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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)

#51

Post by apgwoz »

The decline of (popularity) Aggressive Inline is talked about in this documentary “Barely Dead” (https://youtu.be/DArRi_PooDc). Spoiler alert: it has to do with being canceled by the X-Games, which reduced exposure, which reduced new kids coming on the scene.

Really, it just went underground. There are still aggressive skates being produced by many companies, with a wide selection of wheels, frames, etc. There are even contests still happening; they just look different than they once did. Many of them are tours of skate spots in a city, mob style.

The surge of cheap video equipment also means that there’s no end of filmed video parts on YouTube with insane grind combinations, “stunt” gaps, and a progression of difficulty that can only be described as “jaw dropping.”

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

#52

Post by NicoJuicy »

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…

I bladed A LOT when I was younger, still take it out sometimes.

And your argument is new to me ( Belgium), I've never witnessed any harassment.

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

#53

Post by systematical »

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

Thankfully, ever city I've moved to has a roller hockey league. It's a nice cheap alternative to ice hockey, typically 1/2 or less of the cost. Here in DC we have multiple leagues and weekly pickup games, you can find us Wednesdays in front of the white house: http://www.whitehousehockey.com/

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

#54

Post by frabbit »

futhey wrote: post #7
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.

It also sucks to be a single rollerblader on a multi-use path with a gang of bikers who can't seem to understand they're taking up both lanes designed to be used to travel in both directions. Nobody knows how to use anything even resembling a road.

Agreed on both your and the OP's point. MUPs seem to bring the worst in some people who do not know how to be considerate.

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

#55

Post by samatman »

knicholes wrote: post #29
ludston wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't get me wrong, I'll just take them off and ruin my socks because walking with your toes pointed up is killer on the ankles. I didn't realise it was something worth being self-conscious over.

I'd be more concerned about lounging around a coffee shop with spandex revealing all I've been given.

More of a ristretto-and-go kind of moment, I would think.

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

#56

Post by bobbytit »

coldtea wrote: post #36
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.

Well, jokes have changed the course of history in far more important circumstances and the fates of nations of millions - so simply making a passtime out of fashion is not much...

What jokes have changed the course of history? It would make a good book.

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

#57

Post by Fricken »

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.

Lower back tattoos were popular amongst young women in the 90s. Then the term "tramp stamp" caught on like wildfire and the practice came to an abrupt stop.

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

#58

Post by dochtman »

hjfhjkh wrote: post #40
the_third_wave wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What happened is that I moved to the Swedish countryside and as such was confronted with hills and unpaved roads. When I lived in the Netherlands I used skates for transport in lieu of a bicycle because they're far easier to take along on public transport. I skated to the station, skated into the train, skated off it after 1.5 hours and 150 km, skated to my job and repeated this on my way home. I was just as fast as…

Homophobia is the accepted term for this kind of thing in both Dutch and Swedish, so you shouldn't feign surprise that "fear" comes into the terminology. The Netherlands and Sweden are among the most LGBT-tolerant countries in the world. Not having to worry (much) about homophobia is a huge privilege. The way you are talking, it sounds like you are neither gay nor have you ever given much thought to the plight of gay…

Yes, homophobia is a thing even in NL; what I think the GP post was trying to point out is that there’s been no connection between inline skating and any particular sexual orientation in NL. That rings true to me as another Dutchman who owns inline skates (though only for three years).
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