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How Philadelphia Inline Skating Started

The Philadelphia Landskaters are a Philly Tradition. Get some.

TODAY'S RANT

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!

The Lanskaters take Manhattan in 1992.
The Lanskaters find their name on a trip to skate Manhattan in 1992. Left to right: Wendy, Teri-Ann, Doug, Viv, Robbie, Lana and Ray.
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). 

LANDSKATERS EMAIL GROUP

WET ROADS? SKATES DELAYED?

Get up to the minute alerts with the Landskaters Email Group
Last minute changes such as rain or nearby events
Receive on ad-hoc off-skate invites to off-season skates
Send your own skate question to the group

Request to join our Landskaters Email Group
not a newsletter

LANDSKATERS EMAIL GROUP

WET ROADS? SKATES DELAYED?

Get up to the minute alerts with the Landskaters Email Group
Last minute changes such as rain or nearby events
Receive on ad-hoc off-skate invites to off-season skates
Send your own skate question to the group

Request to join our Landskaters Email Group
not a newsletter

Street Talk

Lars Hindsley

Winter Street Inline Skating Tips

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Skating in winter seems backwards to most inline skaters because, let’s face it, inline skating was created for ice-skaters who wanted to skate in the summer.

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How To Skate On Wet Surfaces

It happens. Sometimes we get caught in the rain, or happen upon wet pavement with no other choice but to skate across it. When this happens you have to change your skate form.

The solution is simple. Shorten your strides. While this seems only common sense, the issue is that many will start with short, compact strides, they eventually begin to kick out.

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