How this event is rolling back the years

• Started as a COVID-19 outdoor activity
• Reaching a new generation of people

When COVID-19 began, many people didn’t have any form of public indoor physical activity due to the restrictions.

That prompted some creative thinking and the resurgence of an outdoor activity that many have forgotten about: roller-skating at Stuart Park.

“Everyone was on couch lock during COVID-19 doing nothing,” Shawn Gorbould of Valley Roller Skate told Kelowna10. “All the gyms were closed, we weren’t allowed to do anything, and this was an outdoor activity where we can get outside and still be fit and active.”

The sport was at its highest popularity in the disco era of the 70s, and now appears to be getting its second wind.

Gorbould and other members of the roller-skating community started to go downtown at the height of the pandemic and would skate around and enjoy what they love to do.

Last winter, they reached out to the city to create a full-on roller rink spectacle. Thus “Roller Nights” was created.

The event brings that feeling of being in a classic roller rink with music, lights, and even some skaters dressed in throwback outfits.

Traditional roller skates or ‘quad skates’ have two front and two rear wheels with a stopper on the front, whereas inline skates have two to five wheels on a single line. Any type of equipment is welcome at the event, and there are rentals available.

“I find roller-skating to be a lot easier than inline skating because you have more support under your feet, and you’re not tipped as much,” Gorbould explained. “It feels very similar to downhill skiing where you’re leaning forward and transitioning your weight on to one foot and onto the other foot. It’s really easy as long as you remember to bend your knees.”

Despite the summer heat this past week, the once a week gathering continues to draw hundreds of people of all ages and skills.

“There’s the older crew like us who used to skate when they were little and want to get back into it, and there’s young people that have never done it before that see us having fun and want to join in,” Gorbould said. “We couldn’t be happier to share our passion that we had as a child with the new generation.”

Roller Nights is held every Tuesday until Aug 30 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.