There has been a recent resurgence of London’s youth taking the streets on roller skates, leaving everyone with the question, are the 80s in again?
Alongside this, there has been a revival of retro 80s pop culture as seen on online platforms such as Tik Tok and Instagram.
The 80s are in fact rolling in again but is it possible to replicate?
A common incentive for this sudden revival is that the younger generations somehow feel nostalgia for an era they missed.
This is also due to the lack of Youth Clubs nowadays that has led to the youth of London seeking out hobbies they should pursue as a collective.
The current most prominent roller-skating hot-spot locations are basketball courts, empty car parks, parks, shopping centres and anywhere else that can provide a smooth terrain.
We can only hope that this newly regained passion for skating will also lead to the formation of more roller rinks and roller discos as currently the number is significantly low, in London especially.
The setting can completely alter the atmosphere as well as style of skating, as skaters tend to change their style of skating based on their environments.
Indoor skating offers the opportunity to try out “jam skating” dance moves whereas outdoor skating is more challenging and currently the most popular, with many taking the streets to improve their skill, the most common style is “urban skating” which is fast paced.
Roller-skating has many beneficial aspects ranging from improving overall fitness and mental health to establishing a stronger sense of community within the younger generation.
Fitness wise, skating frequently, offers a whole-body workout and is useful for muscle building.
Fortunately, skating is not as vigorous as other physical activities yet still has a great affect on health and improving coordination skills that can be applied to various other activities.
Roller-skaters tend to flock together, this ultimately brings the younger community closer together due to the large numbers that amass whilst skating.
Additionally, roller-skating is an extremely efficient and enjoyable form of transport when you need to get from point A to point B.
Roller-skating coming back is a clear example of the trend cycle, something that was once popularised will inevitably come back around and relive its former glory.
The only alteration is the style of roller-skates, throughout the years both quad-skates, inline skates and strap on skates have advanced, some children's footwear even draw inspiration from roller-skates and incorporate wheels.
Avid roller-skater in the 2000s, Leanne recalls "We used to incorporate rollerskating into our games like run-outs. It went out of fashion for a bit,it phased out. What makes it interesting is that people can personalise their skates, personalisation helped create the culture."
For older generations it’s a pleasure to witness preloved trends come back around.
Roller-skating, receiving love from many decades, is a form of bonding between older and younger generations where the role of mentor and student is present, and quality time is spent.
The roller rampage has always been present from as late as the 18th century, its a joy to see it hasn't lost its touch.
