Being active takes so many forms and means assorted things to different people. South Leeds is full of ways that all ages can move, have fun and find something that feels good for them. Every month Get Set Leeds Local is taking a deeper dive into a different activity, and we’ll explore the ways that you can get involved.
What is Rollerskating?
Rollerskating is an activity done for fun or sport, wearing special shoes fitted with wheels to move around paved surfaces. Like many sports there’s different versions and ways children and adults can get involved. Roller hockey, speed skating, dance skating, roller derby, street style are some.
Rollerskating works best where there are flat, smooth tarmacked spaces, and avoid wet days (to keep your rollerskates in good condition).
Rollerskating in South Leeds
Park Roll Spotlight
Coming out of the pandemic, South Leeds resident Catherine got in touch with Get Set Leeds Local in response to a South Leeds Life article. Her daughter had the idea of bringing people together to enjoy rollerskating. GSLL connected with LS-TEN, Len and Machteld (rollerskating specialists). Working collectively with Catherine, Saturday Park Roll developed.
Every Saturday morning through the summer months a community of local people come together to enjoy rollerskating at Cross Flatts Park. Park Roll takes place in the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) near Maud Avenue, starting at 10am.
For some its an activity enjoying a childhood hobby, for others its children and adults learning how to rollerskate for the first time. It’s a vibrant session, which is full of South Leeds residents sharing a space, doing something they all enjoy.
Rollerskates and pads are available to book and borrow for free via ls-ten.org
The Skate Scholarship
Believing cost of skates should never be a barrier to enjoying this activity, rollerskaters through LS-Ten set up a programme to raise money to help members of the community get involved in rollerskating. Money raised goes towards giving people the opportunity to be a given a brand new pair of skates, paid sessions into LS-TEN, free coaching and more.
In addition, a skate donation scheme has been set up, enabling people to drop off old skates, pads or parts at LS-TEN. Machteld and the team will fix them up, make them safe and then hand them over to budding skaters within their community sessions within Leeds.
For more information about this scheme contact LS-Ten via hello@ls-ten.org, or message the skate scholarship at info@theskatescholarship.com
Upcoming events
Whether you’re just getting started on your own skates, or looking to get your skates on at a Roller Disco, enjoy being part of the Middleton Skaters, like to bash about on skates with Leeds Roller Derby or join in the Park Roll sessions one event they’re all talking about is Northern Roll 2023, which will take place 19-21 May in Leeds.
It brings skating communities together through a festival rollerskating vibe. It includes workshops, demos, skate partys, street skate, roller discos and loads more. There are family friendly and beginner friendly events. Details and tickets available through ls-ten.org/northern-roll-shop
This post was written by Karen Peck
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