THE ICONIC PERSONALITIES OF ROLLER SKATING

THE ICONIC PERSONALITIES OF ROLLER SKATING

Since its inception, the world of roller skating has continued to evolve, and its history only grows thanks to individuals who have made their mark in this universe with their talents. They are now considered references in the field. First, we will discuss the iconic figures in the world of roller skating who have contributed to its evolution through their innovations. Next, we will focus on the athletes who have left their mark in their discipline, whether officially recognized or not, due to their remarkable performances. Finally, we will examine the personalities who are recognized both by the community and by the Flaneurz team.

/THE PERSONALITIES WHO HAVE MADE THEIR MARK ON ROLLER THROUGH THEIR INNOVATIONS

 

/SEBASTIEN LAFFARGUE

Sébastien Laffargue can be defined as a Swiss Army knife. A former professional and champion in multiple disciplines between the late 90s and early 2000s, he contributes to the promotion of Slalom (Freestyle and Speed) worldwide through his videos on the Internet. After a successful professional career, he ventures into entrepreneurship by creating Universkate in 2005, followed by SEBA two years later. SEBA quickly becomes a reference in inline skating. He also creates Luminous, a wheel brand that you can find on the Flaneurz website. Sébastien Laffargue is also the pioneer of the famous World Slalom Series, which includes over a hundred competitions around the world, where each participant earns points based on their placement, contributing to a global ranking. We recommend checking out the website; if a competition is happening near you, it’s a great opportunity to discover high-level Slalom and Jumping sur le site Flaneurz​ World Slalom Series ! 

 

/MO SANDERS

A legend of roller derby and other disciplines in the 90s, Mo Sanders aka Quadzilla is one of the most well-known names in the skating world. Originally from the state of Washington, he continues to travel and lives his life as he pleases. Today, he runs a company called Grn Mnstr Roller Sport, known in particular for the Hearthless Wheels and Antik Skates boots.

From the X Games to Hollywood, including TV shows and the creation of great products, Mo Sanders has greatly contributed to culture and spread it internationally.. 

 

/FLORIAN GRAVIER 

How can we not mention one of the co-founders of Flaneurz when talking about the revolution in the roller market? Since childhood, Florian Gravier has been a roller enthusiast who roams the streets of Paris and its suburbs in search of the best spots. Inspired by his numerous travels to over 45 countries and his encounters with various urban tribes, he decides to combine his passions into one object: attaching wheels to any type of shoe and merging the practice of a sport with personal style. To kick off the project, he surrounds himself with 3 friends: Arnaud Darut-Giard, Walid Nous, and David Brun. Today, Florian and his teams continue to develop Flaneurz and its sister brand Slades worldwide Flaneurz ​ Slades !

Other iconic figures have also contributed to the advancement of roller skating, such as Merlin, the creator of roller skates, and Jhon Svensson, who was working at the time for the K2 Sport brand and invented the Softboot, a true revolution for recreational roller skating. If you want to learn more, check out the book "Roller Mania," which traces the exciting history of roller skating. "Roller mania"​

/THE PERSONALITIES WHO HAVE MADE THEIR MARK ON ROLLER THROUGH THEIR PERFORMANCES

 

/ROBERTO RIVA ET TANJA ROMANO

When talking about figure skating, these two names are essential.

Roberto Riva, of Italian origin, is one of the most decorated athletes on the world stage. 

From 2005 to 2009, he left no chance for his opponents by excelling in various disciplines such as free skating, the combined event, and acrobatics.

We won't go over all of his breathtaking performances, but we invite you to watch the one during the 2007 World Championship in Australia .

 

Tanja Romano is also part of the very short list of champions who have won everything in their path. She is simply the most decorated woman in the history of artistic roller skating, with a total of 15 world gold medals, 9 at the European level (including 6 gold), and 13 in the Italian championship. After her professional career, Tanja launched her association at home in Trieste in 2017 with her friend Serena Chacon to pass on her passion and teach the principles of this sport to younger generations.

 

/ BILL BUTLER ET GLORIA NORD

Certainly, their practices do not align with the official disciplines of the International Roller Sports Federation; however, they have greatly contributed to the evolution of roller culture.. 

Bill Butler, seen as the godfather of roller disco, is one of the big names to remember. Originally from Detroit, he created the famous "Jammin" technique, which is still very popular today and introduces jazz and funk into the world of skating. As a creative director, he contributed to the making of the film "Roller Boogie," a must-see film that brought this skating technique to the world stage. If you want to dive deeper into the life of this roller disco legend, you can check out this article ​

 

Born on August 2, 1922, into a family of artists, Gloria Nord aspires to become a singer on Broadway. Her life takes a turn when she is discovered by Sid Grauman as he opens the Hollywood Roller Bowl on Sunset Boulevard in 1938. A visionary, he decides to help the young woman create a show that will take her on a tour of roller rinks across the United States. Nicknamed "The Sonja Henie of the roller rinks," she begins to make a name for herself, but her career skyrockets when Harold Steinman chooses her as the star of the famous show: "The Skating Vanities." For nearly 8 years, Gloria Nord and the 100 other skaters travel the world to present their show to millions of people. She becomes a superstar and a true reference for all skaters. In the early 1950s, Gloria Nord decides to leave roller skates behind to pursue ice skating for 10 years before retiring.

/THE PERSONALITIES THAT HAVE MARKED THE COMMUNITY AND THE CREW

 

/OUMI JANTA

Recently emerging on the roller scene, she is nonetheless one of the most followed skaters in the world. At 23 years old, the young woman puts on roller skates for the first time at a roller disco event in Berlin, and since then, she hasn't taken them off. It was in 2020 that she became known and saw her popularity soar thanks to this video ​ Instagram​ Etam show during Fashion Week 2020.

 

/TAÏG KHRIS

Three-time world champion in ramp skating, winner of the X Games, the Gravity Games, and the ASA World Tour, this is just a small part of Taïg Khris's achievements!

Born in 1975 in Algeria, Taîg Khris is one of the most decorated athletes in extreme sports. He is a role model for future generations. He leaves his mark in the world of roller skating with his record in high jump in front of the Eiffel Tower .

 

ESTROJEN 

Michelle Steilen alias Estrojen ​ Moxi. 

 

/PHILIPPE DUSSOL 

Some personalities have used roller skating in other artistic fields. Phil Dussol is a French director who made a name for himself in the film industry thanks to his way of filming: roller skating! After an internship in the United States as an assistant on the film Die Hard 3 with Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson, he returned to France with the goal of directing his short film "Easy Money". Two years later, the project was completed, won several awards and became a real reference. Phil Dussol has inspired many directors with the quality of his roller skating shots.. 

 

The article is coming to an end. The world of roller skating has many other iconic personalities. Some known to you, others to us. If you like this article format, let us know at Instagram.