Getting your own skates is a great investment. It will save you money on rentals when you skate at Lanham Skate Center and make it easier to practice outside. That being said, it is an investment. If you want your roller skates to last, you’ll need to take care of them. Use these skate maintenance tips to keep them in good repair!

First of all, make sure you wipe down your skates every time you take them off. Unlace them and leave them open when you store them so that the insides will dry. The last thing you want is for your foot sweat to turn to mildew in the toe of your skates. Don’t dry your skates on a heating source, though. The boot can melt or even catch fire.

Check your wheels periodically. Look for obvious problems like chips or cracks, but also for general wear and tear, debris, and anything obstructing their freedom of movement. It shouldn’t be a struggle for your wheels to spin. Check on the wheel nuts as well to make sure they’re not loose, old, or otherwise in need of replacement. If your skates have adjustable toe stops, don’t forget to look at how tight or loose they are. The same is true of the truck, which is the part of the skate that holds the wheels in place. In general, trucks should be nice and tight. Even if you loosen them for more maneuverability, make sure they’re not too loose.

With a little bit of care and attention, your roller skates will last you a long time! And of course, if you run into a problem you can’t fix, don’t hesitate to contact the staff at Lanham Skate Center.

What do your kids do when they get home from school? If you’re like a lot of families, that answer is probably a big panicky shrug. Don’t let screen time takeover. Bring them down to Lanham Skate Center for active fun after school.

When you’re done working for the day, don’t you want to take a break before you start your tasks at home? Kids are the same way! Roller skating is great exercise, and exercise is good for brains as well as bodies.  Especially with so many schools doing away with recess and PE classes, it’s important to make sure kids get enough exercise. Skating works the heart, lungs, and muscles, all of which can help boost moods, decrease stress, mitigate symptoms of depression and attention disorders, and of course, make bedtime that much easier.

Did you know kids spend an average of 2-6 hours in front of a screen every day? Don’t let screen-zombification happen to your kids! Skating at Lanham isn’t just good exercise. It will also get them unplugged from TVs, video games, and computers, and encourage socializing in person. A break from screens is good for kids’ eyes, brains, and attention spans. After a long day stuck in desks at school, some unstructured, active play will refresh and recharge them, making it easier to focus on homework and chores at home.

And remember: after-school activities don’t have to break the bank! Check out the schedule at Lanham Skate Center – or even our skating lessons – for all the affordable fun your kids could want after school!

When it comes to birthday parties, we’re the experts at Lanham Skate Center. When you book a skating party for a birthday, we’ll handle all the details so all you need to worry about is fun! Of course, the activities are built in, which is one of the reasons that a skating party is such a great idea, but what if you want to shake things up a bit? Check out these roller skating party games to add a little something extra to your next skating party!

• Limbo. If you thought limbo was challenging and funny with shoes on, wait ‘till you try it with skates! You’ll need a limbo stick–a broom will work in a pinch, but since it’s a birthday, consider dressing it up a bit with ribbons, stickers, and even balloons or other festive decorations.

• Freeze Skate. There are two ways to play this game. In the first, the DJ plays music while everybody skates around, showing off their best moves. When the DJ turns the music off, everybody has to freeze! Anyone who moves is eliminated, and the last person left wins. Freeze skate can also be played just like freeze tag, except on roller skates.

• Relay Race. This is just like a regular relay race, except you’re skating rather than running, which is easier on your joints!

No matter what games you play, remember that a Lanham party package includes everything you’ll need, including food, decorations, invitations, and more! It’s never too early to start planning, so book your date online.

Has the winter got you down? That’s not uncommon this time of year. When you’re feeling blue, what you really need is a little pick-me-up. Roller skating is a positive, uplifting activity the whole family can enjoy together. Come down to Lanham Skate Center and spread the love at the rink this February–and beyond!

What is it about roller skating that makes it such a feel-good experience?

• It’s Social. You can bring your whole family or all your friends to the rink. We have family-friendly skate sessions that are as fun for the little ones as they are for parents, as well as adult-only nights on Monday and Wednesday so adults can let their hair down a bit. Who knows–you may even make new friends!
• It Boosts Your Mood. Between the great music spun by our DJs (why not request your favorite song?), the friend you’ll bring along or make there, and the health benefits of skating, your bad mood doesn’t stand a chance.
• It’s Affordable. Who says a fun night out has to be super expensive? Check out our regular rates and don’t be afraid to get a little creative when you pick a time to go out. Saturday mornings are some of our least expensive skate sessions, after all.

Who says you have to be bored and blue while we wait for spring? Get together with your friends and loved ones and make the rest of the winter into a fun, social, affordable good time at Lanham Skate Center!

With Valentine’s Day almost here, have you picked a spot to take your sweetie? If not, don’t panic! Lanham Skate Center is here to help. That’s right! Roller skating makes a unique, fun way to spend a romantic evening with your date on any night, not just February 14th. But since we know Valentine’s Day calls for something extra special, check out these ways to make your roller skating date even more romantic:

• Dress the Part. Who says you can’t get a little fancy to go skating? As long as skirts and pants won’t get tangled under wheels, and everyone is wearing good thick socks, you can dress to impress.
• Learn Something New. Has it been a while since you went skating? Learning or relearning something together will bring you closer and give you plenty to talk about. You can even sign up for lessons together!
• Request Your Song. Fulfill your teenage dreams of skating around holding hands with your sweetheart while listening to a song just for you two. Don’t have a song yet? Put your heads together and think of one!
• Go Retro. Roller skating has been popular for decades. Theme your skate date to the 50s, a 70s roller disco, or even the last time you went skating as kids.

Your Valentine’s Day date can be romantic without being expensive, overcrowded, and stuffy. After all, romance is all about being creative and having fun together. Check out our open hours! We can’t wait for you and your date to join us for the most romantic night of the year at Lanham Skate Center!

The holidays are over, and it’s easy to feel that all the celebration has gone with them. Don’t let yourselves get down in the dumps this winter! Are you and your family making enough time for fun in 2018?

Having fun together has so many benefits for your family! When you prioritize spending time together in a fun environment, your kids will feel special. Especially at a young age, kids crave the approval and attention of their parents above all else. Even older kids will enjoy time with family if it’s doing something they enjoy, like roller skating at Lanham. Kids whose parents are involved in their lives exhibit better school performance and are less likely to have behavioral problems. Plus, spending time together leads to better family communication and a stronger emotional bond.

Just like you schedule everything else, don’t be afraid to schedule family fun time. It’s easy to think that everything else should take priority, so put it on the calendar and block off that time! Remember, if you have to reschedule your family time, don’t just cancel it–plan it for another day. Commit to prioritizing having fun together in the new year.

How can you spend time together doing something everyone will enjoy? That’s easy–come visit us at Lanham Skate Center! We have affordable open skate sessions most days of the week. For those who may need a little help figuring out how to move around on skates, we also offer lessons taught by qualified instructors. We can’t wait to see you!

If your New Year’s Resolution is to get healthier, you’re not alone. “Get fit,” “get in shape,” and “exercise more” are some of the most common resolutions every year. But it’s easier to make a resolution than keep it. At Lanham Skate Center we’re here to help! Skating is a great form of exercise. Check out all the health benefits of roller skating:

• Burns Calories. Roller skating burns about as many calories as jogging, but with much less impact on your joints — your knees in particular. It’s great if you have shin issues, too.

• Builds Muscle Definition. Roller skating obviously works the legs, but that’s not all. It also exercises your core: the muscles of your abdomen, back, and sides that do so much work to keep you standing upright. Your arms also get into the action for balance.

• Works Lungs. Just like running, roller skating builds endurance and cardio strength! Your lungs, heart, and respiratory system all get a great workout when you skate.

• It’s Fun! You may not think of “fun” when you think of exercise, but having fun with your workout helps in two ways. First, it improves your mood and kills stress. Second, if you enjoy something, you’re more likely to stick with it!

Don’t take our word for it, though. Come down to Lanham Skate Center during any of our open skate hours and see for yourself. Want to really improve your roller skating and fitness game? Sign up for our incredibly affordable lessons in 2018!  

If you’re just getting into roller skating at Lanham Skate Center, it can be difficult to know where to start. The first thing you’ll need to do is pick kind of skates you’d like to try! What is the difference between quads and inline skates, and which type is right for you?

Quad skates are what most people probably think of when they hear “roller skating.” These skates have four wheels in a two-by-two configuration, which gives them more stability. They are used in artistic skating, roller derby, and are standard in most indoor tracks. They may be best for many beginners because they’re more stable.

Inline skates also have four wheels, but arranged in a straight line. This makes them better for outdoor use since it’s much easier to avoid obstacles, potholes, etc. Inline skates offer more ankle support, speed, and maneuverability than quad skates. They are used in roller hockey and speed skating, and they’re a lot like ice skates.

Another big difference between quads and inline skates is how you brake. When you’re wearing quad skates, you brake with the toe; on the other hand, inline skates require braking at the heel.

Ultimately the only way to decide which type of skate is best for you is to try them both out! Skate lessons at Lanham Skate Center are a great way to do that while also honing your skills. You can also join us anytime we’re open and give different types of skates a go. We can’t wait to see you!

Now that Thanksgiving is almost upon us, it’s time to start planning your corporate holiday party. At Lanham Skate Center we’re the party experts. Check out our tips for hosting a great corporate holiday party:

• Don’t delay! The holidays are a busy time for everyone, including venues. Either start planning early or prepare to be flexible in your dates. Consider a weeknight event, or even holding a post-holiday party in January if things are busy for your industry right now.
• Don’t hog everyone’s time. You may be tempted to make a speech about the year, but consider this: your employees listen to you all the time. Either skip the speeches or keep them short (under a couple of minutes) and focused on the positive, like offering thanks and looking forward to the new year.
• Pick something fun to do! A skating party at Lanham help your employees have a blast without having to resort to office gossip to stave off boredom. Consider a simple, inexpensive gift exchange, or a toy, clothing, or canned food drive.
• Be considerate of your employees. While it can be tempting to try to cut costs for your business, don’t put all the work or cost on your employees. They’re the reason you’re having this party, after all! When you host your party at Lanham Skate Center we do all the work so you don’t have to.

When you’re ready to start putting together the best, most low-stress holiday party you’ve ever hosted, contact Lanham Skate Center for details!