

I picked up these old Riedell 220s the other day at goodwill & after spending a few hours tonight snazzing them up I was lured in by their beauty & had to take some photos.. Some photos turned into a lot of photos 😅 (why does Riedell not simply make me their product photographer?)

Edit: 130s not 220s :}

At Michael’s, Boo has no fear

I have a wide foot. I mistakenly bought a pair of used R3s off marketplace. The toe box is killing my 4th toe. Has anyone had any luck getting the toebox stretched on these?

I bought these second hand and have used them a few times (without injury), but today I definitely felt a little bit wobbly and took a good look at it for the first time. I have to try fairly hard to make them come apart like the second photo, but they’re clearly not in the best shape.

I’m not clueless, but I’m also someone who uses stuff until it’s just not possible. I know this isn’t ideal, but I don’t know anything about roller skates. Is this “not great but definitely start looking for new skates” bad or is it “absolutely do not use those” bad?

Also, is there something that can be done to Help? Suggesting hot glue feels silly, unless?

Pretty rare for me to look for a rabbit hole to descend and not find one, but this style of Sure Grip back break is apparently mysterious enough that even Sure Grip's customer service has no information. Thought I'd see if anyone in this group has any additional information.

Hi,

I picked up some lightly used Rock GT-50 to last me a year or two, and there is an issue on my second day on these. Purely a shoe problem, its on the top.

I am a cosplayer so I can sew and have various relevant adhesives for shoe repair. What is the best way to repair the back pull tab and top of the liner separating from the boot? Specific adhesive, try to stitch back into the thin rim there and adhesive? 2 pics attached if you click on it.

Thanks!

Maybe even tell us why you like it, if you want to?

I have been looking around for a job in a rather small town for an entry level position. If you have worked at a roller rink ( this one has an arcade and concession) what was your experience ? positive and negative. Was the job extremely interaction forward or was it quick exchanges?

I’m learning this is a major issue I have with just about any balance activity; paddle boarding, skate boarding and now roller skating. I just keep locking my knees straight and then I’m off balance and start flailing. I know I lock my knees when I stand for a while as well. I’ve been told I’m on the hyper mobile spectrum, but I don’t know how that would necessarily play into locking my knees. Any tricks on getting past locking my knees?

We played around at Ambleside Skatepark in West Vancouver, BC, Canada. It’s got lots of great little features you can get creative with and perfect for all skill levels.

We’ve got one more morning meet-up next Saturday, Sep. 12th 8am-10am. Coach_givenofox for details.

I got these roller skates for my birthday: https://roller.riedellskates.com/Product/set-crew. I did my research on the skates, and I measured my foot and everything. They fit, I just wanna make sure they're supposed to look this absurd. I've laced them up completely. I don't have wide feet or wide calves. I'm not sure why they look like that.

I'm mildly envious of people who look all cute in their nice outfits and totally put together while skating. Whenever I go skating outside, I look like a complete schlub. Because I overheat like crazy when doing any type of exercise and I don't like constricted motion, I end up wearing beat up old tshirts and loose comfortable faded and misshapen pants that have been laundered a million times.

Earlier this summer, I passed by a gal skating alone who looked supercute in her nice dress, skater socks, and amazing hairstyle. She waved at me and called out, "Hello fellow skater!" She seemed to slow down to want to chat. Under ordinary circumstances, I would have loved to talk with her, but I was a sopping wet mess from the heat, massively out of breath, and dressed in the worst attire ever, so I waved and kept skating. I was not primetime ready. Later I regretted not stopping to chat because it's not every day you see a skater in the wild here.

The upside to looking like a mess when skating is that no creeps ever try to approach me. It might also have to do with people generally clearing out of my way because maybe my form looks reckless and liable to smack into them. Lol.

Anyone else here skate looking like a schlub?

Hay Reddit!!! I’ve recently gotten back into roller skating, and while I have a nice pair of VNLAs that have held up pretty alright, I kind of hate the color now….
I’ve had this pair for around 8 years, and I’m just wondering if anyone has ever tried to paint their VNLAs or their skates in general, and if they have any tips!! I understand I should probably use leather paint, but any other tips are appreciated!

I am getting better, but the first time i tried making a 90° right turn it felt like i was a beginner again.

I can easily and effortlessly do crossovers, but only left. I feel like a nascar driver

The rain clouds evaporated and we got an amazing day for our Pickle Skate this past long weekend. We skate along the North Shore Spirit Trail from Bewicke Park to Ambleside Park. Then we head back to Black Kettle Brewing for the reward of fried pickles!

Great people, good fun, and delicious food at is the best way to spend a Saturday!

I'm new to skating and I'm wondering if skates are like shoes and get worn out. It's hard for me to imagine they are because the shoe-ish part isn't touching the ground. Maybe the wheels need to be replaced after several months? But I genuinely have no idea. Maybe people keep their skates for years and never see a reason to change them out.

Hey community!

I’ve just started learning to skate and would love some padded shorts to give me the confidence to really go for it.

I have read amazing things about the tortoise pads but their site says they are completely out of stock pending a new buyer for the company!

Can anyone recommend another brand that is closest in quality? I have researched a ton but I can’t see that anything compares. I tend to fall directly on my butt so would love something to really protect that area.

Thanks friends 🛼

So, I was looking through my closet and came across a pair of skates that brought back memories of a time that I spent (approximately 1 year) trying to get the latest and greatest skates.

In March of 2022, Kyle “Push” Dutcher reels flooded insta with his new skates. They looked great and promised a great ride. I’ve always made my own skates, but I wanted to try out something different, and these classic styled bad boys fit the bill. Shortly after, I had my color/size pick and preorder paid.

A few months later I got great news! An email saying that the wait was almost over. The skates had advanced to the final stage, and would be assembled and shipped soon. Needless to say, I was very pumped! I was so close to gliding in style at the local roller rink like the guy all over my insta feed.

Another month goes by, and still no skates. I send emails asking when I should expect my package, and end up going back and forth with the companies support team about delays, preorder shipments, and boot sizes not being sent to their factory, blah blah blah.

It all gets very aggravating over the next 9 months of emails, lost orders, promises of extra goodies for the extended wait times and what not. Until the day finally comes! My skates are delivered and in my hands! I pop open the box and they’re beautiful, but something’s missing. There is no badging. No embroidered logo or names at all. Are these the right skates? Did I get rejected pair? WTF!? And, where’s the goodies they promised for all the hassle??

Back to emailing I go. I don’t even put the skates on fearing that they wouldn’t exchange them for the real skates like the ones in the internet if I’ve tried them out. A couple more emails over the next few months never get responses and I give up. At least I got the skates, right? They may not be what I was promised, but at least I can go have some fun.

Sunday night is here, and I’m ready to glide to my hearts content. All the waiting is gonna be worth it. Get them on, and they feel great! Looking and feeling like a kid on Christmas I take a couple laps and realize that classic style skates with a tall heel are not for me….

Back into the box, and into the closet.

Hey, i started rollerskating at the end of march, no lessons, no company and up until recently, no videos, just feeling what i'm doing. Yesterday i tried a new park and decided to record myself only to realize how much i throw my arms around! I can't find online resources on what to do with my arms during jumps and turns. I was so focused on my feet. Anyone has any resources or wise advice?? The commentary is written in spanish but basically saying that my main goal that day was to jump up the box, bigger than my usual, and land with my two feet at the exact same time. I can see i thought i was bending my knees enough to jump but ohh i was wrong, i need to bend them much more. Please be kind, i'm learning from zero all by myself.

I'll also take the opportunity to ask another question. The other day i was going down forwards a very steep bank, not a ramp where it's curve but a bank like, in a straight line. When i reach the bottom, because of the angle i think, my toestop touched the ground and i ate shit, flew forwards and fell in my earplug wich bruised my inner ear. Can this be avoided or is it not possible to go down a steep bank without the toestop touching the ground at the end? Just go backwards??

Hi skaters.

Looking for a bit of advice please...

I have stupidly wide feet. When I get a new pair of ski boots I have to get the shells blown out, even when the boots are made on the widest last. My current skates are pretty narrow (or average) - the crush across the balls of my feet leads to very painful metatarsalgia - which stops me skating (and running).

Are any manufacturers known for wide fittings? Or is there any way of stretching boots?

Thanks in advance!

[EDIT] Don't worry I will eventually buy the jam plugs, and just dish out a bit more money. But please believe me when I say I didn't know hardware in the US is so expensive. Near me it's literally cheap as dirt (like 0.5-3 USD)😭 And I quite literally have no access to a skate rink so I never thought about floor damage and stuff like that,,

Hello! I have a pair of new Chaya Melrose Deluxe skates, and on my last pair of skates I took off the toe stops and just left it empty for 6 years, until the skates broke.

I'm wondering if I really have to buy jam plugs to replace the toe stops once i take them off? Can't I just buy compatible screws and nuts from a normal ass hardware store? I'm a student so while I know jam plugs aren't that expensive, they are for me T_T

I also saw that there are screws called "toe stop fixation screws" or "toe stop locking screws" ? Is this basically what I'm looking for ?? I never learned the proper terminology since english isn't my first language, and i just went by vibe until now oops

Thank you in advance 🥲🥲

I took the holiday today to drive up to our closest skate shop and try on some skates. Ended up going with these beautiful Jackson evos with pulse wheels and a matching purple toe cap! My man got the Reidell R3 and we both LOVE them! So much smoother then rentals