THE DIFFERENT SPORTS PRACTICES IN QUAD ROLLER​

THE DIFFERENT SPORTS PRACTICES IN QUAD ROLLER

Whether you are a novice or an experienced skater, are you looking for a sport to practice with your quad rollers? Today, we present six sports activities you can do on quad rollers. Alone, in pairs, or in teams, discover the discipline that suits you best.

/EXPRESSING ONESELF WITH ONE'S BODY

Accessible alone, in pairs, or in teams, roller artistic skating is a multidisciplinary and creative experience. The artistic discipline is distinguished from dance and group skating.

In singles, figure skating involves performing acrobatic figures (jumps, spins), combined with choreographic elements to harmonize the overall performance. This is called a program. In this discipline, there is a distinction between the short format, whose content is semi-mandated by the judges during high-level competitions, and the long format, which has much more freedom in its content.

Figure skating is also performed in pairs. As in solo, the choreographic steps connect the elements and harmonize the result. The difference lies in the acrobatics, which link individual or paired technical elements, such as lifts, synchronized couple spins, spirals, and throw jumps.

Dance, unlike figure skating, does not require executing acrobatic figures. In solo competition, the skater must perform a choreography set to music. The judges assess the body posture and the quality of skating to determine the score. In pairs, the dance is judged more on technicality and elegance, but also on the connection between the two skaters.

Finally, it is possible to perform in groups of 4 to 12 people, based on static and mobile choreographies of creativity.

Today, there are a multitude of clubs and associations offering this leisure activity, in France and around the world. What if this sport was made for you?

Roller dance is a discipline inherited from the 1970s. More free than figure skating, this activity can draw inspiration from a variety of movements such as disco, hip-hop, and funk.

At its inception, roller disco managed to stand out compared to other musical styles. Several works of pop culture have embraced this trend, such as "Xanadu" and "La Boum" in 1980, as well as the series "Malcolm" in the 2000s, where roller dance is one of the hidden talents of the character Hal.

Nearly half a century after its heyday, roller dance is making a strong comeback with the organization of roller parties by roller clubs. Hip-hop, salsa, R&B, and even electro house: everyone finds something they enjoy, regardless of their style. Flaneurz, through its association Flaneurz Roller Skating Club, regularly co-organizes roller parties on weekends in various corners of Paris.

The next big event of the summer will take place over three days. Le Flaneurz Roller Skating Club invite you to come dance on foot and on roller skates from June 23 to June 25, 2023. Stay tuned for all the information on the Instagram account @rdvdanceskateinparis.

/TEAM QUAD ROLLER SKATING

Roller derby is a contact sport where matches take place over 60 minutes with two teams of fifteen players. It involves skating at full speed on an oval-shaped track, whether flat or banked.. The goal is simple: in a given time period called "jam," one of the players must surpass the opposing players without being knocked to the ground or going out of bounds. 

The roller derby experienced a surge in popularity at its inception in the 1920s but gradually declined after World War II. It was in the 2000s that it was revived with the creation of the first modern American league, "Bad Girl Good Woman Productions." Closely tied to feminism, roller derby notably contributed to the emancipation of American women in the late 1960s and allows for the professionalization of women's sports. Over time, although predominantly female, this activity is becoming less and less segmented. 

In pop culture, this sport was first highlighted in 1989 with the American series "RollerGames," and then in 2009 with the film "Bliss," directed by Drew Barrymore and featuring Elliot Page as the main character.

From now on, more than 1000 French teams have been created. If you are not afraid of speed and contact, this sport is definitely for you. You can find an association or a dedicated club in many cities across France.

Another sport practiced on quad rollers is rink hockey. Similar to field hockey, rink hockey is a team sport played on traditional roller skates (quad rollers). Players are equipped with a stick made of wood or carbon. This sport originated in England in the 19th century. By 1875, it became popular there, and the first association was established. It also developed in the United States, where 7 leagues coexisted in 1885. A century later, rink hockey became widespread and gradually expanded internationally. In Europe, Spain, Portugal, and Italy, particularly enthusiastic about the sport, compete in major international competitions.

/FREESTYLE FOR ADRENALINE JUNKIES

Hooked on adrenaline? Acrobatics roller skating, or freestyle, is made for you.

Freestyle rollerblading encompasses several disciplines. Jumping is a specialty that is itself divided into three distinct practices during official competitions. We distinguish the high jump, which involves jumping over an increasingly high bar using a ramp, from pure height, which has a similar principle but is performed without a ramp. The style jump, on the other hand, judges the technical tricks executed by the skater. Technicality is the key word in this discipline.

Slalom is another acrobatic specialty, divided into two distinct practices: speed slalom and classic freestyle slalom, formerly known as style slalom or figure slalom. In speed competitions, the main objective is to be the fastest to navigate through 20 cones spaced 80 cm apart on one foot. The style practice, on the other hand, operates by program, called a "run," where the skater can freely perform technical figures on the three slaloms presented to them: one where the cones are spaced 50 cm apart, another 80 cm apart, and the last one 1.20 m apart. The skater is then scored by the judges according to a specific scale, technical (60% of the score) and artistic (40%), and must accumulate a maximum number of points to win the competition.

Finally, for urban skating enthusiasts, acrobatic rollerblading also includes street, bowl, and ramp. The street discipline allows for creativity and expression through the execution of tricks, slides, or jumps on urban furniture. Bowl practitioners, on the other hand, master the art of moving along the curves of a module similar to an empty pool, while performing technical tricks. Lastly, ramp skaters use both symmetrical sides of the same module to perform aerial and sliding tricks.

The jump and street skating require mastery of the basics of skating as well as a great deal of self-confidence. Slalom, on the other hand, is an excellent exercise for learning to control speed and coordination.

/QUAD ROLLER FOR EVERYONE

Alone or in a group, roller hiking is the perfect activity for calm forces. It can be practiced in both urban and natural environments along bike paths, making it the most widespread discipline. It involves cruising along roads without a competitive spirit. This allows participants to enjoy both the sensations of gliding and the surrounding landscapes. The advantage of this practice is its accessibility. It is indeed an intergenerational activity that only requires knowing the basics of roller skating. Popular in Paris, where the first French roller hiking association was born, the movement has been structured and democratized in other French metropolises. Walks are generally organized on Friday evenings or Sunday afternoons. The famous "Friday night" is increasingly talked about internationally.

If you want to go roller skating independently, you can choose to practice on bike paths or greenways. For your first experiences, it is better to prioritize the greenways, which are strictly prohibited to any type of motorized vehicle.

Discover these various sports practices in quad roller skating and develop your skill set in skating. Whatever your skating style, we are confident that you will find the practice that suits your desires and that enjoyment will be guaranteed.