Group City Street Inline Skating In Philadelphia
How did it all begin? How did inline skating through the city streets of Philadelphia start? Here’s how inline skating in Philadelphia began group skates through the city streets and how the Landskaters got their name.
Hundreds Of Inline Skaters
Spring 1992
In the spring of 1992, inline skating was starting to explode in the Philadelphia area. The convergence of two skate groups led to the first Philly City Skates, and then to the creation of Landskaters.
On the Jersey side, Bill Quigley, the owner of Danzeisen and Quigley (D&Q), started the D&Q Skate School. Twice a week, up to 100 skaters of all levels came out for lessons led by Doug Kelly and other skate instructors. The high-quality clinics and energy of Doug and the group drew skaters from Jersey, Philly, and the PA suburbs. The D&Q clinic was the starting point for many Landskaters for many years.
The Skate Leaders Of Street Skating
Early June 1992
In June, Bob Golwitzer of Skaters Edge skate shop, Jen Goldstein of Bladin’ Action skate shop, several from Wilburgers ski shops run by Michael Beaudry, and Keith (KO) Miller met at IISA (International Inline Skate Association) instructor certification class in Washington, DC.
Borrowing Washington DC's Skaters Great Idea
The group was part of the first wave of certified inline skate instructors in the country. The highlight of that weekend was when the local skaters led a 3 hour DC night street skate around all the monuments! The Philly group was so impressed that they decided to advertise a similar city skate back home.
Two Skate Groups Converge On Philadelphia
Late June 1992
It was the end of June when the two groups started to meet at the Philly Art Museum on Saturday evenings, and the Philly City Skates were born! The city skates expanded to a more casual Sunday morning group skate, and a fast Tuesday night group skate. Doug usually led on Saturday and Sunday, and different leaders ran the Tuesday night skate. The skate clinics around Philly would feed new skaters every week. Over 100 skaters would come out weekly, some 3 times per week. The energy and fun of the group were amazing and grew every week.
How Doug Came Up With the Landskaters Name
October 1992
In October of that year, the group decided to venture out and try skating in New York City. Doug, Wendy, Ray, Jerry, Lana, Rob, Viv, Ari, Deb, KO, and a few others took two vans to the city for an amazing day of city skating. On that trip, Doug suggested the name, and Landskaters was born!
Credit Goes To Keith 'Odie' Miller of the Philadelphia Landskaters
Thank you to the source of this article Keith Miller. Keith has been a long time member and and previous President of the Landskaters (1999-2001).
