The Lawrence Rollerblading Scene

By: Ali Cullerton (Lawrencerock.com writer)

It's a not-so-common dance upon our concrete world. It's a family with a dysfunction for living on the edge, fighting the rule-happy system, and just having some fun. It's rollerblading, it's here, and man is it growing.

The Lawrence skating scene was born and evolved in the hands of Brian White and Jason Wickershine about seven years ago. The two locals were some of the first rollerbladers to represent Lawrence on the Gator Bladers, an exhibition team from Kansas City. Once the skating scene recognized White and Wickershine, Lawrence became a place of growing opportunity for skaters young and old.

So how did rollerblading in Lawrence catch on so quickly? It seems the answer to this question lies with those who have watched the sport evolve, and choose to go with it. Word got out through individuals getting coverage in magazines, at competitions, or through video footage, and then...it exploded.

Rollerblading is a fairly new sport, and has not yet been accepted by everyone. We have all seen the ridiculous "No Skating" signs blemishing the lands of supposed public property. The Man might as well have said "No breathing," because rollerblading is life for the people whom the signs address. I think having to deal with all the bullshit is what keeps the Lawrence rollerbladers so tight. Although it's an individual sport, conquering new tricks with like-minded others makes ignoring the system a little easier.

The talent in Lawrence is stronger than ever right now. It seems as though people from all over the country have flocked here to experience the maturation of rollerblading together. Rollerblading is changing quickly. Skaters now seem to utilize much more of thir skates, and experiment more than in previous years. The main names (and beautiful people) in Lawrence right now are Jeremy Rockwell, Jeremy Morris, Todd Bluebaugh, Brandon (Bruce) Matler, Alex Broskow, Joseph School, Eric Johnson, Masher, and Adam Johnson. These guys are all within the same age group, and most attend school here at KU. The backgrounds, interests, and talents of this crew all vary...but rollerblading is what brings them together, and goodness can they fly.

The places to skate around town are limited since you can't rollerblade on campus, but if you have 'skating vision', you'll find somewhere to play regardless of your surroundings. The skate park, off of sixth street, is one main attraction for rollerbladers, and if things get old there...they head to the street. Contests don't seem to last long around here, so improv rollerblading is where it's at.

To better understand this growing scene, I spoke with a couple friends of mine, Jeremy Morris and Todd Bluebaugh, and gained a new perspective.

Morris is from Kansas City, and has been rollerblading now for almost twelve years. He is sponsored by Razor Skates, a west-coast skate based company. Morris serves as a representative for the Midwest, and spreads the word on rollerblading and Razor Skates. When I ask him what rollerblading means for him, he grins, focuses, and responds, "It's the number one outlet in my life, and as I grow my idea on skating grows as well. Rollerblading means something different to me based on where I am in my life."

Todd Bluebaugh is from McPherson, Kansas and has been rollerblading for six years. Bluebaugh skates for K2, a company that manufactures rollerblades, snowboards, skis, and bikes. He has moved a lot in the last few years, but has ended up here along with a crew of his closest friends. When I ask him what rollerblading means for him, he hesitates, and in a smiling whisper replies, "It's a peace of mind."

And that seems to ring true for most of these guys. Rollerblading is a different form of expression for each person who partakes in it. So maybe next time you see one of those kids walking around campus with their hooded sweatshirts on and their boxers hanging out of their pants, you'll have a better understanding of what is going on in their minds. They are hunting the grounds we take for granted, imagining the possibilities they could possess. They are rollerbladers...and the world is their playground.