What is Jam Skating and why does it look so fun?

Jam skating is a combination of different dance styles while on skates. It involves elements from break dancing, ice skating, modern dance, and gymnastics performed to music. Jam Skating actually involves a different kind of skate as well (pictured above). Typically, jam skates have a lower cut ankle boot for more flexibility. They are also made out of lighter materials so that skaters can perform tricks with greater ease.

Jam skating was actually believed to have gotten it’s start in the Great Lakes region and Florida. Becoming popular in the 1990’s and still going strong today, there are huge jam skate competitions in Carrollton (GA), Sandy (UT), Anderson (SC), and Franklin (IN).

There are a few different styles of jam skating that have evolved throughout the years.

1. Shuffle Skating/Rexing. This is skating forward or backwards while moving to the beat of the music.
2. Footwork. Just like it sounds, this style shows off fancy foot moves.
3. Power. This is what we associate most closely with breakdancing. This style focuses on power moves (headspins, backspins, full body spins, elbow spins, hand glides and many more).
4. Ground breaking. A freeform style of skating also referred to as toe-dancing, trucking, shuffle skating, hexing, crazy leg, boogie bouncing, disco skating, and many other names.

Jam skating is also a competitive sport where skaters can perform their own routine, solo or in groups. In jam skating competitions, there is little criteria in judging and gives the skater maximum creative freedom. Skaters are judged on tricks and the overall performance.

Jam skating is not aggressive in any way. It is supposed to be a fun, exhilarating form of dancing on roller skates. Come down to Lanham Skate Center and try out some new jam skate moves. Check our schedule for fun theme nights and open skates.

Keeping your kids active and engaged in wholesome activities after school can be tough. But cutting down on the screen time and getting your little ones some exercise is one of the best things we can do for our kids. At Lanham Skate, our commitment to family fun in a safe environment makes for the perfect after-school activity for all ages! Check out some of the benefits from skating regularly and then check us out.

Meet New People

Spending time with us at Lanham Skate means your kids will be in a fun and safe setting with a chance to meet new friends from every walk of life. Skating brings a diverse group of people together that you and your kids might not meet anywhere else.

Skating provides an awesome chance to make great new friends during after-school skating or any time our skating center is open in Lanham, Maryland.

You Can’t Beat the Fun!

Skating is great for your health and your bank account, but it’s the fun that really sets skating apart from other after-school activities. From beginners who are just learning to more advanced skaters, skating is a great time no matter your skill level. And don’t forget the skating games we play, the new friends you’ll make, our concessions, and our arcade.

Reduce Childhood Obesity

Skating is a great way for your kids to get the exercise they need. Whether it’s on quads or inline skates, cruising around the rink at a moderate pace can burn up to 600 hundred calories an hour. Skating also helps build muscle, increases balance, and develops cardiovascular strength. Overall, skating is a great way to reduce the risk of childhood obesity and keep your little ones healthy and fit.

Here at Lanham Skate, we know you love skating but how much do you really know about your favorite pastime? Skating isn’t just a ton of fun, it’s been around forever and has a really amazing history. From its origins through its evolution up to modern day inline and quad skating, you might be surprised by some of these fun facts!

Skating is OOOOOLLLD!

Did you know that roller skating was originally invented all the way back in 1760? That’s older that the United States!

Although it didn’t work out great for John Merlin, the inventor, when he took a hard wipe-out, the idea caught like wildfire. 250 years later, you can find a skating center in just about every town in America.

Skating and the Restaurant Business

In the 1950s, savvy businessmen realized that their servers could work double speed if they were on skates. In reality, it might not have save a lot of time, but it sure made going out to eat a lot of fun. You can still find roller skating carhops and drive-ins here and there if you look for them.

Disco Revolution

Skating hit its all-time peak in popularity in the 1970s when the disco-crazy laced up their high-tops and boogied down on quads. From bell bottoms to funky footwork, disco epitomized the fun of skating.

So Many Styles

Not that it needs to be, but skating is so much more that birthday parties and zipping around the rink on a Friday night. In the ’90s, inline skates added an extreme aspect to skating and things got radical. There’s also jam skating, dancing, derbies, and some great classic hardwood games.

There’s so much more, but we think you’re starting to get the idea. Now that you’re nice and excited about what skating has to offer, roll over to Lanham Skate and have some fun with us today!

We know that in a perfect world, all you would ever do is skate. And at Lanham Skate Center in Lanham, Maryland, there’s nothing we enjoy more than seeing you and your friends tearing it up on the hardwood. But we know that there comes a time that you have to unlace your roller-skates and see what else is going on around town.

Luckily, there are a ton of awesome things to do in and around DC this fall that will surely keep you occupied until the next time you can get to the rink. Check out some our favorites below (and don’t forget to add a trip to Lanham to the list while you’re at it)!

• Maryland Renaissance Festival – Prepare for a ye olde good time when you turn the clocks back about 400 years. The 2018 Maryland Renaissance Festival runs for six weeks from now until October 2 and is a ton of fun for the entire family!
• Fiesta DC – Saturday and Sunday, September 15-16, 2018, you can get a taste of Latino culture during this annual celebration timed to coincide with National Hispanic Month. There will be Latino art on display, food, music, and mucho mas!
• Mount Vernon Fall Harvest Day – See what it was like to celebrate the fall harvest the way our founding fathers would have. At the Fall Harvest, you can get lost in a hay maze, ride in a horse-drawn carriage, and play early American games. It’s a great day full of fun for young and old.

These are just a couple of great ways to do something fun this fall. There’s a lot more going on around town though. So get creative, get motivated, and get out to have some fun now that the weather has cooled off and the days are perfectly crisp. But don’t forget to roll in for a skate while you’re at it!

With school starting back up, this time of year can be stressful for any parent. But if you have a fall birthday party to plan on top of it, we feel for you. There are some ways to make sure you pull off the perfect back-to-school birthday party, though, and it’s not nearly as difficult as you think!

The first order of business on planning an unforgettable fall birthday blowout is to pick the right outing. At Lanham Skate, in Lanham, MD, we’re pretty sure a day at our skating center has just what you’re looking for.

Birthday Party Packages

At Lanham, we’ve got birthday parties down to a science. We take care of everything from invitations to party bags, food, to skating (for up to 12 guests and the birthday boy or girl!). Ever hear the old saying that the devil is in the details? We always figured it meant that it’s a real devil dealing with all the details of planning the perfect party. That’s why we’re here to help get everything right from the get-go. The only thing you’ll have to worry about is whether you’ve still got it out on the rink!

Don’t Stress, Plan Early!

A great way to make sure you’re ready for the big fall birthday coming up is to start planning now. Add a reminder to book your date with us at Lanham Skate while you’re taking care of the back to school list. Booking now is a great way to ensure you’re staying on top of the special day and it’ll give you plenty of time to get ready. Plus, our party packages are designed for every budget so you don’t have to skimp on the gifts either!

A birthday party at the roller rink is a timeless classic that will definitely keep the little ones smiling all day long. Give us a call today to book now!