Picture this: it is finally the first warm day of the spring. You are incredibly proud of yourself for juggling all the children’s schedules and have planned a family outing to the park. You think you have everything ready for a family day of fun outside: a picnic lunch, snacks, sunscreen, chalk, etc. While racing each other to the jungle gym, one of the children fall and scrape both knees. Ensue meltdown. The only thing that will cure this is ice cream and cartoons, so back in the car you go.

This probably sounds familiar to some of you, because a lot of us have lived this situation out in one way or another.

Family fun is not meant to be all about safety. However, a screaming child with a scraped knee means the end of any fun and the beginning of a large headache. When a child hurts, parents always feel that hurt tenfold. We want to help keep fun fun by preventing skating injuries.

Wheels Skating Center is here to save your family fun days from tragedy. From food to fun, we have everything covered. But to keep your day rolling smoothly, here are our three best tips to keeping safe while roller skating at Wheels Skating Center.

3 Roller Skating Safety Tips

• The most important is the safety equipment that you choose. Today, there is a pad for just about every body part when participating in a sport. However, the few we suggest investing in when your kids begin skating are a helmet, knee pads, and wrist guards.
• Skate Mates. No, we’re not talking about your child clinging on to you for dear life. These clever little devices slide along the rink while providing smaller skaters something to hold on to.
• Roller Skating Lessons. Try out a family skate night or one of our open skates to see if skating is something your family enjoys doing. Our public skate times have skaters of all different skill and experience levels. If it is something your family wants to improve on, then consider taking some lessons. We have classes every Tuesday night from 6-7 p.m. and they are only $6.00 per lesson. They’ll give your kids the confidence to breeze around the rink without any major spills. You can check out our schedule here for more information.

We hope that these tips will help decrease the stress in planning a family fun day. We hope we have encouraged you to try your next family night out here at Wheels Skate Center. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions about roller skating, safety and first aid at the rink or anything else.

Gas or charcoal, shaken or stirred … Wood or concrete? You may not have ever considered where you stand on the concrete vs. wood skating rink debate, but don’t worry—we’ve got you covered with this guide to the different types of skating rinks!  

What are the types of skating rinks? 

Skating rinks usually fall into one of the following categories: Wood, concrete, or less commonly, plastic tile (VersaCourt and SkateCourt, for example). Each has its own unique properties, but here at Wheels Skate Center, we’re partial to hardwood skating rink flooring. Read on to learn a bit about the pros and cons of each type. 

It’s a Hard Knock Life: Concrete Skating Rinks

Concrete is a popular skating rink flooring option because it’s by far the cheapest. It’s also very durable, so it doesn’t have to be replaced as often, and quite slippery, which can make it good for doing certain skate moves like spins, or for speed skating. 

However, as you’ve probably guessed, concrete floors are hard. That means not only does it hurt worse to fall on concrete, but also that it’s harder on your joints. Just think about what it’s like to run on grass vs. pavement; roller skating is a low-impact sport, but the surface you’re skating on does make a difference in how much of an impact you feel each time you push off. 

In addition to the hardness, concrete skating rinks can be hard to install properly. It’s important that they be perfectly level and smooth in order to make a good roller skating surface, but that’s not always the end result. 

Life in Plastic: Not Fantastic

There are some flooring systems out there that use copolymer polypropylene (plastic) tiles, which can be a great option for basketball courts, tennis courts, etc. While these systems are sometimes used for skating rinks, they are not ideal for roller skating. Common complaints include: 

• Being too noisy
• Being too bumpy
• Making it hard to get up any speed
• Causing “road rash” to exposed arms or legs if you fall down while skating

Why Wood Skating Rinks Are The Best Skating Rinks

And last, but not least, we have wood skating rinks, like the one we have here at Wheels. Usually built out of maple hardwood, wood skating rinks are the classic material choice for a reason. Wood skating rink flooring is more expensive and doesn’t have quite as long of a lifespan as other options, but we think it’s the superior choice based on the experience it gives skaters. Benefits of maple hardwood rinks include:

• A smooth surface with excellent traction
• “Give” or flexibility, which is easier on joints
• Less painful than falling on concrete
• A beautiful look! Sure, we’re biased, but nothing compares to a beautiful wood skating rink built by skilled craftspeople. 

Want to experience a wood skating rink for yourself? Come visit us at our Odenton, Maryland skating rink, Wheels Skate Center. Check out our schedule to see skate sessions and special events. 

Valentine’s Day is almost here, and if you haven’t yet made plans with your special someone, it’s time to get started. This year, why not try something a little different for your Valentine’s Day date? Check out these unique date ideas in Odenton to help you think outside the box and surprise your partner with a special outing. 

Why are creative dates important? 

Variety is the spice of life, and according to relationship experts, couples who try new things together are happier than those who don’t. It makes sense, after all—the excitement of new love fades over time under the harsh glare of day-to-day routine, so if you want to keep that excitement alive, you’ve got to put in the work. And yes, that means getting off the couch, putting your phones down, and spending some quality time together! 

Creative Date Ideas for Valentine’s Day (Or Any Day!)

The best dates are ones that change up your routine and inject some novelty into the day-to-day, so it’s important to think outside the box and come up with some cool new activities to do with your significant other. These are some ideas to get you started, but don’t be afraid to come up with something that is personal to you and your partner! 

Roller Skating Date

Join us at Wheels Skate Center for a roller skating date that will make you feel like lovestruck kids again! Roller skating is a perfect date activity because it’s active, fun, nostalgic, and makes for great memories. Request “your song” and hold hands with your boo while you glide around the skating rink. 

If you or your partner aren’t super confident on skates, don’t worry—we have skating classes for beginners! Our skating classes take place on Tuesday evenings and admission is only $6 including skate rental. From 6:15 to 6:45 we work on forward skating and balance skills, while 6:45 to 7:15 is reserved for learning backward skating and turning skills. (Please note that doors open at 6 pm and skaters must be on the rink at 6:15 in order to participate in the lessons.) Learning a new skill together is a good way to build intimacy and strengthen your sense of teamwork.  

Volunteer Together 

Turn the love you have for each other outward and shine it on those in need. Find a local charity or nonprofit organization you both feel passionate about and sign up to volunteer together! Whether you end up walking shelter pups, sorting food bank donations, reading to seniors, or whatever else you decide, you’ll feel more connected with your partner and proud of yourselves for putting your values into practice. 

Team Up on a Scavenger Hunt

Speaking of teaming up, combine your powers to solve a scavenger hunt! Annapolis has several scavenger hunts you can try for different neighborhoods, so get ready for adventure and spend a day exploring with your favorite adventure buddy.

Roller skating is one of the most fun activities out there, and it’s good for you to boot! (Pun very much intended.) We’ve discussed a lot of the health benefits of roller skating, and it’s true that skating is a great option for low-impact exercise. However, like any sport, roller skating can come with some minor irritations, aches, and pains. Read on to learn how to prevent blisters and foot pain from roller skating, and visit our pro shop at Wheels Skate Center for new skates, skating equipment and accessories, and of course, expert advice from our pros! 

Common Causes of Roller Skating Foot Pain

Some of the most common causes of foot pain while roller skating include: 

Lace Bite

This skating malady is caused by pressure from a stiff skate tongue (the part that goes behind the laces, on the front of your ankle/top of your foot). If the skate is laced tightly, the tongue cuts into the tendons of the ankle, causing pain, redness, and swelling. 

Chafing and Blisters

If your skates are too big or too small, you may end up with chafing, redness, and even blisters, which can make skating (not to mention just wearing normal shoes) very uncomfortable. Skate boots that are too large don’t stay in place, causing them to slide back and forth on your foot. Boots that are too small cut into your foot and can rub your skin until it’s injured. 

Plantar Fasciitis

This painful condition is caused by inflammation in the thick band of tissue that runs from the heel to the toes. If you feel stabbing pain in your heels during or after skating, you may have plantar fasciitis.

Tight Achilles Tendon

This tendon runs from the calf muscle down to the heel, and many people find that it can tighten up during exercise. If your Achilles tendon is tight, you may experience pain in and above your heel at the back of your ankle, as well as swelling. In severe cases, your heel may even feel hot to the touch due to the inflammation. 

How to Prevent Foot Pain from Roller Skating

The most important thing you can do to prevent foot pain while roller skating is to wear properly fitting skates! It all starts with the skates, so make sure you have the fit right when ordering. If possible, visit a pro shop to order your skates. Here at Wheels Skate Center, we have a pro shop where you can try different skate sizes and brands, so you feel confident when ordering your skates. 

Of course, you may still run into some issues, so check out these tips to avoid foot pain and blisters from skating. 

Don’t lace your skates too tightly.

Your skates should be laced tight enough to provide support, but not so tight that they’re putting pressure on the front of your ankle. 

Wear thick socks and add more padding if necessary.

Nice, thick socks are a must for roller skating. They provide additional padding, keep your feet dry, and help prevent blisters and chafing. Of course, you may still need to make a few adjustments, so get some moleskin from the drugstore, cut it to shape, and stick it inside your skate boot anywhere that you feel painful friction forming. 

Warm up your muscles and stretch before skating.

As with any sport or physical activity, you should always warm up and stretch before skating. Gentle stretching every day can help reduce pain from Plantar fasciitis and also loosen up your Achilles tendon. 

Life on roller skates is pretty sweet, cruising along with the wind in your hair and not a care in the world. But just like life itself, occasionally you may hit a bump, feel a tug to the side, or even grind to a stop. Don’t worry, you can always get back on track. Check out these roller skate maintenance tips to learn when (and how) to give your skates the TLC they need. 

Roller Skate Problems to Watch Out For

Some of the most common problems you may notice with your skates include:

• Wheels not spinning freely
• One skate “pulling” to the left or right instead of rolling straight
• Wobbling all over the place, or on the other end of the spectrum, you feel like you can barely turn

So, how can you fix these issues? 

• Clean your skate bearings. Over time they pick up dirt and debris, even if you’re skating at an indoor skating rink. If you try to spin your wheels and they don’t spin freely, this is the likely culprit. Cleaning your skate bearings is easy, and you should do it every 2-3 months to keep them in good shape. 
• Examine your skate to determine why it’s pulling to one direction. It could be due to a bent axle, misaligned plate, or too much tension on one of the trucks. If you’re having trouble determining the cause, stop by our Odenton pro shop to chat with one of our helpful team members. We’re passionate about skating, and we love to help people progress in the sport, so don’t be afraid to ask questions!
• Check your trucks if you feel like your skates aren’t handling correctly; they may need to be tightened or loosened. The looser your trucks, the more easily they turn. The tighter you make them, the harder it will be to maneuver. You want to find a happy medium between responsiveness and stability. 

A Roller Skate Maintenance Checklist

Ideally, you’ll stick to a roller skate maintenance schedule to head off any problems before they affect you on the rink. Use this checklist as a starting point, and adjust as needed for your frequency and intensity of skating. 

• Every time you skate: 
  • Unlace and open up the tongue to let your skates dry out. DO NOT sit them in front of a fire, radiator, or attempt to dry them with a blowdryer, as this can warp the skate boot.
• Every week:
  • Tighten stoppers
  • Check wheel nuts
• Every 3-5 weeks:
  • Give your boots, wheels, and plates a wipe down with a soft, damp cloth. 
  • Check your trucks and adjust as needed. They should be loose enough that you can move them with your full hand, but not so loose that you can move them with just your fingers.

Now that you know basic of roller skate maintenance, put those wheels to use! Join us for open skating sessions, weekly specials, and monthly events at Wheels Skate Center in Odenton, MD. 

Can you believe December is already here? Time sure does fly when you’re having fun, and we’ve had a lot of it this year at Wheels Skate Center! 

The holidays are all about spending time with the people you’re closest to, so make the most of the season. There’s still time to squeeze in a little more fun with family and friends to make some new memories before the new year. Check out our list of December events below and get ready for family fun in Odenton this month! 

Special Events to Celebrate the Holidays

Holiday Skate Party

When: December 14th, 2019 from 10 am to 12 pm

Join us at Wheels Skate Center for a very merry holiday party! Put on your favorite tacky sweater, don’t forget your Santa hat, and lace up your skates for a holly jolly good time with your favorite Christmas music. Bring your friends and family to rock around the rink with you! And if our holiday skate isn’t enough for you, don’t worry. We’ll also be hosting our usual skating sessions from 1 pm to 4 pm and 8 pm to 11 pm.

School’s Out Skates

When: December 23rd, 26th, 27th, and 30th, 2019 from 12 pm to 3 pm

Don’t let the holiday break pass you by without doing something fun with your friends! Instead of wasting time watching Netflix or staring at your phone, invite your friends to meet you at Wheels for our School’s Out Skate events. Admission is only $5 and includes quad skate rental. 

New Year’s Eve Celebration

When: December 31st, 2019 from 6 pm to 10 pm

Come party away the last night of the 2010s at our New Year’s Eve Celebration! It’s sure to be the best New Year’s Eve party in Odenton with great music and atmosphere. Dress to impress in your blingiest sequins and glitter! Admission is only $8, so invite your favorite people and send the year off right.  

More December Events in Odenton

Don’t just wait around for our holiday events. While they’re definitely not to be missed, we have recurring events to liven up your week. 

• Adult Nite – Every Tuesday* it’s “adult swim” at the skating rink, with 21+ skating from 7:30 pm to 10 pm. No kids allowed, the adults are skating!
• Dollar Nite – Wednesdays* are Dollar Nites from 7 pm to 9:30 pm. Come out and skate for less than the cost of your morning coffee. 
• Kid Fun Time – Saturdays* are for Kid Fun Time! Join us from 10 am to 12 pm for a kid-focused session with $6 admission. 

*Please note that our weekly events do not occur on holidays and may be cancelled or rescheduled as needed.