The school year has finally wrapped up here in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and the summer break has begun. With the stresses of the school year behind us, we can finally relax and enjoy some much deserved time off! With the freedom of summer, what will you do to enjoy yourself? If you are looking for a way to get out of the heat of the sun, we invite you to join us here at Southwestern Skate!

Why Skate Over the Summer?

1. Exercise – It is easy to let exercise fall by the wayside with so much extra time on our hands. Roller skating is a really fun exercise recommended by the American Heart Association. Make exercise a blast this summer!
2. Boredom – If the summer begins to loose its luster, and your kids run out of things to do, roller skating is a really fun way to cure the boredom, and beat the heat at the same time!
3. Family – Roller skating can be a really fun family activity for everyone. Food, drinks and roller skating? Sounds great to us!
4. Have a birthday over the summer?? Well, firstly, happy birthday! A roller skating birthday is a great way to ring in another year, and our staff would love to have you!

Check out our new summer hours, and plan a visit with us today!

School is coming to a close, and the summer break is upon us! With this much awaited and deserved time off, comes some notable dates for us as well! With so many events coming up, it can be difficult to keep up with what we are doing. So, we wanted to give you a place to reference all of SouthWestern Skate’s upcoming and important dates!

Events

• Throwback Late Skate, May 29th, 7pm – 1am, $12

Closings

• Closed May 23rd through 25th for Memorial Day
• Closed July 1st through 8th for Vacation

Summer Schedule

• In addition to the regular schedule we will be open Thursdays, 12-3pm, $5
  • June 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th
  • July 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th
  • August 6th & 13th

That’s right! A Throwback Late Skate is making it’s way to SouthWestern Skate from an era of bell bottoms, disco and lava lamps! On Friday, May 29th from 7pm to 1am, gear up with some attire from the 70’s because we are taking a step back in time. So, what should you wear to fit the theme of the night? Here are a few suggestions for you!

Throwback Attire

• Bell bottoms
• Tie-die
• Silk Shirts with swirling colors
• Long side-burns

There are so many more clothing options to choose from to represent this decade. If you are looking for some inspiration, check out old disco images to get some ideas!

We can’t wait to see you for this event. Admission is only $12, and standard rental fees apply.

Here, at Southwestern Skate in Oklahoma City, OK, our passion is roller skating! Nothing makes us happier than knowing we can share that passion with the people in our community. If you have never been to Southwestern Skate, or have never been roller skating period, we’d love for you to join us! Check out what other people are saying about our roller rink!

• “God I love this place so much I so truly miss it Janet keeps it on lock jus like back then now it’s time for me to bring my own kids around here hope they love it as much as I do such a great safe spot for kids.”
• “Enjoy being here on Wednesdays with my boy. #havingagreattime”
• “Best place to go skating and have fun family time”
• “This Place Is The Best 😀 !! I Go Every Friday :)”
• “My all time favorite place to be when I was a teenager, Janet kept me outta trouble. That’s for sure, she runs a great skating center. I’m 21 now and wish I could enjoy it like I used to. My son is 3 so it’s almost my turn to get begged every Wednesday and Friday lol.”
• “Its A Very Fun Place . N Cool To Just Hang Out With Freinds N Have A Nice Night .VERY AWESOME PLACE TO BE AT!!!”
• “I’ve Been to Skating Rinks in California,Texas,WashingtonDC, Oregon, Nevada, Maryland, Virginia and I like this one more then anyone of them. They change the signs for the better. They remodeled the inside.The Place stays Clean.Their Rentals are Working Properly.They Music Doesn’t Have Profanity.Most of the Customers love to Skate.All this is Because of Good Management.If anyone thinks theirs a Better Place in Oklahoma City.Let me know cause the last one I went to in okc was Cold and Look like I was Skating at a Funeral.Color on the inside was Weird..No Attractive Lights on the Outside.Wheels was Cockeyed.Floor Dirty..Food Should be on Kitchen Nightmares.. So if u don’t want all of the Drama Go to SW skate like I Have for the Last Five Years Now .Or Skate Moore very nice their as well.”

When we think of roller skating, we think of, well, roller skating. There isn’t many things we can think of that top gliding across a smooth wooden rink on a pair of skate, but there is more to do on eight wheels than you may think! In fact, there are many different games that can be played while roller skating. Who knew that skating could get any better?? Southwestern Skate in Oklahoma City, OK, has listed some games to play to make your roller skating experience even better!

Roller Skating Games

• Roller Tag – This is played exactly like regular tag, but everything is made better with a pair of roller skates. This is a really fun way to turn your skating experience up a few notches!
• Musical Chairs on Skates – We all remember playing musical chairs as kids, but not many of us tried it on skates! Much like traditional musical chairs, but in the skating version there are marked areas on the ground instead of chairs that show where to claim a spot.
• Roller Hockey – Take away the ice and ice skates, and replace it with pavement or a wood floor and roller skates! Roller hockey is a great way for hockey lovers to play at any time they want, without having to make their way to an ice rink.
• Limbo – How low can you go? If you have mastered the art of limbo, crank up the difficulty a bit and throw on some skates.

Photo Credit: Flickr 2.0 CC via Alex Indigo

When you think of old-school roller skating, images of car hops probably come to mind, but when you think about its roots, you should be thinking back a little further. A lot further! In fact, roller skating made its debut back in the mid 1700’s, and has evolved over the past two centuries! Southwestern Skate in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has highlighted some of the big moments from the beginnings of skating to now.

Timeline of Roller Skating

• 1743: This is the first ever recorded account of anyone using anything like roller skates. These first skates were used in a London stage performance, and the inventor is unknown.
• 1760: The first roller skates are invented! Though the first account was in the stage performance, this is the first ever actual invention of what we know today. These skates were actually inline, believe it or not, and had small metal wheels. The inventor was John Joseph Merlin.
• 1819: First patented roller skate design, in France by M. Petitbled. These skates are more similar to what we know today. It was very difficult to maneuver in this early design, and was difficult to do much else but move in a straight line.
• 1857: Roller skating has finally gained enough popularity by this point and has warranted the opening of the first public rinks! They were held at The Strand in London and Floral Hall.
• 1863: The quad roller skate makes its first appearance. Designed by James Leonard Plimpton in New York City, this model of roller skate made it easier for the skater to turn.
• 1880: Roller skates are beginning to be mass produced in America, and is experiencing a boom in popularity.
• 1902: The Chicago Coliseum opens a public skating rink, and more than 7,000 people attend the grand opening.
• 1916: The first appearance of roller skates on the big screen is in the Charlie Chaplain film, “The Rink.”
• 1979: Scott Olson and Brennan Olson set out to redesign the skate by using a 1960’s inline skate design and using modern materials and an ice hockey boot. Scott Olson begins promoting the skate, and creates Rollerblade, Inc.
• Adjustments to the skates are made over the course of the next decades, and with a bit of tweaking and honing, we have arrived at what we have today!

You can keep up with us on social media! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus.

Photo Credit: Flickr 2.0 CC via graufilter

Jam skating: it is a term that you may have heard in passing while rolling around the rink. If you are new to skating, you may not know what this terms means. Well, Southwestern Skate, located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has an answer for you!

A specific place and time that jam skating originated is a debatable topic, but its influence can be traced back to traditional roller disco. Jam skating skating has since evolved into its current form, where its influences range from figure skating, gymnastics, traditional dance and breakdancing. The purpose of jam skating is not speed or well executed turns like a typical night at the rink, but rather a well personalized dance routine or display of coordination on a pair of roller skates.

Within jam skating, there are several different styles and ways to approach it. Many jam skaters have a background in some type of dance, and have adapted their styles for a pair of skates. This is the beauty of jam skating, for the most part, regulations don’t confine the skater to a particular style. Each individual can bring their own interpretation to the table, and it makes for some really exciting and diverse displays!

Are you looking to book an event or party in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area? Well look no further than Southwestern Skate! We have birthday packages to fit any and all needs. It can be difficult to choose with so many, but we’ve made it easy for you! Each package listed below has a detailed list of what each includes, and what kind of event or party they are best suited for.

Birthday Party – Party of 10 for $125

• Well, this one is pretty easy! If you want to have a birthday at Skate Moore, this is the package is perfect for you! It includes 3 to 4 hours of skating and skates for 10.
• In the food department, this package included one extra large, one toping pizza and a drink for each of the skaters.
• The birthday girl or boy will have 30 seconds in the prize machine, a free pass for their next visit and an announcement of their birthday!

Team Party – Party of 10 for $125 ($9 for each additional skater)

• Need to host a party for a basketball team or any other group related activity? Well, here you go! This package includes:
  • Admission for 10 skaters
  • Rental skates
  • One drink for each skater
  • Two X-large single topping pizzas
  • Party table reserved for 2 hours
  • Your guests can skate for the entire session
• Team parties are offered on Thursdays at 6:00pm, Fridays at 7:00pm and Saturdays at 1:00pm and 7:00pm.

Private Party – $500 for up to 50 guests ($10 for each additional guest)

• Want something a little more secluded? Host a private party, and have the place to yourself!
• We have a couple different options for food:
  • Package A: 5 XLg Pizzas and 50 Drinks ….. $110.00
  • Package B: 10 XLg. Pizzas and 100 Drinks ….. $220.00
• Private parties are offered from Sunday through Wednesday at 5:00 and 7:00 pm.

Late Night Private Party – $800 for up to 100 guests ($8 for each additional guest)

• Will your party go until the wee hours of the morn? Then look no further than our Late Night party package!
• We have a couple different options for food:
  • Package A: 5 XLg Pizzas and 50 Drinks ….. $110.00
  • Package B: 10 XLg. Pizzas and 100 Drinks ….. $220.00
• Late Night party packages are offered on Sundays through Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 11:30 p.m.

Contact us, to book your party today!

It’s no secret that roller skating is a lot of fun! Every week people come to Southwestern Skate to unwind and have a great time, but along with all of that fun, roller skating is a really great exercise (recommended by the American Heart Association). So it’s great fun and exercise, what more could it be? Well, with the Healthy Lifestyle Skating Program, roller skating is also really great for your child’s education!

What is the Healthy Lifestyle Skating Program?

• This program, which is promoted by the Roller Skating Association, is a way for your elementary school student to raise money for their school just by hitting the rink! From 2013-2014 we raised over $5,100 for OKC schools.

How it works?

• Contact us, and sign up your school (We will need the number of students for all schools that participate).
• We will provide you with custom flyers and posters with your school name and all of the skate dates.
• It will only be a small fee of $3 to skate with the HLS Skating Program. It is held on:
  • Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-9pm
  • Thursdays from  7-9pm
• The child can bring friends and family with them, and each additional person is worth $1 for the school, and still only pay the $3 fee! The more the merrier, because the more people you bring the more money your school receives!
• Your school should make announcements of when the events are being held. The more people are aware, the more money the school will receive.

We will mail a check to your organization the day after your Skate Night with all the money you earned! The school is not responsible for the children or any monetary amount for this program.

If this is your first time roller skating, we couldn’t be more excited that you decided to look into it! If you watch people who have been skating for a while it may seem difficult, or even scary to try it out. But trust us, it’s easy once you get the hang of it! Roller skating can be so much fun, that’s why Southwestern Skate in Oklahoma City, OK wants to give you some tips on how to get started!

The Necessities  

• First things first, to start roller skating you obviously need a pair of skates! But since you are a first timer, some safety equipment is a great tool to have while you’re learning. Elbow pads, knee pads and a helmet will help keep you protected while you’re getting the into the swing of things.

Hitting the Rink

• You’ve got the gear, now it’s time to have some fun! Before you start rolling around the rink, and doing tricks, you need to know the basics.
  • Place your feet shoulder width apart.
  • Bend you knees and squat slightly. This will give you a bit more spring, and aid your balance.
  • Find a sweet spot with this general stance that you feel comfortable with.
• Rollin’ around!
  • To start rolling around the rink, position your toes outward and your heels inward.
  • Practice walking like this until you find your balance. You may fall a few times trying to get it just right, but that’s what the pads are for! After a while, you will gain more confidence and be well on your way.
  • Start to move your feet more quickly, and take longer strides.
  • Begin to push off harder with one foot while you glide on the other. Glide farther and farther distances

And look! That’s not too bad, right? It’s always a great idea to take someone with you that has previous experience to help get you up to speed.