Living a healthy lifestyle can sometimes feel like a chore, but the best way to stick to your healthy habits is to find ways to make them a little more fun! When it comes to physical activity, it’s especially important to find activities that get you off the couch without making you dread your next workout. Fortunately, roller skating is a great way to get exercise while having fun!

Health Benefits of Roller Skating

• Build your core – Roller skating engages your core abdominal muscles, making it a great way to work out your abs without doing boring crunches. You might not even notice it, but maintaining your balance requires you to flex and hold abdominal muscles that you might not normally engage.
• Like leg day, but fun – There’s no need for leg day when you skate regularly! Roller skating can strengthen your leg muscles, including quads, hamstrings, hips, and calf muscles. Bonus – you will also be working on your glutes without suffering through squats.
• Don’t endure, build endurance – Tired of slogging through yet another boring mile on the treadmill? Come to Rainbow Skateland and skate your heart out to get a fantastic cardio workout while having fun, listening to your favorite music, and experiencing a party atmosphere.

There are so many reasons to roller skate, but what better reason than your health? Check out our schedule and invite a friend to join you for an evening of skating fun that also happens to be a fitness routine. You can also follow us on Facebook for updates, events, and more!

August is National Family Fun Month. That makes now the perfect time to visit your local Lockport skate center!

Believe it or not, making time for family activities isn’t just about fun. Spending time with your kids also strengthens family bonds, relieves stress, builds self-esteem, and can help children learn healthy social and emotional behavior.

Skating is also a great way to get some exercise. It’s a complete aerobic workout that involves all of your body’s muscles. This makes it the perfect way to have some family fun and squeeze in a little exercise, too.

Of course, Rainbow Skateland offers a lot more than just skating. Our Bounce Zone boasts plenty of bouncers, mazes, slides, and obstacle courses for children up to 54 inches tall. It’s a great way for the little ones to blow off some energy and has convenient seating nearby for the rest of the family.

If you’re looking for an activity that the whole family can get in on, consider a round or two on our miniature golf course or our laser-tron! We also have an arcade Game Zone featuring plenty of video games and family classics such as air hockey and foosball. After you play, your family can redeem their tickets for fun toys, prizes, and candy at The Stuff Shop.

Are you ready to celebrate Family Fun Month in Lockport? If so, plan your visit to Rainbow Skateland today. Check out our schedule or contact us at 716-507-4381 for more information about our many family-friendly activities and attractions. We hope to see you and your family soon!

We bet you love roller skating as much as we do. It’s incredibly fun, great exercise, and a blast to do with friends. But, did you know that roller skating has a very interesting history? Before heading to Rainbow Skateland, check out the history of roller skating:

Roller Skating in the 1700’s & 1800’s

Before America was officially a country, roller skating was born! Here are a few highlights from roller skating in the 1700’s and 1800’s:

• 1743: Roller skates made their debut in a London stage performance.
• 1760: John Joseph Merlin was credited with creating the first roller skate.
• 1819: Mr. Petitbled patented the first roller skate design. Though this creation was impressive, these skates were not very maneuverable.
• 1857: The first public roller skating rinks were opened in London.
• 1863: James Plimpton improved on previous roller skating designs and created the quad skate.
• 1875: The sport of roller skating is born! England held its very first roller skating competition.
• 1876: The toe stop was created which roller skaters still use today.
• 1880’s: America experienced her first roller skate “boom” period.

Roller Skating in the 1900’s

A lot happened in the 1700’s and 1800’s concerning roller skating and roller skates. But, the adventure was still only beginning. With more development, precision, and engineering, roller skates transformed into an incredible tool that millions of people began to use for fun. Check out a few highlights from roller skating in the 1900’s:

• 1902: A public skating rink opened in Chicago. Over 7,000 people showed up for opening night!
• 1977: Roller skates appeared in a German DEFA movie called Die zertanzten Schuhe. (More roller skating movies have been made since then such as Whip It and Roll Bounce.
• 1980’s: Scott Olson created the company Rollerblade, Inc.
• 1983: Roller skating received incredible recognition when President Ronald Raegan declared October as National Roller Skating Month.
• 1993: Roller skating safety increased tremendously when Rollerblade, Inc. created Active Break Technology.

Since 1993, more changes and developments have been made. But, one thing remains the same: people all over the world love roller skating! So, come to Rainbow Skateland today to get your skate on! Check out our hours here.

You likely know by now that roller skating is a very beneficial hobby. It has incredible mental, emotional, and health benefits! To amp up your roller skating game, you should try several roller skating tricks or even take skate lessons at Rainbow Skateland.

Check out three simple roller skating tricks that you can learn this summer:

Skating Backwards

If you want to learn how to skate backwards, you will be able to master it through practice. To make things easiest, start at the wall. Keep your chest angled toward the ground and tighten your abs. Push off the wall and take small steps backward. After you feel comfortable with this step, push off the wall again and take strides backwards (instead of steps). To gain momentum, let your hips do the work! Continue this step until you feel comfortable not using the wall.

Jumping

Jumping is one of the first tricks you can learn after you’ve mastered the art of gliding and falling correctly. First, you’ll want to take several powerful glides to get your momentum going. When you feel confident, bend your knees and put your feet close together. Push off the ground and jump straight up. When you feel yourself coming back down, make sure to keep your knees bent. This will help you land correctly. When you land, continue your glide. (This makes you look super cool and helps the landing be smooth.)

Spinning

Spinning is a fun trick that can impress your friends. First, find an open area where other skaters won’t bump into you. After taking several gliding strides, act as if you are making a tight turn. But, instead of straightening out your roller skates, continue gliding while your skates are turned. When you want to stop, just point your feet forward!

Every great skater needs a place to practice cool roller skating tricks. So, head to Rainbow Skateland today for the perfect place to practice! Check out our hours, grab some friends, and have hours of endless fun.

Nothing ruins a great roller skating experience like a blister. It can last for several days which makes it tough to walk and skate! So, it’s good to know how blisters form and how to prevent them.

Blisters form when the skin is rubbed the wrong way or if there is an excess amount of friction. A protective layer of skin bubbles up over the affected area and fluid collects in the bubble. The blister acts as a bandage until the wound has healed, so don’t pop it! If you’ve developed a blister, treat the area with care. But, in the future, consider these helpful tips to avoid getting blisters:

Wear Socks

Unless you bring your own roller skates to Rainbow Skateland, you’re likely renting them from our selection. When you put on the roller skates, make sure you are wearing socks that are thick and go past your ankle. If your socks are too thin or too low, blisters may occur.

Choose the Right Skate Size

If you wear skates that are too tight, there will be friction against your feet and roller skates. Friction is another cause of blisters. Choose a skate size that is closest to your shoe size. If it’s too tight, swap them out for a bigger size!

Use Extra Protection

If you have sensitive skin or just want to take extra precaution to avoid getting blisters, place blister pads on blister-prone areas. These pads will give you extra cushion that your socks may not be able to provide.

Now that you know how to avoid getting blisters, head over to Rainbow Skateland for hours of fun. Check out our schedule, invite your friends and family members, and have a blast at the rink!

April is National Volunteer Month – a celebratory month where thousands of people give back to their community! Are you searching for ways to get involved?

Check out these ideas that we know you’ll love:

Host a Fundraiser at Rainbow Skateland

Are you looking for a fun way to raise money for a local non-profit or charity? Host a fundraiser at Rainbow Skateland in Lockport, NY! When you set up your fundraiser with us, your group will get money back for every admission. Invite your friends, family, and neighbors to get involved. We won’t be surprised if it becomes an annual event!

Clean Up a Trail or Park Near Lockport, NY

Get your kids involved in Keep America Beautiful Month (April) by bringing them to a local park or trail. Talk to them about how important it is for everyone to take part in cleaning up the community and keeping nature beautiful. There are many parks near Lockport, NY, from which you can choose. Here are a few beautiful options:

• Rollin T Grant Gulf Wilderness Park
• Town of Lockport Nature Trail
• Royalton Ravine County Park
• Ellicott Creek Island Park
• Niawanda Park

This is a great opportunity to give back to the community and let your kids get much-needed fresh air! If you’d rather get involved with a local organization, you can do that too! By finding the right volunteer opportunity, you’ll likely meet new friends and find a new hobby.

After enjoying the outdoors, bring the family to Rainbow Skateland in Lockport, NY! We can answer any questions you have about hosting a fundraiser at our skating center. Contact us today with your questions.