If you have ever visited Lanham Skate Center in Lanham, MD on a night when the rink is full of kids, you will notice something quickly. Everyone is having a great time! And though roller skating is great for people of all ages, it is especially beneficial for kids. The things kids do now, can affect them as adults. Regular exercise is great for kids for a number of reasons. Find out why roller skating is a perfect activity for childhood development!

• Health Benefits – Regular physical activity is important for everyone to participate in, and this is no more true than for children. Activities like roller skating can promote good healthy practices and mitigate the risk of obtaining health issues in the future.
• Social Skills – Roller skating is a great way for your child to see current friends and make new ones! If you have made a recent move, hitting the rink might be a great way for your child to meet other kids in the community.
• Brain Power – Studies have shown that regular exercise is a great way to boost the brain’s cognitive function. From working as a means of decompressing to helping it just operate at a maximum capacity. Regular roller skating could lead to better school performance!

We welcome you and your family to join us in the rink! If you are looking to plan your next trip to Lanham Skate Center check out our hours.

It’s not something many of us ponder, but when our wheels hit that rink floor, more than two centuries of history and tinkering occurred to bring us to where we are today. It is difficult to imagine a world without roller skating, but there once was a time when the terms “roller rink” or “roller skating” meant nothing. Now, you may be a little curious as to how all of this got its start, and what influences happened along the way, but two centuries is a lot to sort through. Lanham Skate Center in Lanham, MD, has compiled a timeline of the pivotal moments in roller skating history to make it a little easier on you!

Roller Skating Timeline

• 1743: This is the first ever recorded account of anyone using anything like roller skates. These first skates were used in a London stage performance, and the inventor is unknown.
• 1760: The first roller skates are invented! Though the first account was in the stage performance, this is the first ever actual invention of what we know today. These skates were actually inline, believe it or not, and had small metal wheels. The inventor was John Joseph Merlin.
• 1819: First patented roller skate design, in France by M. Petitbled. These skates are more similar to what we know today. It was very difficult to maneuver in this early design, and was difficult to do much else but move in a straight line.
• 1857: Roller skating has finally gained enough popularity by this point and has warranted the opening of the first public rinks! They were held at The Strand in London and Floral Hall.
• 1863: The quad roller skate makes its first appearance. Designed by James Leonard Plimpton in New York City, this model of roller skate made it easier for the skater to turn.
• 1880: Roller skates are beginning to be mass produced in America, and is experiencing a boom in popularity.
• 1902: The Chicago Coliseum opens a public skating rink, and more than 7,000 people attend the grand opening.
• 1916: The first appearance of roller skates on the big screen is in the Charlie Chaplain film, “The Rink.”
• 1979: Scott Olson and Brennan Olson set out to redesign the skate by using a 1960’s inline skate design and using modern materials and an ice hockey boot. Scott Olson begins promoting the skate, and creates Rollerblade, Inc.
• Adjustments to the skates are made over the course of the next decades, and with a bit of tweaking and honing, we have arrived at what we have today!

Roller skating is, of course, one of our favorite past times! We’ve had so many great times, here, at Lanham Skate Center in Lanham, MD, and the good memories are almost endless. Fun is not usually associated with fitness or exercise for many people. So, roller skating couldn’t be a great source of exercise, could it? Actually, it is! Roller skating is recommended by the American Heart Association as a great aerobic exercise. So, what are the actual benefits of rolling around the rink?

Here are 5 of the tops health benefits of roller skating!

1. Even at a slower pace, when you skate at a steady pace, it can and will improve your cardiovascular health!
2. If you are looking to shed some calories, there is no more fun way to do it! Roller skating can burn up to 600 calories in one hour!
3. If you come to the skating rink on a regular basis, chances are, you are giving your muscles tremendous exercise! From your legs to your core, skating will make you strong!
4. Your endurance will greatly improve when you skate on a regular basis. And the more times you skate, the longer you’ll be able to do it each session!
5. The health benefits extend beyond just physical. Roller skating is a wonderful way to blow off some steam and destress after a long week of work or school.

Once you’ve had that first experience in the rink, it’s hard to stop. Roller skating is addictive, but many people find that lacing up for the first time can be an intimidating thought. You might think “feet are not meant to have wheel attached to them,” but once those skates hit the rink, you’ll never want to take them off. If you have a friend or family member that is on the fence, or you, yourself are feeling iffy about starting your roller skating journey, this is the blog for you. Lanham Skate Center in Lanham, MD, has 7 reasons for anyone to start roller skating TODAY.

1. Great Exercise – Roller skating is recommended by the American Heart Association as a great aerobic activity. Skating around the rink for just 30 minutes can burn as much as 250 calories, and can help strengthen muscles.
2. Meet New People – With one visit to the rink you will quickly realize that this is a very close-knit community. Roller skating builds lasting friendships and some people have even met significant others in the rink!
3. You Can Skate Whenever You Want – The rink doesn’t have to be open to enjoy a skating session. If you want to skate when the rink is closed, just head out the front door and find the nearest patch of smooth concrete or a solid surface.
4. Low-Impact – Roller skating provides the same benefits of jogging but is much easier on the joints. So if you have a knee injury, roller skating won’t irritate the issue.
5. The Music is Great – Are you a music buff? You won’t find better music outside of a roller rink! Contact your local rink and find out their schedule. Most play a wide array of different music on different nights.
6. Fun Way to Manage Stress – Do hectic schedules and looming deadlines have you feeling frazzled. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress! And when your friends are there, it makes it that much more relaxing.
7. Family Fun – Roller skating is fun for EVERYONE. The rink is a very family-friendly place to be, and an inexpensive night out.