Whether charging full speed ahead or hanging onto the walls for dear life, roller skating was part of growing up—with school field trips, youth group outings and birthday parties materializing at the local rink.

Who can forget lacing up rental skates, wiping out, pulsating music, concessions, the limbo and the Hokey Pokey? Or the thrill of the moonlight skate, where hand-holding couples savored slow laps under dimmed blue lights as a love song played? And oh, the sadness when Donna Summer’s “Last Dance” signaled closing time. 

But some local seniors aren’t content to leave their skating memories in the past. Skate City’s Academy Blvd. location, the state’s oldest, still-running rink, opens its doors on the first Wednesday morning of every month for Skating to the Oldies, at the unbeatable price of $5. While all ages are welcome, most participants are over 50.

At a recent session, skaters circulated as multicolored lights swiveled up, down and around the spacious rink. “American Woman,” The Guess Who’s 1970 hit song, played, followed by “Shake Your Booty.” The mood was upbeat and fun.

“I’m here because of Cliff,” said Allen “Al” Brody, 66. 

In fact, all who skate to the oldies owe their fun to Cliff Pilcher, 78.

“It’s been going on 16-17 years,” Pilcher said. “I had words of confidentiality with the owner. I stalked his butt, and he got tired of me. He finally caved in and allowed this to happen.” 

“Cliff’s Playlist” of oldies has a place of honor on Skate City’s computerized sound system of 5,000 songs. It’s comprised largely of music those aged 60-70 remember from the soundtrack of their teenage lives.

Pilcher skates with a fluidity that belies his age. 

“Cliff is the smoothest guy out there,” Brody said.

Sporting a Super Mario T-shirt, he glides forward, then backward, transitioning between the two with ease. 

“I am in a Colorado state of mind when I’m doing this,” he said. 

It’s a true retreat from the cares of the world.

FREEDOM AND FRIENDSHIP

“I feel like people here can just be themselves,” said Fran Anderson, 50. “I can come here and do anything, and it’s a non-judgy, safe space with people that get you.” 

Brody agrees.

Senior skaters including (from left)Keith Kolb, Mike O’Donnell, Patty David and Terri enjoy a social lap around the rink to the beat of the oldies.

“It’s a fun way to exercise, be social and listen to the music we love,” he said. 

When Brody started attending the senior skating sessions, he saw Keith Kolb, 69, a friend he hadn’t seen in a decade. 

“Skating was our escape,” reminisced Kolb. He has skated for 60 years. 

“The wheels have come a long way,” he said, of the urethane popularized in the 1970s and still used today. Kolb’s career was in plastic fabrication, but as a teenager, he stumbled into a dream job as a floor guard at a rink in Addison, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. 

“I did nothing but skate and got paid for it,” Kolb remembered fondly. “Was that a win-win situation or what? I still have my badge and striped jersey.”

Brody, a retired lieutenant colonel who hosts the Loving the Springs podcast, battled stage-four cancer 10 years ago. 

“This keeps me sane,” he said. 

He skates five times a week, rolling out fancy footwork with aplomb.

“The thing about skating is, you’re not really doing it until you’re on one foot,” he said. 

A daredevil at heart, Brody also snowboards, bobsleds and rides a unicycle. He cycles on pumptracks (paved courses of berms and rollers for jumps and other tricks), Snakeboards (combining elements of snowboarding and surfing) and rides ripsticks (two-wheeled skateboards).

He once successfully rode a fat bike (referring to its wide tires) over 11 miles of sheer ice against the better wishes of the park rangers at Eleven Mile State Park in Lake George.

“I’ve watched friends going through their 70s and 80s, so take advantage of [your good health] while you can,” Brody advised. 

It doesn’t require much equipment to get started.

The skates (bring your own or rent Skate City’s) range from quad (four-wheeled) to inline, plain to fancy. 

“I got the bling,” said Pilcher with a smile, of his light-up skates.

A couple women chatted as they glided around the rink in violet skates.

“I call them the Purple Skate Mafia,” Brody teased. 

A SPECIAL SPACE FOR SKATING SENIORS

One-half of the duo, Springs native Patty David, 67, grew up skating both outside and indoors, at the now-defunct Skateland, Rollarena and Bosa Nova rinks.

Skate City was built at a time when rinks were shutting down. One night, when it was “snowing to beat the band,” David had a special first date there, with the young man she would later marry. Eventually, her roller skating took a backseat.

“I had 15 years or so where I didn’t skate because we moved out east and had horses,” David said. 

She tried ice skating, “but I’m not very good at it. I went once a week for a few years, but I wasn’t improving.” 

In 2020, David decided to get back to roller skating regularly. She prefers adults-only sessions. 

“I don’t do as well with all the kids skating around,” said David. “You feel like you need eyes in the back of your head! I’m glad Skate City is still letting us come on Wednesday mornings.” 

And David is grateful she is still able to skate. This surprises some.

“People say, ‘You still roller skate?’” said David. “But I feel like I’ll know when to quit.”

Her 35-year-old son occasionally joins her at Skating to the Oldies.

“Skating is the most age-integrated activity I’ve seen,” said Brody.  

EXERCISING ON WHEELS

Al Brody’s wife, Tamara Brody, 66, danced on roller skates in her younger years. She took tango skating lessons in 1979, and disco roller skated in Boston. Years ago, Tamara sustained a compound fracture while skating. 

“When I saw bones sticking out, I said, ‘I’m no doctor, but I think you broke your wrist!’” Al said.

Aside from a spill here and there, there haven’t been any serious injuries at the Skating to the Oldies.

Some skate unencumbered, but others come prepped and padded. 

“It’s one of the few skates where you can wear protective gear and not feel so weird about it,” said Anderson. “I’ll probably do my wrist and knee pads today.” Others wear helmets and padded shorts.

Roller skating is a great full-body workout that feels more like play than exercise. It burns up to 600 calories an hour, builds strength and endurance in the legs and core, boosts heart health and improves balance and coordination. Seniors especially appreciate that it’s low-impact and easy on the joints. Plus, it releases endorphins that reduce stress and lift your mood. 

With winter weather on the horizon, it’s an all-season activity. The temperature’s always right for rolling along on Skate City’s smooth plastic floors. 

“They still have wooden floors in Pueblo’s Skate City location and Xfinity Sports Arena,” said Mike O’Donnell. “The wood is just so beautiful.” 

It’s what every rink had back then, back when learning to stay upright on wheels was everything.

You can close your eyes and imagine it’s 1971 again as Melanie warbles, “I got a brand-new pair of roller skates” over the speakers. Kolb embraced the moment with his characteristic good cheer.

“Skating keeps you moving,” he said. “If we stop, we’re just opening up the six-foot hole in the ground. And you can talk to anybody. For five bucks, it sure beats going to a bar.”

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