Blog - Rainbow Skateland

How to Stay Healthy During the Cold Season

December 15, 2015 by Taylor Mcglamery Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year again – the dreaded cold season. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that each year millions of Americans suffer from colds. Unfortunately, there is no cure for a common cold and the lifecycle of a cold can last anywhere from 7-10 days. The best medicine for a cold is to rest, stay hydrated and stay away from others.

The cold virus is spread through germs; however, you can help slow the spread of these viruses by following a few simple steps:

Wash your hands often. When washing your hands scrub for at least 20 seconds. If you don’t have access to soap then use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. If you have been in contact with someone sick then touching your eyes, nose and mouth is an easy way to transmit someone else’s germs into your own body.
Stay away from people who are sick. This may seem obvious, but can be the most difficult to adhere to especially when you are constantly surrounded by people at work, in the grocery store and at home. Use your best judgement and if someone looks or sounds sick keep your distance.
Stay home if you are sick. Don’t risk passing on your cold to those around you.
Clean and disinfect surfaces you touch often. This tip will ensure others around you aren’t as susceptible to catching your cold.

By following these simple tips you can fight the spread of the common cold. When visiting Rainbow Skateland always follow these guidelines to ensure a healthy, germ free environment for yourself and other skaters!

Reasons to Skate at Rainbow Skateland this Winter

November 20, 2015 by taylor Leave a Comment

The holidays are coming up quick aren’t they? It seems like there’s all too much to handle at times, whether it’s planning a holiday party, trying to catch up at work, shopping for gifts, you name it. But lucky for you, we think we can help out! Here’s how:

Your kids need exercise! Isn’t it terrible that the sun sets at 5 pm now? After school, it’s difficult for the kids too get outside and get some exercise with limited time. Because Rainbow Skateland is indoors, you’ll get the chance to get the kids running around; and get them out of the cold, which leads into our next point!

It’ll keep the kids warm. Having the kiddos outside in this cold air is a recipe for catching a cold. Having the kids inside will lessen the chance of getting sick! We sanitize everything and make sure to keep our facility as clean as possible, so you won’t worry about all those germs festering inside.

Rainbow Skateland is the perfect place to bring in the kids, so don’t hesitate this holiday season! You can check out our hours on our site, and check back at our Facebook page for updated events, specials and more! Have any other questions? Give us a call at (716) 507-4381.

Have an Upcoming Group Gathering?

November 6, 2015 by taylor Leave a Comment

If you are looking for a venue for your next group event or meeting, consider Rainbow Skateland located in Lockport, NY. We have accommodated all types of groups including Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, sports teams, workplaces, churches, schools and many more!

Ideas for Groups at Rainbow Skateland:

Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts – If you’re part of one of these organizations, why not plan a fun skating party and fundraiser to help your cause? Our fundraising events can help you reach out to the public for donations and may help you to earn some new patches or badges!

Sports Teams – Is your team looking to simply have a fun gathering or do you need a space to celebrate the end of the year? We’ve got you covered there!

Workplaces/Businesses – Has your boss tasked you with finding the perfect place for your next team building event? Why not try teambuilding on rollerskates? Studies have shown that teambuilding proves more effective when coworkers are placed in fun, non-stressful venues, outside of the office. Plus skating can offer much-needed exercise if you’re used to sitting at a desk all day!

Schools/Churches – A group roller skating event is a great opportunity for those who typically only meet at church or at school to come together and hang out in an exciting, family-friendly environment.

These are just a few ideas for how Rainbow Skateland can turn your group gathering into a memorable event! For more information and pricing for group bookings, please call us at (716) 507-4381.

Lace Up for Comfort!

October 23, 2015 by taylor Leave a Comment

Improperly fitting roller skates can be extremely frustrating, and if you are a beginner, it can bend that learning curve even more than it already was. But a skate that doesn’t fit quite right, doesn’t always mean that you selected the wrong size for your foot. While this is a very definite possibility, you may also just need to simply adjust the laces. Like skates, feet come in all different shapes and sizes, and sometimes minor tweaks need to be made. Rainbow Skateland in Lockport, NY wants to see everyone in our rink having nothing less than a great time! So, follow these lacing tips if you are someone who is struggling with this.

High Arches? If you have really high arches that cause the tops of your feet to be raised a little higher than most, relieve that pressure. Roller skates are supposed to be a little snug, but not uncomfortable.
Is your heel slipping? If this is you, and you have been fitted for skates by someone who is knowledgable, try this lacing technique that will help alleviate this issue.
Toe problems? Let’s raise them up a bit! This particular lacing method will help to alleviate hammer toes, toe corn, nail problems and any other painful toes issues you might experience with your toes.

Join us at our rink! Check out our schedule, and plan your next visit!

Why Weight Loss With Roller Skating is the Best

October 9, 2015 by taylor Leave a Comment

Did you know that roller skating is equivalent to running and jogging in terms of its health benefits and reduction of body fat? That’s right! In fact, you can expect to burn between 300 and 600 calories during a full hour of roller skating depending on your pace. See, fun things aren’t ALWAYS bad for you! At Rainbow Skateland, we think that roller skating is one of the funnest paths toward a thinner waist line around. See why you should check out roller skating as a great weight loss method!

Why Weight Loss With Roller Skating is the Best!

Fun – The American Heart Association recommends that we perform 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week to experience results. The much time with an exercise you dread can seem like an eternity, so switch it out for something you like, such as roller skating!
Not Alone – It isn’t always easy to find someone to join you on you quest to be healthier. That’s what makes roller skating so great! There will always be someone to share the rink floor with you. Chances are, you will find someone with the same goals you have, and you can motivate one another.
Inexpensive – Joining a gym, in many cases, can be a hefty financial burden for many people. Not roller skating! Visiting our rink is a really inexpensive way to get your exercise in.

October is National Roller Skating Month!

September 25, 2015 by taylor Leave a Comment

The Roller Skating Association International (RSA) will be kicking off National Roller Skating Month with the theme “From the Rink to the Rings”. It is an important message that roller skating isn’t just America’s favorite pastime, it’s also a stepping stone to a healthier and brighter future. In addition to the poster model, Chad Hedrick, winningest speed skater of all time, many famous Olympians began in the roller skating rink including Apollo Ono, J.R. Celski, Brian Boitano, Jennifer Rodriguez, Derek Parra, Brittany Bowe and more. This year’s poster represents the road Chad took to become an Olympic medalist starting with his years of training in the roller skating rink to winning five Olympic medals and 52 titles as a World Champion Inline Speed Skater.

The RSA wants people to know that roller skating is one of the few activities that provides a complete aerobic workout for over 640 of the body’s muscles – especially the heart. To kick off the celebration early, the RSA spent the weekend in New York at Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play sharing with more than 5,000 children the joys of roller skating! Families, kids, and teens are encouraged to dedicate themselves to achieving an active lifestyle.

The RSA is encouraging participants to post their photos to social media using the hashtag #NRSM to show their roller skating adventures!

President’s Challenge and Let’s Move Show Support of National Roller Skating Month

We are proud to announce that the Roller Skating Association International has garnered the support of The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and Let’s Move Program with the mission of keeping kids active and healthy in a safe environment.

The President’s Challenge is a program that encourages all Americans to make being active an important part of their everyday lives. For more information, please visit www.presidentschallenge.org or call 1-800-258-8146.

Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady, dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. For more information visit www.letsmove.gov.

The National Roller Skating Month Campaign is sponsored by: Pepsi, JBL Trinity Group and Kids Skate Free and is supported by the Let’s Move Program and the President’s Challenge Program.

Blog originally posted at http://www.rollerskating.com/blog/celebrate+national+roller+skating+month/10

The Perfect After School Activity: Roller Skating

September 18, 2015 by taylor Leave a Comment

School is done for the day, the homework is completed or there was none at all. Your kid has nothing to do. The result of this is often a gravitation towards video games and other similar activities. If you find your child has no productive after school activities, there is a solution: take them roller skating! Grabbing some rink time is a perfect alternative to video games and binge watching television. Here’s is why you should make Rainbow Skateland your next after school destination!

Reasons Roller Skating is a Great After School Activity

Great Exercise – Instead of being sedentary on the couch, let’s get up and get active! Roller skating is recommended by the American Heart Association as a great aerobic activity.
It’s Fun – Though most don’t think of exercise as being fun, roller skating is the perfect mix of both!
Affordable – You might be thinking “This all sounds great so far, but isn’t it expensive?” No! Going to the rink is a very affordable and fun outing. This enjoyable evening out won’t break the bank!
Social – Roller skating is a great way for your child to see current friends and make new ones! If you have made a recent move, hitting the rink might be a great way for your child to meet new friends and work on their social skills!
Better Brain for School – Studies have shown that regular exercise is a great way to boost the brain’s cognitive function. Regular roller skating could lead to better school performance! (It doesn’t get any better than that!)

Take a look at Rainbow Skateland’s most up-to-date schedule and hit the rink!

Be Social with Rainbow Skateland!

September 11, 2015 by taylor Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever been to Rainbow Skateland, then you know all of the fun we have to offer at the rink; from laser tag to roller skating, there’s something for every age and every person to enjoy.

At the rink, you know what to expect and what you’ll find, but do you know what to look for from Rainbow Skateland online? You can get the behind the scenes scoop on all the happenings at our facility in Lockport, details on our latest events, and more right here on our website, social media and blog!

We would love to see each and every one of you every day, but with hectic schedules, it isn’t always easy to make it to the rink on a regular basis. That doesn’t mean we can’t stay in touch though. Here are some ways you can keep up with what we are doing and current events and trends in the world of roller skating!

Facebook – Like our page and receive the latest of what’s happening in our facility. Join the conversation by commenting on our posts or send us messages.
Twitter – Follow us on Twitter for more posts and current news from the industry! We invite you to retweet any posts that you like.
Google Plus – You can also keep up with us on Google Plus. Leave us a review and see what others are saying about us as well!
If you need to book a birthday party or just have any general questions, you can contact us directly at 716-507-4381 or stop by in person at 1109 Lincoln Avenue, Lockport, NY, 14094.

3 Tips for Skate Maintenance

August 28, 2015 by taylor Leave a Comment

Whether you buy your skates from Rainbow Skateland or you already have your own skates, you want them to last as long as possible. Follow these following maintenance tips and your skates will continue to operate in top form for years to come!

When you first receive your skates, perform an initial maintenance check.

Make sure the wheels are properly attached, the nut in the wheel is firmly screwed in and there’s no give between wheel nut and wheel.
If your skate is a quad, check to make sure the toe stop is adjusted to your preferred height.
For quads, you’ll also want to check the tightness of the truck (the place between the wheels) and tighten that bolt as well.

After every skating session, check the wheels, wheel nuts and bearings.

Make sure the wheels of your roller skates have not become loose; tighten them if they have. A loose ride is a dangerous ride so keep your wheels tight.
Ensure the bearings are not wet. Wet bearings will rust or corrode. All grime or rust should be cleaned with rubbing alcohol; do not use dish soap. Dish soap will damage your bearings.

When necessary, perform additional roller skate maintenance.

When your ride is less smooth, check the wheel bearings. Some skate dealers have wheel presses that will remove the bearings, but you can also use a screw driver. If your roller skate bearings don’t spin well, they need to be lubricated.
Once the bearings are removed, you can wash your wheels in hot water with dish soap. (Dish soap damages bearings.) After your skates are completely dry, you can put the bearings back in.
Smell can be eliminated with fresh air and sunlight. Leave the insoles of your skates fully exposed to the sun to remove odor. Baking soda may also prove a viable remedy.

If you take the time to care for your roller skates, they will last for years and be smooth riding for a long time. If you invest the time into roller skate maintenance, you won’t have to invest the money into a new pair of skates.

Quads v. Inline Roller Skates

August 21, 2015 by taylor Leave a Comment

When choosing roller skates, you have two options: classic quads or the skates with two pair of wheels, or inline skates, with one row of wheels in the middle of the skate. Both types of skates are popular at Rainbow Skateland.

Many of the basic tips for how to skate are the same with both quads and inline roller skates. Skating with either one is essentially stepping forward and rolling the foot back, regardless of where the wheels are placed.

The primary difference between the skates is braking. Stopping with quads is done with the toe, but with inline skates, stopping is done at the heel. While both skates are propelled forward by the same step-like motions, stopping with quads means leaning forward onto either of the toe stops. Some beginners find that more difficult, rather than pulling back to lean on the heel.

Where you roller skate, and for what reason you skate, you should determine the type of skates you choose. Consider the following:

Quad roller skates

Meant for in-door skating
Slower
Not typically supportive for the ankles
More stable

Inline skates

Meant for exercise and speed
Optimal for skating outside
Made of hard plastic that encases the ankles, offering excellent support
Wobbly and require learning some balance

While quad roller skates are more nostalgic for many people as roller derby skates, the spread of the wheels means that even tiny obstacles are more likely to be a problem than with in-line skates, whether it’s a crack or a rock. Broad, smooth surfaces – like a skating rink – are the best places for use of quads.

While inline roller skates do require some balance, the wheels are faster and made for speed. With the skates all in a line, it’s easier to avoid obstacles, even the small ones, both from the decreased likelihood of hitting it and the maneuverability to swerve. When you’re looking for speed skates, you’re looking for inlines.

Whether you are in the process of learning to skate or choosing the right skates for your skating style, these tips will help you enjoy skating to its fullest potential. For more information stop by our Pro Shop next time you are in to do a little shopping and ask us any questions that you may have.