Portland Magazine
February 21, 2022
When we were first put under quarantine in early 2020, I was afraid to go outside for a long time. A quick trip to the grocery store was anxiety inducing, and seeing people outside en masse without their masks on made me feel unsafe. I hated the feeling and wanted to find a way to still stay healthy and active while also being able to stay socially distanced.
Then I started noticing that people were roller-skating and blading in the streets. For some reason it never occurred to me that it was an option since I’ve only been familiar with rink skating. It was something I had always wanted to do since I was a kid watching my older brother roller blade and skateboard. It also didn’t help that I always had Roll Bounce queued up at home. So, I did my research, found a pair of skates, and have been skating since early May 2020 and loving it.
I started skating outside mostly because it was easier to spread out. I would go to meetups around the city and meet other skaters and occasionally get some pointers. It was fun because it was like I got to discover other parts of the city that I never really had a reason to go visit. Some of my frequent haunts were Rigler Elementary and King Elementary School. Both have pretty smooth surfaces, King being the best.
Nowadays I go to Oaks Park to skate. I started going mostly because I was getting more comfortable with businesses that were maintaining safety protocols and adhering to masking mandates. I also had a set of indoor wheels that weren’t getting enough love and I wanted to start using them more. Oaks Park also offers lessons. Up until now, I’ve just been learning by watching instructional YouTube videos (Dirty Deb’s Dirty School of Skate and Roller Diva Dance Fit have been a godsend) and any tips I get from my more experienced skater friends.
What I love most about skating is how much I can express myself and be able to make a different connection with my body. I feel more in control and understand how my body works in a bit more detail. Being inside for so long where I couldn’t do much, I felt like all the activities I used to do weren’t possible anymore. I used to go dancing a lot but touching other people in order to salsa isn’t really my jam anymore. Skating, in a way, gives me more freedom.
My goal is to become an artistic skater (basically a figure skater on wheels).
TORI WARD ’16 earned her master’s in library and information science from Syracuse University before returning to The Bluff.
University of Portland
5000 N. Willamette Blvd.,
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