RI:CK WLKY’S CARAY GRACE GIVES US AN INSIDE LOOK AT LOUISVILLE’S ROLLER SKATING SCENE AND A LOCAL RINK GOING STRONG 50 YEARS LATER. >> IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH WILL BOUNCE, THIS STYLE OF SKATING IS JUST LIKE THAT BUT VERY REALISTIC. REPORTER: IT’S ON THIS HARDWOOD FLOOR AT ROBBEN’S ROOST SKATGIN
RINK WHERE VINCENT EASLEY SPENT MUCH OF HIS CHILDHOOD. >> I HAD A COUSIN ABOUT FOUR YEARS OLDER THAN ME ALREADY COMING AND HE INVITED ME TO COME ON A FRIDAY NIGH SESSION. REPORTER: EASLEY LIVED IN WES LOUISVILLE, BUT SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN EAST LOUISVILLE WITH HIS COUSINS, AS HIS MOTHER
ENCOURAGED HIM TO EXPLE OUTSIDE OF HIS NEIGHBORHOOD. HE FOUND COMFORT AT THE ROOST, WHERE HIS LOVE OF SKATING DEVELOD.PE >> I WOULD JUST KIND O LISTEN TO THE BEACH, KEEP SKATING, GO AROUND A COUPLE TIMES, FOLLOW PEOPLE AROUND AND FINALLY I JUST CAUGHT ON. ♪ REPORTER: WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY
NIGHTS ARE FOR ADULT SKATERST ROBBEN’S ROOST. THIS IS WHEN YOU’LL SEE THE BEST OF THE BEST. THE ONES WITH A TRUE KNACK AND GIFT FOR SKATING. IT’S ALSO WHERE YOU WILL FI SOME OF EASLEY’S MENTORS, THE GUYS WHO TAUGHT HIM THE MO ABOUT THE ART OF SKATING.
>> ALL MY LIFE I GREW UP SKATING. EVY CITY WE WOULD GO TO, THEY RECOGNIZED LOUISVILLE. REPORTER: FOR 50 YEARS, EVERETT BRADFORD, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS JUNE, HAS BEEN SKATING AT ROBBEN’S ROOST. HE WAS THERE WHEN IT OPENED IN 19.71 NOW, HE’S A GUARD WHO WATCHES OVER THE RINK. >> THE THING ABOUT SKATINGS
YOU CAN ALWAYS SKATE. REPORTER: AND THEN THERE’S GEORGE JONES, WHO IS KNOWN AROUND THE ROOST AS WEASEL, LIKE JUNE, HE’S SKATED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND NOW DOES MORE WATCHING THAN SKATING. >> I HAVE BEEN DNGOI THIS SINCE I WAS 10, SO WHAT IS THAT, 64 YES. I NEVER DID WANT TO STOP.
I SKATE. REPORTER: SKATE STYLE H CHANGED DRASTICALLY OVER THE YEARS, AND DIFFERENT CITIES ACTUALLY INFLUENCE SKATE CULTURE. >> LOUISVILLE IS MOSTLY KNNOW FOR RIDING THE RAILS. ANDREW: — REPORTER: LOUISVILLE’S SKATE CLUB, THE RAIL RIDERS, HOST AN ANNUAL EVENT AT ROBBEN’S ROOST THAT ATTRACTS SKATERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
EASLEY, WHO HELPS ORGANIZE THE EVENT, SAYS THE PANDEMIC ACTUALLY PLAYED A ROLE IN MORE PEOPLE LACING UP SKATES AT HOME. > ONCE CONA HIT IT TOOK A LOT OF SKATING AWAY, AND WITH THE RESURGENCE WHERE PPLEOE SEE IT ON COMMERCIALS, TV, MOVIES, ROLLERSKATING IS SUCH A CULTURE
SHOCK TO PEOPLE WHERE IT IS ENERGETIC. SOME PEOPLE JUST WANTT OUT. REPORTER: IT TOOK YEARS FOR EASLEY TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE HE IS NOW, BUT IT’S SOMETHING THAT WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF HIS LIFE. IT IS MY ESCAPE FROM THE REALD. WORLD, ALL OF MY WORRIES, ALL OF
MY PROBLEMS, ANYTHING THAT CAN BE A NEGATIVE IMPACT IS LEFT AT MY DOOR AND I AM FREE FOR THE AMOUNT
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