Once you get into roller skating, it’s almost impossible not to buy your own skates. Today there are just so many awesome styles to choose from, not to mention the variety of accessories you can use to personalize your pair. Owning your own skates isn’t just a way to express your personal style; it also saves you money on rental fees when you come to the skating rink. Of course, the tradeoff is that you have to do your own roller skate maintenance.

Fortunately, taking care of roller skates isn’t hard at all! You just need a few tips, some simple cleaning supplies, and of course, you can always turn to that helpful know-it-all, YouTube.

How to Take Care of Roller Skates

Boots

Boots are the “shoe” part of roller skates, and just like regular shoes, they can get a bit funky without proper care. The most important thing you can do to take care of your skate boots is to make sure they dry out after use. The key is for them to air dry naturally. You never want to expose your skates to heat, because that can irreparably warp the boot. Don’t ever place your skates next to a heater or fireplace, and don’t use a hairdryer on them either. Too many skaters have tried these shortcuts and learned their lesson the hard way!

Instead, loosen your skate laces enough that you can pull the tongue out, creating a wider opening and allowing more airflow inside the boot. You should also wipe your skates down with a soft cloth after each use to remove dirt and debris. If the boots are made from leather or suede, it’s also a good idea to condition them with a product made for that particular material.

Bearings

Bearings are what allow your skate wheels to spin, so they’re kind of a big deal. Don’t be intimidated by cleaning your bearings. All you need are some paper towels, a bearings cleaning container or small jar, and some type of solvent–you can use white vinegar, isopropyl alcohol, or even lemon juice! Check out one of the many YouTube tutorials on how to clean skate bearings for a full rundown of the process.

Trucks

After skating, you should wipe down all parts of your skates with a soft cloth, including the trucks. It’s also important to tighten them regularly, ideally before each skating session. If the trucks are too loose, or if one is loose and the other is tight, you can end up losing control and hurting yourself or someone else on the rink.

Wheels

As with the rest of your skates, your wheels should be wiped down after use to remove dust or dirt. However, the main thing you need to do is inspect them for wear and tear. If you use soft skate wheels, they’re likely to wear down very quickly and will need to be replaced more often. Harder wheels can last longer, but you should still keep an eye on them so you can switch to a fresh set of wheels when they start to get worn down.

If you have questions or need to buy supplies and accessories for your skates, we’ve got you covered! Come on over to the Skate Moore pro shop and we can help get you set up with everything you need.

Ahh, the smell of notebook paper and freshly-sharpened pencils is in the air. That can only mean one thing: It’s back to school time! Get your family’s school year started off on the right foot (or skate) with these tips. 

Back to School Tips for Families in 2021

It’s always bittersweet to bid adieu to the lazy days of summer, but heading back to school has its own undeniable appeal. Kids are excited to be reunited with their friends and to meet new classmates and teachers, fall sports are back in the mix, and all sorts of fun extracurriculars make the season fly by. Of course, it can also be a little stressful for kids and parents, so here are a few back to school tips to help your family adjust to the school year with top marks.

Get Back On A Schedule

One of the most important things you can do for your health and happiness at any age is to get enough sleep. (Easier said than done for parents, undoubtedly.) That means it’s essential to get your family on a schedule that works for everyone, from babies and little kids to teens to parents. Life happens, so don’t feel bad if you fall off the schedule once in a while. Just keep tweaking until you find the right fit for your family. These are some great tips for creating and sticking to a family schedule. 

Stay (Or Get) Active

It’s easy to be active in the summer, but the demands of school and work during the fall can lead to a more sedentary lifestyle. Combat the couch-potato-appeal by finding fun ways to move for you and your kids. One of the reasons we’re so passionate about roller skating is that it really is an incredible way to stay fit, and unlike high-impact forms of exercise, roller skating can be a healthy activity from childhood to senior citizen years. 

One hour of skating burns up to 600 calories, giving you an aerobic workout while also strengthening the calves, glutes, quads, arms, and abs. Of course, exercise only helps you if you actually do it regularly. Fortunately skating is so fun, it feels more like a party than a workout! Whatever type of activity you do, staying active will help you and your kids sleep better and feel more energetic, so you can give it your all in the office or the classroom. 

Make Time for Family Activities

Another challenge many families face during the fall is lack of quality time together. Hectic schedules, homework, and never-ending to-do lists can get the best of anyone, and before you know it, you and your loved ones are like ships passing in the night. Keep those relationships strong by carving out time for rest and relaxation together. It will not only help you keep your stress levels down, but also makes space for you to create important family memories that you’ll always cherish. Join us at Skate Moore for family-friendly fun in OKC during our public roller skating sessions, and get the academic year rolling on the right skate!

 

There comes a time in any skater’s life when they must decide: To buy, or not to buy? That is the question. And—spoiler alert—the answer is almost always going to be a resounding “BUY!” While paying to rent roller skates every time you visit the rink isn’t particularly expensive, it does add up over time. And if you love to skate, you’ll definitely get your money’s worth out of a pair of skates. Before you buy, check out these tips for purchasing roller skates to find the right pair for you.

How to Choose Which Roller Skates to Buy

There are several factors to consider when choosing roller skates. First, think about what type of skating you enjoy most. Are you primarily into dance skating (like rhythm skating, shuffle skating, or JB skating) or are you a speed demon? Do you want to learn how to own the rink like a jam skater, or do you dream of playing roller derby? Just like you’d need specialized gear for any other sport, the type of skating you plan to do will inform what type of skates you should buy. 

Inline or Quad Roller Skates?

If you plan to do a lot of outdoor skating or vert skating (think half pipe grinding at your local skate park), you might want to opt for inline skates. Just like the name implies, the wheels on inline skates (usually 3-5) are in a line one after the other underneath the skate boot. 

If you’re more interested in dance skating, rink skating, speed skating, jam skating, or roller derby, quad skates are the way to go. Quad skates are the “classic” skates you probably think of when you hear “roller skates.” Instead of the wheels  being aligned under the boot, quad skate wheels are set up like a car, with two wheels side-by-side in the front and two side-by-side in the back. 

Hard or Soft Boots?

Once you’ve decided on the type of skates you want to buy, you’ll need to choose between a hard boot (the part your foot goes into) or a soft boot. Hard boots provide more stability and ankle support, which makes them great for outdoor skating and vert skating. You can cruise for miles in hard boot skates. On the other hand, soft boot skates offer more flexibility, which is important if you want to be able to dance in them. Soft boots are also more breathable, allowing air to circulate, and they’re much lighter weight than their hard boot counterparts. 

What Size Roller Skates Should I Buy?

Just like any other clothing or accessories, you should always try on or measure skates to determine the correct size. However, in general, you should be able to wear a skate that is the same size or slightly larger than your shoe size, as long as it’s laced properly. 

If you need some guidance on selecting your roller skates, we’re here to help! Give us a call, shop our online store, or swing by and see us in person during an open skating session.

Summer break is always a welcome reprieve for kids (and adults, if they get one), but this year the freedom to get out of the house and have fun with friends is even better! Summer 2020 was basically canceled, so there’s a sense of making up for lost time. Here at Skate Moore, we’re so glad things are getting back to normal and we’re seeing more familiar faces back at the skating rink. If you’re looking for things to do with friends this summer, visit us for one of our public skating sessions. Play one of these roller skating games, or just groove to the music—whatever floats your boat!

Roller Skating Games

Some of these skating games are great for the skating rink (you may even see us start them here at Skate Moore!) while others might work better in your driveway or another safe outdoor skating area. Remember to be aware of your surroundings and respect other skaters while playing. 

Follow the Leader

This game is just what it sounds like, and the only way to lose is to not play! Get your crew out on the rink and take turns being the leader. As the leader, it’s your job to come up with your own signature moves, which everyone behind you imitates. Think line dancing, but on skates, and way more fun because you can put your own spin on it!

Limbo

If you’ve ever played limbo at a party, you know how fun this game is! Just remember, unlike normal limbo in which you lean backwards to walk under the limbo pole, you’re going to lean forward on skates. (Unless skating while bent backwards is your special talent, in which case, go off!) After each round, once everyone has had a turn, the pole lowers slightly. How low can you go without touching the pole? 

Shoot the Duck

If you’ve been around the rink a time or two, you might know that “shooting the duck” is a roller skating move in which you glide forward on one foot in a squat position, with the other extended straight out in front of you. Yes, it sounds weird! However, it’s actually not that hard if you’re flexible enough, and once you see a demonstration you should be able to get the hang of it fairly quickly. 

So what makes this a game? Well on its own, nothing. But once you turn it into a race, the competition is on! See who can roll the farthest while shooting the duck, or set start and finish lines and see who wins in a speed race. 

Freeze Tag

Once again, if you’re familiar with normal freeze tag, you should be able to jump into a game of skating freeze tag with no problems. Split into teams of “it” and “not it.” The “it” team has to tag the other team, and if they get tagged, they have to “freeze” in place until one of their teammates comes along and tags them to “unfreeze.”

Summer is officially here for students in Moore! Now that you’ve had time to recover from those end-of-the-year stresses—taking exams, cleaning out your locker,  saying goodbye to classmates who are leaving, paying that library fine that you’ve been racking up all semester—it’s time to start your summer right. Time flies when you’re on summer break, so make the most of the season! Keep reading for some tips to make this your best summer yet. 

How to Have an Awesome Summer

Make a Plan

You know the saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun”? Well, as you get older, you’ll learn that unfortunately “time flies” whether you’re having fun or not! Make sure you incorporate the things you really care about into your summer; take a look at your calendar and mark any important dates like family vacations, when school starts up again, summer jobs, friends’ vacations or college departure dates, etc. Getting a big picture idea of your summer can help you manage your time and fit in all of the things you want to accomplish. 

Making plans ahead of time with your friends is a great way to stay in touch over the break. Check out our calendar of events and plan something with your friends, teammates, or classmates. From end of the school year celebrations to team bonding outings to club parties, we make it easy to plan events that your whole group will love. And you definitely won’t want to miss our epic End of School Skate Party on Friday, May 28th! The party starts at 7 pm, goes until 11 pm, and costs just $10. (Inline skate rental is $5 extra.) We’ll be closed Memorial Day Weekend (May 29th through 31st), so don’t miss the chance to kick off summer with your friends!

But Leave Room for Spontaneity

Of course, while scheduling some fun activities can help you make the most of your summer, it’s also important not to cram every day with a mile-long list of things to do. That’s only going to stress you out! You’ll either be exhausted from doing too much, or disappointed that you didn’t get to do everything. Summer is all about freedom, so make sure you reserve plenty of time for doing nothing, or doing something totally spontaneous. Want to lay under a tree reading a book for 3 hours? You got it. Want to sit on your porch eating popsicles with your siblings? Go for it! Want to hit the skating rink with your bestie and choreograph an amazing routine to your favorite song, just because? We can’t wait to see you. It’s summer, and that can mean whatever YOU want it to!

Get Some Exercise

Being a little bit lazy during the summer is kind of a given, but living on the couch and constantly telling Netflix that yes, you ARE still watching isn’t doing yourself any favors. Remember to get up and move around every once in a while! Walk your dog, do some yoga, or go roller skating. You’ll feel more energetic, and that will allow you to really make the most of your summer vacation.