Posted on Mar 30, 2023
How Black roller skaters put St. Louis skate style on the map
476
9
4
3
3
0
St. Louis' skate style is known across the country. Young skaters and OGs — a term of endearment for someone who’s been rolling for more than 20 years — agree that St. Louis’ style is smooth.
“Every city has their own flavor and their own style, but St. Louis has this style that out of everybody, you stick out like a sore thumb because we're more intricate in our moves and more on a laid back-pace,” said Chris Sims, an OG skater, on a recent Saturday at Coachlite Skate Center in Bridgeton.
Coachlite and Skate King in Pine Lawn are two popular places to skate. In business for more than 50 years, Skate King is the oldest Black-owned rink in the region.
Skating is particularly popular for Black St. Louisans. It first gained hold during the Civil Rights Movement. At the rink, many Black people felt that they could more freely express themselves without facing discrimination.
Skate King is where Easha Griffin, 17, was skating on a recent weekend. She said she’s been skating all her life but started taking it seriously two years ago.
“Every city has their own flavor and their own style, but St. Louis has this style that out of everybody, you stick out like a sore thumb because we're more intricate in our moves and more on a laid back-pace,” said Chris Sims, an OG skater, on a recent Saturday at Coachlite Skate Center in Bridgeton.
Coachlite and Skate King in Pine Lawn are two popular places to skate. In business for more than 50 years, Skate King is the oldest Black-owned rink in the region.
Skating is particularly popular for Black St. Louisans. It first gained hold during the Civil Rights Movement. At the rink, many Black people felt that they could more freely express themselves without facing discrimination.
Skate King is where Easha Griffin, 17, was skating on a recent weekend. She said she’s been skating all her life but started taking it seriously two years ago.
How Black roller skaters put St. Louis skate style on the map
Posted from news.stlpublicradio.org
St. Louis
Roller Skating
Culture
Posted 1 y ago
Responses: 3
3
3
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
Maj Kim Patterson Skating whether Roller or Ice is always very Popular in the St Louis Metro, I'm Not that Graceful doing Either!
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Alexander grew up in St. Louis’ Ville neighborhood and first learned to skate at Saints Roller Rink in Olivette, which closed in the early 2000s. He started skating on inline skates, then moved to quads when he saw Chris Sims and other OGs skating on black leather boots and four wheels. Sims took Alexander under his wing when he saw potential in him as a teenager.
Skating has played an important role in Alexander’s life. He’s approaching six years of sobriety through his participation in Alcoholics Anonymous, and his skate family has been instrumental.
“When I have a bad day, I go skate and then I have a good day,” he said. “For me, it's been huge for my sobriety. I substituted going to bars and out to drink for the love of skating.”
Alexander isn’t slowing down anytime soon. He and other OGs, including Sims, Al Cubb and Chester Evans, hold skate lessons every Saturday at Coachlite.
“For the people that's out here, if you don't know how to skate, that's OK. That's why we got classes to come out here and learn something new,” said Evans.
Cubb added that it’s the responsibility of OGs in the community to pass on St. Louis’ skate style. “Everyone, for the most part, loves what they're doing, especially the people who actually teach St. Louis skate style. They're really passionate about what they're doing,” he said."...
..."Alexander grew up in St. Louis’ Ville neighborhood and first learned to skate at Saints Roller Rink in Olivette, which closed in the early 2000s. He started skating on inline skates, then moved to quads when he saw Chris Sims and other OGs skating on black leather boots and four wheels. Sims took Alexander under his wing when he saw potential in him as a teenager.
Skating has played an important role in Alexander’s life. He’s approaching six years of sobriety through his participation in Alcoholics Anonymous, and his skate family has been instrumental.
“When I have a bad day, I go skate and then I have a good day,” he said. “For me, it's been huge for my sobriety. I substituted going to bars and out to drink for the love of skating.”
Alexander isn’t slowing down anytime soon. He and other OGs, including Sims, Al Cubb and Chester Evans, hold skate lessons every Saturday at Coachlite.
“For the people that's out here, if you don't know how to skate, that's OK. That's why we got classes to come out here and learn something new,” said Evans.
Cubb added that it’s the responsibility of OGs in the community to pass on St. Louis’ skate style. “Everyone, for the most part, loves what they're doing, especially the people who actually teach St. Louis skate style. They're really passionate about what they're doing,” he said."...
(2)
(0)
1
1
0
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google