When Chaka Khan sang these
words more than a decade ago, I never thought that they would be more than just
lyrics to me. For the past two years, my passion of roller skating has been
starved and forced to feed itself only in moderation and small portions.
I moved from Detroit, MI (A
skater’s paradise) to Chandler, AZ (A skater’s hell) for a number of reasons.
At first it didn’t bother me not being able to enjoy R & B music at an adult
session several times a week. I was new to the area, and there was so much to
do like familiarize myself with the area and get to know people. However, as the
months went by, I started to long for some Patrice Rushen cuts or the occasional
Gap Band song when I did visit the rinks here. I was soon forced to put my IPod
into overdrive and load up as much music possible and turn it up as loud as I
could to drown out the wails of children and undecipherable lyrics that were
un-skate able.
I begin to envy what I had
so easily taken for granted before and started wishing for a miracle. No longer
being able to “leave it on the wood”, now I had to “leave it on the epoxy-glide”
(The blue stuff). That doesn’t even sound right. Now, instead of checking into
a mental hospital, I travel five hours to California once a month or to the
occasional out of town skate party just to get my roll on.
Some may ask, “Is it worth
it?” Real skaters already know, “Of course it is!” But I’ll do whatever I have
to do to get my roll on.
So when your rolling
during the week get a slide, a split, a one-stop, a jack-leg or whatever you
style calls for in for me!
J
KP “DETROIT STYLE ALL DAY”
Rolling in
Washington State with Stephanie
Roller Funk: How long have you been
skating?
Stephanie:
I'm relatively a "baby" to skating, only really becoming
committed to skating since Jan. 2006 but I was first introduced to skating
when I was a little girl because my parents were regular skaters when we
lived in Pittsburgh PA.
Roller Funk:
What are your two favorite rinks?
Stephanie :
My favorite rinks right now are Skate King here in
Bellevue, WA and The Oaks Skating Rink in Portland, OR. I really like the
size of the rink at Skate King and the floor surface and that rink is where
me & my family skate every Saturday evening. The Oaks Skating Rink is the
biggest rink I've ever skated on and I love the wood floor...and their sound
system is great!
Roller Funk:
What is currently your favorite song to skate to?
Stephanie
Goodness, I have so many that I like but I think right now, my current
favorite is "Get It 2 Go " by Noegood and it features Paul Wall. That really
gets me going!
Roller Funk:
How would you describe yourself?
Stephanie:
I'd describe myself as a a passionate perfectionist. I
want everything to be perfect in everything I do and that has even
translated into my skating. I want to learn so much & try so many cool moves
that I see other skaters doing but sometimes get frustrated that I can't get
them as quickly as I want. It must be the LEO in me! But that is also when
the passionate part kicks in because I will stick with it & keep trying &
trying.
Roller Funk:
What was the best skate jam you ever attended and why?
StephanieI
haven't been to a real skate jam per se but I really love The Adult Skate
sessions every Wednesday Night at TLC in Kent, WA where I live. The skaters
are off the hook there....it is like an extended family where everybody
knows everybody. I like that.
Roller Funk:
If you could tell the skaters around the world just one thing, what would it
be?
StephanieI
would tell them to remember that you are never too young or too old to skate
and no matter how discouraged you might get (if you can't figure out a
move), NEVER give up! Persistence is a beautiful thing.