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What the Heck Happened to Rollerblading? (2017)

entertainment.howstuffworks.com

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Re: What the Heck Happened to Rollerblading? (2017)

#11

Post by mikestew »

bobbytit wrote: post #8
reidjs wrote: post #4

Not PC, but I love Bill Burrs take on rollerblading: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VmMAE0za2-w He connects the demise of rollerblading to homophobia

Specifically the one famous joke (that even made it onto The Sopranos).... What is the hardest thing about roller blading? Telling your parents you're gay. I never knew a joke could change the course of history.

But why was rollerblading ever associated with homosexuals to begin with? As one who did not know anyone in the 90s who was both a rollerblader and an out gay person, is it a "yeah, but looks gay" thing? I dunno, seemed like one of those things one says when they can't afford rollerblades, or can afford them but sucks at it and gave up.

Re: What the Heck Happened to Rollerblading? (2017)

#12

Post by Svperstar »

About 10 years ago I read a bunch of former roller bladers and skateboarders talking about the death of rollerblading in the 1990s.

It is much easier to do tricks on rollerblades, also it was viewed as a "gay" activity in a much more homophobic time in society. There was a picture of a rollerblader in a skating mag and they photoshopped pink makeup on his face and made his rollerblades purple.

Skaters started calling rollerblades "fruit boots" and that killed it for a lot of people who didn't want to associated with something seen as weak and "gay".

Re: What the Heck Happened to Rollerblading? (2017)

#13

Post by bobbytit »

mikestew wrote: post #11
bobbytit wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Specifically the one famous joke (that even made it onto The Sopranos).... What is the hardest thing about roller blading? Telling your parents you're gay. I never knew a joke could change the course of history.

But why was rollerblading ever associated with homosexuals to begin with? As one who did not know anyone in the 90s who was both a rollerblader and an out gay person, is it a "yeah, but looks gay" thing? I dunno, seemed like one of those things one says when they can't afford rollerblades, or can afford them but sucks at it and gave up.

My recollection is that the flamboyant gay rollerbladers zipping around places like Venice Beach became a meme of sorts.

Re: What the Heck Happened to Rollerblading? (2017)

#14

Post by bobbytit »

Svperstar wrote: post #12

About 10 years ago I read a bunch of former roller bladers and skateboarders talking about the death of rollerblading in the 1990s. It is much easier to do tricks on rollerblades, also it was viewed as a "gay" activity in a much more homophobic time in society. There was a picture of a rollerblader in a skating mag and they photoshopped pink makeup on his face and made his rollerblades purple. Skaters started calling…

Yeah, I think the fruitbooting label killed it more than just that one joke.

Re: What the Heck Happened to Rollerblading? (2017)

#15

Post by therockspush »

xsmasher wrote: post #10
Apocryphon wrote: post #9

> "It's hard to look good on skates. Once you get good, you'll look good, but there's nothing you can buy that will make that easier. It's a balance point that has to be learned and earned." What about the whole Heelys fad?

The same critique applies to skateboarding, and that seems as popular as ever.

I bladed and still skateboard.

What made blading lame is having to carry around a pair of shoes if you want to go anywhere. Otherwise you're like the guy clicking around the coffee shop in your clip in bike shoes and tights.

Re: What the Heck Happened to Rollerblading? (2017)

#16

Post by Nasrudith »

Apocryphon wrote: post #9

> "It's hard to look good on skates. Once you get good, you'll look good, but there's nothing you can buy that will make that easier. It's a balance point that has to be learned and earned." What about the whole Heelys fad?

Heelys wound up recalled and banned in schools over safety issues with the shoes themselves - as opposed to the lack of helmets.

Re: What the Heck Happened to Rollerblading? (2017)

#18

Post by elcapitan »

Finnucane wrote: post #2

It sucked to be cycling on a shared path with rollerbladers. They’d take up the whole lane. I’m glad they’re gone.

I see this a lot on some leisure area in Berlin here (the old airport Tempelhof). The problem is that there usually is a big difference in skill level betwen cyclists and rollerbladers. Cyclists are normally quite experienced in what they do, and can control their space usage pretty well. Rollerbladers only do it once a week at best, and stumble around like drunk teenagers, going very wide and slow. A skilled rollerblader wouldn't really need more space than a cyclist.

Re: What the Heck Happened to Rollerblading? (2017)

#19

Post by type0 »

therockspush wrote: post #15
xsmasher wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The same critique applies to skateboarding, and that seems as popular as ever.

I bladed and still skateboard. What made blading lame is having to carry around a pair of shoes if you want to go anywhere. Otherwise you're like the guy clicking around the coffee shop in your clip in bike shoes and tights.

Rollerblades could have become more popular if all parks had pavement instead of gravel tracks.
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