Roll With It -- Skate Nights At Community Centers Put Families On The Move

Round and round the gym they went, darting and racing and spinning their wheels in delight as "Louie, Louie" and other golden oldies played in the background.

"Did you see how smooth we're skating?" asked Sabina Altus, 12, as she and Leah Cohen, 10, slid up to Leah's mother, Lori. "We're dancing on wheels!"

Indeed, though it was the girls' first visit to Family Rollerblade Night in the Laurelhurst Elementary School gym last Saturday night, they quickly got the hang of things.

Soon they were zipping past and around Leah's parents, who readily admitted that skating is not a sport they've done a whole lot - yet.

Like many of the kids and some of the parents, Sabina and Leah came with their own in-line buckle-up skates. Leah's parents found skates to fit (and rent for $1) from the baskets of donated or garage sale-purchased in-line and traditional quad-wheel skates.

"The nice thing about these family nights is they're not crowded. They're mostly parents and younger kids," Cohen said as she stopped to catch her breath. "I'm not as intimidated as at a skating rink, where everyone seems to know what they're doing. It's great family fun."

That's exactly why a growing number of Seattle community centers have started skate nights: to provide an activity that families, with children mostly between the ages of 3 and 12, can enjoy together.

Cynthia Etelamaki, a recreation coordinator at Bitter Lake Community Center, says Friday skate nights during fall and spring usually attract at least 100 skaters. Recently the center added teen skates, for middle-schoolers.

"Families are always looking for affordable, fun things to do together, and even if the parents don't skate, they can come, watch their kids and visit with other parents," Etelamaki says.

Family skates are also offered at local skating rinks, but there are relatively few rinks in the Seattle area. Because of that, skating is a good match for local gyms, said Greg Taufaasau at Alki Community Center in West Seattle, where Friday skate nights are increasingly popular for families and where teen skates are sometimes part of weekly Saturday night activities.

Back at Laurelhurst, where community center staff supervise activities in the community's school gym, Michael Hoder, 12, and his buddies have migrated to the adjacent outdoor play court where a built-in ramp in the concrete makes a great jump for would-be trick skaters - and where they don't have to skate around toddlers and "too-slow parents."

Hoder took off on a fast sprint to the other end of the court and back, then skidded to an impressive stop just inches from the wall.

"This is a good place to skate at night. It keeps us off the streets, and even the parents have fun."

------------------- Family skate nights -------------------

Several Seattle-area community centers have started skate nights to provide an activity that families can enjoy together.

At skate nights, skaters must use clean in-line or quad-wheel skates with nylon or plastic wheels. Many people bring their own, but most centers have donated or garage-sale collections of skates to rent ($1-$2) or lend. Come early for the best selection of sizes and styles.

Though safety equipment is not required, knee and elbow pads, wrist guards and helmets go a long way toward preventing or at least minimizing injuries. Many kids wear bike helmets while skating.

Parents are asked to stay and supervise younger children at family skate nights. Middle-schoolers can be dropped off for teen skates.

----------------------------- Community center skate nights -----------------------------

Family Rollerblade Nights at Laurelhurst Elementary School gym (sponsored by Laurelhurst Community Center), 4553 47th Ave. N.E., Seattle, 206-684-7529. Indoor gym plus adjacent covered and fenced playcourt. Admission $1, rentals $1; 7 to 9 p.m. Saturdays and 2 to 5 p.m. Sundays, year-round.

Family Skating at Alki Community Center, 5817 S.W. Stevens St., Seattle, 206-684-7430. Admission $2, rentals $1-$2 (some free); 7 to 9 p.m. Friday nights through spring; teen skates some Saturday nights.

Family and Teen Skate Nights at Bitter Lake Community Center, 13040 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle, in the gym behind Broadview Elementary School, 206-684-7524. Admission $2, free skates available. Small gym for beginners, large gym for everyone. Family skates, 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. Fridays; teen skates for ages 13-19, 8:30 to 10 p.m. Fridays, through May.

Family skates at Ravenna Eckstein Community Center, 6535 Ravenna Ave. N.E., Seattle, 206-684-7534. Valentine Family Skate, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 12, then monthly family skates starting in April. Free; bring your own skates.

Family Nights at Meadowbrook Community Center, 10517 35th Ave. N.E., Seattle, 206-684-7522. These free 7 p.m. Friday programs will include monthly skate nights starting in April. Bring your own skates.

---------------- Commercial rinks ----------------

These local skating rinks offer public skates, family and teen nights and lessons. Some have Christian or ballroom music nights, hockey and broomball. Most offer birthday party and group rates. Most have weekend afternoon and evening skating; some have weekday and weeknight hours. All rent skates, or you can bring your own.

Auburn Roller Skate Connection, 1825 Howard Road, Auburn, 253-833-4040. Admission $2.50-$4.50, skate rental $1.25-$3.

Pattison's West Skating Center, 34222 Pacific Highway S., Federal Way, 253-838-5788. Admission $3-$5, skate rental $1-$3.

Roll-A-Way Skate Center, 6210 200th St. S.W., Lynnwood, 425-778-4446. Admission, $4-$5.50, skate rental $1.25-$4.

Seattle In-Line Arena, 3800 W. Marginal Way S.W., 206-937-2966.Admission $5, skate rental $5 (includes protective gear).

Skate Deck, 9700 19th Ave. S.E., Everett, 425-337-0202. Admission $3.50-$4.50, skate rental 50 cents to $1.50.

Skate King, 2301 140th Ave. N.E., Bellevue, 425-641-2046. Admission $3.50-$5.50; skate rental $1.50-$4.

Southgate Roller Rink, 9646 17th S.W., Seattle, 206-762-4030. Admission $4-$6, skate rental $1-$3.

TLC Family Skating Center, 10210 S.E. 260th St., Kent, 253-852-9371. Admission $3-$5, skate rental $1.50-$4.50.