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An Online Resource Station for Avid, R&B Skaters |
Lady hip hopper and actress, Eve, is on board to be part of the cast of “Whip It” - the roller derby film being produced by Drew Barrymore. Read more on SOHH.com: “Eve Rolls w/Drew Barrymore in Upcoming Flick.”
Many were unaware of any controversy surrounding the sale of Elsmere Skating Rink in Delaware until RST’s posting entitled “Shady Rink Deal Goes Down.” Since then, it has been announced that the rink’s new owners are Tracy and Lawrence Akines, a Black couple who currently live in New Jersey where Tracy has served for many years as General Manager of Millennium Skate World - a rink operated by United Skates of America.
RST has attempted to contact one of Elsmere’s former owners, Cort Wahlig, for comment but he has not returned several phone messages An interview request submitted to Tracy was denied with the comment that she was not interested. At this time Garry “Gman” Corporal, the long time general manager of Elsmere is refraining from any further comment and is continuing to move forward with his plans for the future.
RST is glad to be able to add another Black owned rink to the Black Rinks page but continues to have questions about the process and ethics involved in Elsmere coming under its current ownership.
In what appears to be a shady, underhanded and ‘cold-blooded’ deal, Elsmere Skating Center in Delaware has been sold and Garry “Geeman” Corporal, who was the rink’s general manager for 30 years, was told to pack his things and get gone by July 28. He had long been told or assured that he would become the rink’s next owner but instead, Elsmere has been sold to another person. According to the new message on the Elsmere phone line, the rink name is now “Adrenaline Skating Center,” a slap in the face to Corporal who was one of the originators of the Adrenaline Awards and Weekend which he hosted annually from Elsmere for the past several years.
Corporal issued this news release today:
Elsmere Skating Center Closed, Then Sold
Peace and Blessings, as some of know, I have been released of my duties, of operating and Managing The Elsmere Skating Center in Wilmington as of July 28, 2008. I leave with mixed emotions because I have made so many good friends over these past 30 plus years. My life has been greatly enriched by the kindness and encouragements so many of you have shown to me. I will always be grateful for the many friends I have made along the way and the wonderful memories I take with me. With a bit of sorrow, I wish to formally announce my departure from The Elsmere Skating Center. I remain grateful, however, for the opportunity to work with everyone at The Elsmere Skating Center. My thanks to all who made Elsmere Skating Center and the skate store flourish as it did. I wish the best of success to everyone who is remaining with the new owner or moving to new ground. Again thank you all for the opportunity to allow me to be a part of your lives, God Bless.
Unconfirmed reports have it that another Black rink manager was involved in this shady deal which, in essence, kicked Geeman to the curb after his many years of working under the belief that Elsmere’s owner would be true to his word and promise to transfer rink ownership.
RST wishes the best to Geeman as he moves forward through the many open doors that are surely ahead of him and will eventually, if it is his desire, lead him into the ranks of the small, but steadily increasing, number of Black rink owners in the country.
Skate legend Bill Butler has been contacted by representatives of the Simmons Lathan Media Group (SLMG) to discuss a role for him in directing a roller skating reality TV series. SLMG is headed by hip hop guru Russell Simmons and Stan Lathan and is dedicated to bringing a positive image of the hip hop generation to music, TV, radio, and other forms of media.
This is from the group’s website:
… Nearly 30 years in the game, two generations strong, billions of dollars in revenue, Hip-Hop is MODERN AMERICA’S culture. Yet turn on a television and, other than music videos, Hip-Hop culture is nearly invisible. Simmons Lathan Media Group is set on changing that. We’re the voice of millions of young people - Black, White, Asian, Latin, poor and rich - who don’t see themselves represented honestly in the media.
Through comedy, poetry, dance, animation and drama, we offer cultural expressions that have been ignored for too long….
Bill is to meet with one of SLMG’s representatives in Atlanta this weekend to find out more about their proposed project.
Stay tuned!
AURORA, CO - After Music Spectrum’s “Grown Folks” Session ended Sunday, July 20, several skaters commented that they had not sweated so much in a long time and, with a crowd of 120 in Skate City, that only increased the heat and contributed to so many getting an extra workout to song after song played by DJ Big Mike. The Old School session was a pleasant change up from what skaters have become used to in the Denver area with sounds from artists like Stevie Wonder, Lou Rawls, Mary J, Keith Sweat, Tupac, Biggie, and RST’s favorite of the night was “The Rain” (1986), by Oran Juice Jones ….. a song we haven’t heard (to our recollection) at any skate event nationwide.
Here are some of the faces from the special night:
Big Mike pleasantly surprised many skaters who came through the doors and rolled to the variety of songs he played from the ‘back in the day’ era.
Most Sundays find Victoria Ayers (l) and Lori Span at the skating rink where they meet up with other adults who share their same passion for skating. “We’re like family,” Span said during a break from her weekly roll. A skater for 35 years, she explained that when she misses a Sunday, her whole week is thrown off. Ayers has been on skates for 38 years and said she is in another world when on the skate floor where all her troubles just fly away.
Pictured at Skate City, and preparing to roll, are: Henry Kirby (l) and DJ Lemon (r) who make the 45 minute drive from Colorado Springs regularly for adult skating in the Metro area. Kirby has been skating for more than 10 years and most enjoys the fact that he receives a beneficial workout while skating. DJ Lemon is originally from Brooklyn, NY and has been skating since he was a young boy. Skating, he said, takes his mind away from everyday trials and concerns and allows him to relax.
Even community activist, organizer and businessman Brother Jeff takes a break from his busy schedule to “get his roll on” from time to time at the local adult skating session.
Photos by Lens of Ansar
© 2008 - All Rights Reserved
City Cuts Ties With Rink After Employee Uses N-word Toward Black Teen (WVEC)
Texas Rink for Sale (Corsicana Daily Sun)
8 Wheels & Some Soul Brother Music Released on DVD
RST received this information on the upcoming 8 wheels Los Angeles release party:
As many of you already know we landed a DISTRIBUTION DEAL with Indican Pictures for the North American DVD release of “8 Wheels and Some Soul Brotha Music” (in stores 8/5/08. Whoohoo!) IndicanPictures.com
Please join us in our excitement at Belongals Game Lounge to play board games, jam to live music, eat and drink.
Each of you has been instrumental to our success, and we want to share this moment with YOU.
Roll onto the red carpet early to get in on a game of bones; a short presentation will be shown at 8pm; and watch the stars light up the night!
See ya there!
The event is to be held Friday, Aug. 8 and is hosted by 8 Wheels producers Tyrone & Nicole Dixon along with Indican Pictures. Belongals is located at 2478 Colorado Blvd in Los Angeles. More info, call 323-447-7488.
RST supports the Old School Skate, i.e., Grown Folks Skate, held every 3rd Sunday in the Denver area and hosted by Music Spectum. This night is specially for Music Spectrum members, many of whom have, for years now, been dissatisfied with the music selection provided by the DJs who have been playing for more than a decade.
After a small group of members resorted to a petition for change, the decision was made to begin bringing in a guest DJ who has been hired to provide the musical format and skate atmosphere the member’s night was originally set up for….. skatable old school primarily, but also skatable music free of the derogatory language which many “grown folks” find offensive and unnecessary.
Music Spectrum founder Archie Jones is also President of the Black Transplants Action Committee (BTAC), a non-profit organization which promotes increased awareness of the need for organ and tissue donation in the Black community. Both organizations highly recommend roller skating as a physical activity which will contribute to an overall healthy lifestyle.
The Grown Folks skate is dedicated to Music Spectrum members, true skaters and those who love R&B Old School served up with a twist of classic soul, jazz, gospel, reggae and a little taste of hip hop.
Every 3rd Sunday 2008 skate dates:
July 20
Aug 17
Sep 21
Oct 19
Nov 16
Dec 21
Stay tuned for info on Music Spectrum’s skate contest for couples, trios and skate teams. First prize $300. Second price $100. Preliminaries to be held Sep 21, finals on Dec 21. (Details subject to change.)
Please visit the BTAC website to find out more and click the below thumbnail for more info on the member’s skate which will feature guest DJ Big Mike:
This is a different world than what most of us are used to but actress Drew Barrymore is producing a new film about roller derby and movie extras are needed for filming set to take place in Michigan in July and August. Read more about “Whip It”, being produced by Flower Films, in this Ann Arbor News article. Or read this report from Detroit TV news station WDIV.
RST recently received reader questions for Bill Butler which are posted below, along with his answers.
Ginger Moss of the Chattanooga Rollers asks:
This is a question for Bill Butler and the skate plates used for the jammin’ technique. I’ve noticed a lot of the skaters have setups that have the plate shorter than the boot. How does this help? How much shorter should they be? Do the mounting holes on the boots line up? If not what do you tell a skate shop so they can get it right when you order a new pair of skates?
Bill’s answer as given to RST:
Here’s the key to anybody’s foot size: the plate must equal the distance between the middle of your heel laterally, i.e. from side to side, and laterally, the middle of the ball of your foot. As long as the truck, the axle is underneath the ball of the foot – from side to side – and the center of your heel, side to side, you’re good to go.
Once you get one, you get the other; meaning, if that truck is under the ball of your foot, for the most part, it’s gonna be in the center of your heel because all plates are designed a certain way. But if a person makes a mistake to get a plate, for instance, that’s too long for their boot or foot size and puts the heel axle in the middle of the heel, they can jack up the front because the plate was too big in the first place so that means the plate is gonna be in front of the ball of the foot – it’s gotta be both. You can’t say well, I got the ball of the foot, I got it right. No, you gotta have the ball of the foot and the center of the heel equal, then you’re right.
If it’s a dance plate involved, of course, there’s no toe stop but once the axle is in back or front of the ball of your foot, you’re out of luck. You made a mistake.
When we talk about toe stop versus no toe stop, that’s up to the individual because then we’re talking about what type of skating do you intend to do. If you’re gonna do the Jammin’ Technique, you cannot have a toe stop because it won’t allow you to do the six wheel position which means the toe of one foot is down toward the floor so in ‘X’ number of millimeters, degrees or inches the toe stop will come in contact with the floor which [causes the toe stop to] drag and just doesn’t work for the Jammin’ Technique. The Jammin’ Technique needs to have space in the front of the foot so that you can use the two wheel position when you point the toe toward the floor. You want to make sure you understand that and get it right.
David Vallejos writes:
I’m from NY.. I just began Roller Skating after a 10 year layoff. My goal is to learn the “skating the circle” techniques, practice and prepare myself before hitting all the Roller rinks around the TRI-State area.
* Do you have any videos, skating seminars coming soon to NY metropolitan area.
Bill’s answer:
There’s no such thing as a circle technique, per se. What it is, is taking a straight line and making a circle out of it. That’s all. So you have to learn how to skate – that opens up this explanation to the question. Learn how to roller skate and the circle isn’t a problem. That’s what it’s all about. Understand how to adjust your skates. Understand what equipment to have to get what you want done because sometimes your eyes can see some stuff you can’t achieve, so you have to watch it. You can’t blame the skates. You gotta blame the person that’s on the skates.
It’s not the equipment first. It’s you first, equipment second. Then you have to have the ability. And it’s about the ability of the equipment of the person that’s wearing that equipment.
* I don’t do [videos]. The videos I have are in an archive and anybody who’s close to me – like in Georgia – they might end up with a video of something. One of my students has eight videos of some of my work, 30 years of stuff in this video. That’s fine. She’ll give them back and I’ll put them back in the room until somebody else, I’ll say, ‘this might help you. Look at this.’ But if I don’t think the person has any real ability or real ambition toward learning the Technique, they don’t get the tapes because it’s wasteful. That’s a decision that I make but I don’t do [videos] on a commercial basis. I don’t do that. You gotta be right near me or I have to know you to disburse any type of info like that. It’s not that I wouldn’t do it, it’s just that I don’t do it at this present time. I have [them] for my students that are close up and other than that it’s all archived stuff for my legacy.
It just hasn’t come into my space right now to do anything like that. But if you enjoy the Technique that much, get in my face some kind of way, get annoying to me and then I’ll make arrangements because now I know you’re serious. I’ll make special arrangements for that person because now I feel they care about it as much as I do and I say, let me get this person off my back, let me help them out. He’s driving me crazy. If you become annoying, or in my face then I know you’re on the case and Ill a say, I better get on it. This [person] really wants to get this stuff. They might turn me onto something.
Bill thanks you for your questions concerning the Jammin’ Technique and limits his responses to queries in that category.
