Lanham Skate Center

9901 Lanham Severn Rd. | Lanham, MD | (301) 577-1733

Benefits of Protective Gear for Roller Skating Newbies

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Roller derby players speeding by

Just like any new skill, learning to roller skate comes with its share of ups and downs. However, the “downs” of roller skating can be a bit painful if you’re not prepared! If you’re interested in learning to skate, or teaching your child/partner/friend how to skate, check out the benefits of wearing protective skating gear from your friends at Lanham Skate Center.

  • First stop, helmets! Helmets are an important piece of safety gear for many sports, but you’ll want to make sure to choose one that is appropriate for the activity. While there is no “concussion-proof” helmet, they can prevent serious head and brain injuries caused by a fall or collision. Check out the CDC’s Helmet Safety page to learn more.
  • Next up, elbow and knee pads. These protective pads are a smart choice for beginning skaters, especially if skating outdoors! While taking a fall on the hard floor of a skating rink might not feel great, concrete or asphalt will be even more painful. Wearing elbow and knee pads protects these fragile areas that often take the hardest impacts from falling.
  • Last, but not least, don’t forget wrist guards! Learning to skate inevitably involves some falls, and it’s natural to stick your hands out to break your fall. Unfortunately, wrist injuries are one of the most common reasons skaters end up seeking medical attention, so it pays to protect them. Wrist guards provide both impact protection and bracing support to ensure that your tumbles don’t end in an ER visit.

Now that you know safety gear isn’t just for roller derby, you may also want to consider skating lessons. We can teach you how to roll and stop, how to turn, and even how to fall safely! To learn more about roller skating lessons in Lanham, check out our Fun to Roll Lanham skating lessons or contact us at (301) 577-1733!

Kicking Off Summer: Activities to Keep the Little Ones Entertained

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Family reading together at a librarySummer is nearly here, and that means it’s time to start thinking about how to keep your little ones entertained. To get started, check out these family-friendly activities around Lanham:

    • Enjoy Story Time at the Local Library – There’s always something fun going on at the library. The Glenarden Branch Library and the New Carrollton Library both regularly host story time and other fun educational activities for children. And while you’re there, make sure to check out a few books to take home and read together!
    • Learn Something at the Museum – We’re lucky to be near one of the country’s best museum cities, Washington D.C. There are so many incredible museums to expose your kids to art, culture, history, science, and more. You could spend your whole summer in D.C. museums and still not see it all!
  • Take the Family Skating – Without regularly scheduled recess and P.E., it’s important that your littles get some exercise this summer. Skating is a wonderful, fun exercise for any age group, and best of all it’s indoor and air conditioned, so there’s no sunscreen or bug spray required. Any parent or caretaker of little ones can tell you that the fight to apply sunscreen is no joke. Skip it and have some active fun inside at our Lanham skating rink. And if your child isn’t comfortable on skates, then our Fun to Roll Lanham skating lessons will help them learn the basic and become more confident skaters.

So get out there and have some fun with your children this summer. And don’t forget to check out our upcoming Lanham events!

Renting vs Buying: Choosing the Right Option for You

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Closeup of a pair of inline skatesSo you love skating, but you’re not sure whether you should rent or buy skates? Well, if you’re trying to decide, then let us help you by sharing the pros of each:

The Pros of Renting Skates

    • Growth Spurts Are No Problem – If you have a young child, then you know how quickly they can grow. When you rent your skates, you never have to worry about your child outgrowing them.
    • No Maintenance Required – When you rent, you’ll never have to rotate wheels, grease ball bearing, or otherwise clean or service your skate.
    • No Storage or Carrying – We always have a pair of skates waiting for you! You won’t have to carry your skates back and forth or find room for them in your home.
    • It Can Save Money! – Depending on how much you skate, it may be cheaper to rent then to buy.

The Pros of Buying Skates

    • Get the Right Skate for You – When you buy, you can select the perfect style of skate for you! Whether you’re a bit of a speed skater, or if you’re into rhythm or jam skating, you can get the perfect skate for your favorite skating style. You can also change your wheels and bearing to further customize your skates.
    • You Can Show Off Your Style – A nice flashy or colorful pair of skates is always fun, and when you buy skates you can express yourself!
    • It Can Save You Money! – If you skate often, then the money you save from not renting may just pay for a new pair of your own!

Regardless of whether you want to rent or buy skates, our Lanham skating center is here to help! Our Pro Shop is an excellent place to buy skates in Lanham and we keep our rentals clean and maintained.Contact us for more information about buying skates today.

Tips for Better Skating Etiquette

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Family roller skating togetherSkating is fun, and with a little skating rink etiquette, it can be fun for everyone! Check out these bits of skating etiquette to make sure you’re not “that guy” at the rink:

    • Go with the Flow – Always skate with the traffic and never against it. Even if you missed your exit, you should never skate against traffic. One more lap to get back to your exit is always less dangerous (to yourself and others) than trying to fight the flow of the floor.
    • Do Not Skate in Big Groups – Generally it’s fine to skate next to your friend, but large groups can be rude and dangerous on the floor. If you have a big group, break it up into smaller groups.
    • Listen to the DJ – Sometimes the DJ is just announcing a song, but other times they may be sharing important safety advice so listen up.
    • Watch Out for Other Skaters – We know you’re having fun, but it’s always important to be mindful of the other skaters around. This is especially important if you’re trying a new trick (like skating backwards) or if you notice there are children or beginner skaters around you.
    • Wear Socks – This is for your comfort and for the comfort of the next person to wear your rental skates.
    • Be Considerate – If you see someone struggling or someone who has fallen, give them a little extra space.

If you want to learn even more about becoming a good skater, consider our Lanham skating lessons. Or if you’re ready to hit the rink, check out our hours and upcoming Lanham events and make your plans to visit our Lanham skating center today!

We’re Gonna Party Like it’s 1999!

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When an invitation comes in the mail for your child, inviting them to a birthday party at a roller rink, what do you think? Are birthday parties the ONLY thing that people do at roller rinks? We’re here to debunk that myth and tell you about all of the happenings at Lanham Skate Center.

First, of course we can do birthday parties and do them well! We have private party availability Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Unlike many other roller rinks, our deluxe party packages include: invitations, goody bags, pizza, drinks, ice cream, skate rentals, and more. We also allow you to bring your own dessert.

There doesn’t have to be a birthday in order for you to party with us at Lanham. We have weekly events for family fun or adults only. Adult party time at Lanham comes every Monday and Wednesday evening. Tuesday nights are reserved for private lessons whereas Thursdays are family nights. The weekend is party time for any age, any occasion.

Other events we have hosted/can host at Lanham:

  • Retirement parties
  • Theme parties
  • Sports team outings
  • Office after-hours
  • Church/Synagogue group outings
  • End of the year parties
  • Halloween parties
  • Communion/Confirmation parties
  • Holiday parties
  • School outings
  • School club outings
  • Ladies’ or Moms’ Night Out
  • Guys’ or Dads’ Night Out

If you want to celebrate it, we can help! So next time you are looking for a unique spot to take your child’s lacrosse team after they win the big game or your child’s youth group after finishing a community service project, think of Lanham Skate. We love to help celebrate any occasion, large or small. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions, party-related or not.

Our Favorite Skating Moments in Pop Culture

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Coiled 35mm film Skating has been such an important part of the culture for so long, that it’s no wonder that there are so many impressive, hilarious, and otherwise amazing depictions of skating in film and on TV.

Here are just a few of our favorite skating moments in popular culture:

  • Career Opportunities –  This 1991 John Hughes movie stars Jennifer Connelly and Frank Whaley as two very different people who fall for each other. It all starts late one night while they are both locked in a Target unaware of each other’s presence. It’s at this point that Jim (Whaley) decides to have a little fun by skating around the empty store:

  • Malcolm In the Middle – In one of the best moments from the show, Hal (played by the talented Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad fame) gets his roller boogie on, much to the surprise of his son:

  • Roll Bounce – This 2005 movie stars Bow Wow, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Nick Cannon, and Meagan Good. Set in 1978 Chicago, this one is a must for any fan of roller disco:

Of course, as much fun as it is to watch skating moments in film and TV, it is always better to go skating yourself! So check out our hours and schedule of upcoming Lanham events and make your plans to visit our Lanham skating center today. We even offer Fun to Roll Lanham skating lessons so that even the youngest in your family can get in on the fun!

Tips and Tricks for Teaching Young Children to Skate

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Small child rollerbladingMost of us have fond memories of hanging out at the skating rink as kids — spending time with friends, zipping around the rink, and getting excited when the DJ played “your song!” If you want to pass the fun of skating on to the next generation, check out these tips for teaching kids how to roller skate.

    • Start Small – The first step is learning how to stay balanced on skates. Then kids can practice pushing off and rolling, keeping feet parallel, and stopping using the toe stop on their skates (or learning another method like the T-stop).
    • Rent a Skate Mate – Skate mates are sort of a cross between a walker and training wheels. The PVC structure allows beginning skaters to hold on for extra stability while getting used to the feel of skating. Ask us about renting a skate mate for your child on your next visit to Lanham Skate Center.
    • Leave it to the Pros – We’ve been teaching people to skate for years, and over time we’ve developed some effective ways to help wobbly beginners find their groove and discover a love of skating. If your child is interested in roller skating, sign them up for our Fun to Roll Lanham skating lessons! For more information about skating lessons, contact us at (301) 577-1733.

With a little help (and maybe a skate mate), your child will have a blast at our Lanham skating center. Check out our hours and schedule of Lanham events and make your plans to visit us today.

Stir Crazy From The Snow? We Can Help!

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It may not be warm enough for roller blading through the neighborhood just yet, but why hibernate inside when Lanham Skate Center has plenty of fun to be had indoors?

With a fully loaded snack bar and events every day, there is something for any age to enjoy. For those that haven’t been on skates since the roller disco days or for skating newbies, we have skating lessons twice a week. For those looking for some kid-free fun, we have adults only night every Wednesday. For those that need to get their kids out of the house, we have open skate hours seven days per week.

If you are looking to host a birthday, team, classroom, youth group or any other kind of party, we have weekly availability. If you are interested in package options, available dates or more information, don’t hesitate to contact us.

If the weather does get too bad to get over to Lanham, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite indoor activities to do with or without kids.

Best Snow (or Rain) Day Family Activities:

  • Bake something fun.
  • Make slime.
  • Let the kids raid your closet and do a fashion show with their favorites.
  • Teach your kids some card game classics.
  • Start a story podcast.
  • Make a fort or pillow pallet, make some popcorn, and watch a movie.
  • Make a marshmallow catapult and have marshmallow wars.
  • Tie dye party.
  • Arts and crafts.
  • Science experiments.
  • Learn origami.
  • Make salt dough ornaments.
  • Make Play-Doh.
  • Indoor obstacle course.
  • At-home bowling.
  • Get all dressed up and have a fancy tea party.
  • Indoor camp out with the fireplace, sleeping bags, and s’mores.

Although we would love to see you at Lanham all of the time, we care about the safety of all of our patrons. We hope these ideas help when the weather is too bad to travel, but we hope you think of us when the roads are fully salted.

Fight Heart Disease by Skating!

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2 heart balloons against a blue skyDid you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States? According to the CDC, 25% of all the deaths in the United States are due to heart disease.

That is why February is American Heart Month. So check out these tips to keep your ticker going strong!

  • Make healthy substitutions – Instead of celebrating with food and alcohol, choose healthier options like an activity you enjoy that also happens to be good for you! Roller skating is great for this, whether you’re looking for a fun night out with that special someone or you want to get together with all your friends. It’s also a good aerobic workout, which leads us to . . . 
  • Get moving – Regular exercise is crucial to a healthy heart. Make sure you’re getting your recommended 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least 5 times a week. It’s also important not to sit for long periods of time, so make sure to get up from your desk or couch, stretch your legs, and consider standing or walking while talking on the phone. When choosing an exercise, make sure to find something that you enjoy, like roller skating. If you enjoy the activity, then you’ll be much more likely to do it regularly.
  • Manage stress – Finally, you have to manage your stress. Sometimes you just need to cut loose and let the stress of the work week go. Skating to great music is a good way to relax, blow off steam, and get in some exercise all at the same time. 

Ready for an activity that’s as fun as it is healthy? Check out our hours and schedule of upcoming Lanham events, and make your plans to visit our Lanham skate center for your heart today!

Skate Lacing Tips To Improve Performance

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Dozens of colorful skate laces hanging up and downWe all learned how to tie our shoes as kids – insert bunny-themed nursery rhyme here – so you probably think you’ve got your lacing game on lock. But did you know that the way you lace and tie your skates can affect their fit and performance?

Read on to learn some tips to help you lace your skates like a pro!

High Arches

Skate boots tend to be much sturdier than regular shoes. This can make things uncomfortable if you have high arches, as the hard boot may apply pressure on the top of your foot. Try lacing your boots parallel so that you can easily loosen the specific areas that are giving you problems.

Heel Slipping

If you’re having issues with your heel slipping, make sure your skates aren’t too big. If they are the correct size (or if one foot is slightly smaller than the other) tighten your laces towards the back of the shoe to add stability at your ankle and heel. You make also need to try wearing thicker socks.

Toe Issues

Ingrown toenails, corns, hammer toe, or just general tightness on your toes can be lessen through careful lacing. Start lacing with each end of the lace over the eyelets closest to your toes. Then measure the laces so that the lace closest to the painful toe is 5 inches shorter. Use the longer lace to zigzag through all of the skate’s eyelets. The shorter lace can then be crossed across the entire skate, straight to the eyelet closest to your opposite sided ankle.Then just tighten your skates normally. This will relieve pressure from the problem toe, but will still keep your skates tight enough.

Now that you know how to lace your roller skates, it’s time to get out there and skate! Check out our hours and schedule of Lanham events and make your plans to visit our Lanham skating rink today!