>>> ALL RIGHT. SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT TO TALK ABOUT HERE. THERE IS A NEW INDOOR ROLLER SKATING RINK IN NORTHEAST. IT’S ALSO, BY THE WAY, THE ONLY INDOOR SKATING RINK IN D.C. >> TALK ABOUT A THROWBACK. NEWS 4’S TOMMY McFLY JOINS US
FROM CRACKEN COURT AND SKATES IN EDGEWOOD. TOMMY, YOU CAN ROLLER SKATE? YOU’RE NOT GOING TO HURT YOURSELF, ARE YOU? >> Reporter: FIRST DAY ON ROLLER SKATES. FUN FACT, THE ROLLER SKATES MAKE YOU LOOK THREE INCHES TALLER. SO I WISH I HAD STARTED THIS 30 YEARS AGO.
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE LAND WHERE THE KENNEDY CENTER IS NOW USED TO BE A ROLLING SKATE RINK AND ARENA? THERE WERE 14 ROLLER ARENAS ALL AROUND THE DISTRICT THAT ARE ALL GONE. THE LAST ONE CLOSED 30 YEARS AGO. AND NOW ANNA VALERO AND THE TEAM
HERE AT KRAKEN COURTS AND SKATES BROUGHT SKATING BACK TO THE DISTRICT. WHY DID YOU DO IT? >> I MEAN, LOOK AT THIS CROWD HERE TODAY, TOMMY. DO WE NEED MORE OF A REASON THAN THIS? WE ARE JUST SO HONORED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE GREAT
HISTORY OF ROLLER SKATING THAT’S ALREADY BEEN IN D.C. AND TO GIVE IT A HOME HERE AT CRACKING COURTS AND SKATES. >> WHEN CAN PEOPLE SKATE? WHEN CAN THEY GET INVOLVED? WHERE ARE WE? I’VE BEEN GETTING TWEETS AND INSTAGRAM MESSAGES. HOW DO WE GET HERE? >> WE’RE IN THE BRANCH STREET
NORTHEAST DEVELOPMENT RIGHT AT 5th AND RHODE ISLAND AV AND WE’RE GOING TO HAVE SIX SKATING SESSIONS EVERY DAY FROM EARLY MORNING SKATE TO LATE-NIGHT ADULT SKATE AFTER 9:00. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE DJs. IT’S GOING TO BE A PARTY, TOMMY. >> THIS PLACE IS 70,000 SQUARE FEET.
AND WE TALKED TO SELITA COLEMAN WHO RUNS WE SKATE D.C. AND ALSO A PRODUCER ON THE DOCUMENTARY UNITED SKATES ABOUT WHAT A BIG DEAL THIS IS. >> WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BRING ROLLER SKATING BACK TO CITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND D.C.
SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE FIRST. D.C. SKATERS DIDN’T HAVE INDOOR SPACE FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, SO THEY’VE BEEN ROAD SKATING. THEY’VE ALWAYS SKATED DOWN AT ANACOSTIA PARK. AND THEN WE’VE HAD LOTS OF POP-UP EVENTS IN ROLLER SKATING. THE OWNERSHIP HERE AND THE
BUSINESS THAT BROUGHT THIS FACILITY HERE, I DON’T THINK THEY REALIZE THE CALL THAT THEY ANSWERED. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PROTESTING AND PICKETING FOR RINKS IN D.C. THE LAST DECADE OR SO. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BREATHING EASIER TONIGHT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY CAN SKATE IN THE
CITY THIS WEEKEND AND NOT DRIVE AN HOUR. >> Reporter: OH, MY GOSH. EUN AND LEON, THE TALENT OF D.C. SKATERS IS INCREDIBLE. >> I SEE. >> Reporter: I WAS THINKING, TALK TO MY FRIENDS. COMING UP ON NEWS 4 AT 5:00 WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE SKATE TALENT SHOW.
YOU’RE GOING TO SEE SOME D.C. HOMEGROWN TRICKS AND SKILLS RIGHT HERE ON NEWS 4 AT 5:00. BECAUSE IT’S THE FIRST TIME WE’VE HAD INDOOR SKATING IN D.C. IN THREE DECADES. SO WE’VE GOT TO TURN IT UP. >> I SEE SOMEONE BEHIND YOU TURNING AND SKATING BACKWARDS. YEP.
A LOT OF MOVES. >> AND THAT’S WITHOUT MUSIC. WHERE’S THE MUSIC, TOMMY? >> Reporter: WELL, WE CAN’T PLAY MUSIC ON TV. SO THAT’S WHY. >> AH. THERE’S THAT TOO. >> BE CAREFUL. BE CAREFUL. DON’T SHOW OFF. >> Reporter: WE’VE GOT SOME SPLITS AND STRETCHES. ALL THE THINGS. >> THIS IS VERY EXCITING.
>> Reporter: YOU’RE AMAZING. THIS IS AMAZING. >> THAT’S COOL. >> Reporter: I’M GOING AGAINST THE CURRENT. WE’RE HAVING A BLAST DOWN HERE AT CRACKING COURTS AND SKATES. >> WELL, DON’T DO ANY CRACKING INTO THOSE
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