The Gen X Skater

Episode 8: [Just Turned 80] George - Chicago, USA Edition

Roller skate instructor at Skate Base London and blogger of The Gen X Skater. Kelly interviews skaters and skate influencers within the London urban skate scene. Meet George: After landing in Chicago at 2pm on Monday, I wasted no time getting to the rink for my first skate of the trip later that evening. The following morning, I headed to the 10am–2pm over-21s open skate session — and that’s where I met George. You could spot George’s presence instantly. Every few steps around the rink, he’d stop to chat with another skater, always smiling, always engaged. It was clear that skating meant far more to him than just time on wheels — it was community, connection, and friendship. When we crossed paths early in the session, we stopped for a conversation. George proudly told me he had just turned 80 and had been skating for decades. From that moment on, I knew he was someone whose story and experience I wanted to hear more about. "As an adult skater, there is no athletic activity that's comparible to roller skating. When you roller skate on a good session, it's like going to the health club. Going to your psychiatrist. Going to your doctor's meeting. And going to church - for $10. "We share conversation and experiences and feelings with each other." ~George

Episode 7: [Record Breaker] Steve

Roller skate instructor at Skate Base London and blogger of The Gen X Skater. Kelly interviews skaters and skate influencers within the London urban skate scene. Meet Steve: I first met Steve last year, as he was enjoying a jam during a social skate meet. I can honestly tell you that he's one of the warmest and most open hearted skaters you could ever hope to meet. He's someone that really loves to jam skate. If you've ever met Steve, you'll know that he's always ready to throw down his middle work in his hockey skate conversions, teach you what he knows and learn a new move - so long as it's rhythmic. Funnily enough, he wasn't always into the jam skating. He started out as a long distance skater 40 odd years ago, and yep, he went on to set a world record. "I'll tell you the experience was amazing, especially Scotland, tge mountains, you could just see mountains basically. I was doing like 98 miles a day, you know. Nine days, ten hours, 25 minutes." ~Steve ____________________________ Access the full story: The Gen X Skater Blog [https://www.skatebaselondon.com/blog] Learn to roller skate online with: Skate Base Lessons App [https://www.skatebaselondon.com/online-roller-skating-lessons]

Episode 6: [Skate Photographer] Roland Ramanan

Roller skate instructor at Skate Base London and blogger of The Gen X Skater. Kelly interviews skaters and skate influencers within the London urban skate scene. Meet Roland: I’ve known Roland since 2022, when he first took photos of my son and me on roller skates. The skate scene was much quieter back then, and Roland was just beginning his skate photography project. Since then, he’s photographed me on several occasions — first at the skate park and at my home with my son, later in a photography studio, more recently during rehearsals for an upcoming three-day performance at The Posh Club, as well as sporadically during a variety of meets and events. Roland has also photographed my mum in her skates — at the age of 70. Come to think of it, Roland has photographed most of the leading figures and members of the skate community. When I first met Roland, he was certain that skating wasn’t for him. But when I saw him again around a year later, he was in a shiny new pair of skates, drilling his foundation moves with a dedicated focus. Since then, he’s become just as obsessed with skating as the rest of us — it’s been beautiful to watch his passion for skating blossom. "Roller skating has a unique ability to kind of charm and disarm people. They just really observe and get pulled into the moment through curiosity. Skating's not like anything out there."  ~Roland Ramanan     ____________________________ Access the full story: The Gen X Skater Blog [https://www.skatebaselondon.com/blog] Learn to roller skate online with: Skate Base Lessons App [https://www.skatebaselondon.com/online-roller-skating-lessons]

Episode 5: [Performance Artist] Kat François

Roller skate instructor at Skate Base London and blogger of The Gen X Skater. Kelly interviews skaters and skate influencers within the London urban skate scene. Meet Kat François: My fellow Gen Xer, Kat François started skating about a year ago. We first met when she joined one of my roller skating courses, and I can honestly say that we've maintained a strong connection ever since. As someone who's watched Kat make strides in her skating journey over this time, it's clear that she's someone who walks and skates her own path. I've seen her take on the many challenges that learning to skate across a variety of disciplines poses, and courageously carve her own way. She's fully immersed herself in UK skate culture — at home and abroad! Perhaps Kat's background as a performing artist along with a long-standing relationship with physical fitness spanning decades has been a key factor? Somehow, I feel that these are yet more consequences of Kat's creativity, drive and tenacity. But hey, read on and decide for yourself. "So many, good, good people, good sisters. All ages, but I'll say the majority of these are around 40 plus, people that I just never would have met otherwise. That's been the most surprising and rewarding thing, the new friendships, and the depth of those friendships." ~Kat François    ____________________________ Access the full story: The Gen X Skater Blog [https://www.skatebaselondon.com/blog] Learn to roller skate online with: Skate Base Lessons App [https://www.skatebaselondon.com/online-roller-skating-lessons]

Episode 4: [London's Most Prolific Skate Traveller] Laverne

Roller skate instructor at Skate Base London and blogger of The Gen X Skater. Kelly interviews skaters and skate influencers within the London urban skate scene. Meet Laverne: I was first introduced to Laverne at Gatwick Airport whilst on my way back from Skate Love Barcelona a few years back. Since then, our paths crossed a few times when meeting with our artistic skating teacher, and then — we bumped into each other again at Gatwick on our way to an artistic skating retreat in Ibiza. We became roomies on that trip, and honestly, we’ve had a beautiful connection ever since — always deep chats about our shared passion, or fresh skate skill exchanges at a skate meet. Anyone who knows her will likely tell you the same thing; she’s charismatic, warm-hearted, generous and so so passionate about her skating — at home or abroad. And also, you better believe that Laverne is no stranger to a spontaneous skating trip. So many skaters have been inspired by her “just go for it" attitude when it comes to making the most of a skate vacay. Laverne has skated in most parts of the world and had lessons with just about every prominant instructor across the global — it's no wonder she's become one of London's primary contacts for those wanting to host international skate teachers in the UK. Her desire to travel [prolifically] and connect with skaters all over the world, paired with her unquenchable thirst for soaking up a wide variety of skating styles has impacted her knowledge and ability to skate most styles like no one else I know. Laverne has become quite a talking point in London, as we proudly watch her living her best skate life — creating the richest of skating experiences possible. "I think I've now done about 25 [skate trips] in the last two years. I like to try a little bit of everything. I love skate culture. I don't know, I just like to travel and learn and meet people." ~Laverne     ____________________________ Access the full story: The Gen X Skater Blog [https://www.skatebaselondon.com/blog] Learn to roller skate online with: Skate Base Lessons App [https://www.skatebaselondon.com/online-roller-skating-lessons]