The Skating Mamas And Anyone Who Skates of SCV

During the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, back in early 2020, lockdown was happening on a worldwide scale. Most college universities shifted to online learning and almost all children were forced to learn from home. At the same time, lockdown in the workplace resulted in more people being able to spend time at home and with family. Businesses worldwide were forced to shut their doors and start operating remotely, leading to unforeseen consequences.
One of those consequences has been the meteoric rise in popularity of roller-skating. With vacant parking lots and streets everywhere, many people were stuck at home watching TikTok videos all day. One of the most popular videos from early 2020 depicts the popular skater Ana Coto – @anaocto – casually dancing while roller-skating down LA streets to Jennifer Lopez’s 2002 hit Jenny from the Block. According to NBC News in May 2020, Coto was credited for reviving the hobby for the new decade. In fact, many major skate manufacturers had huge waitlists and shortages for customers, and it was common for new skaters to be waiting weeks or months to get their hands on a pair of roller-skates.
Due to supply-chain prblems during the pandemic as well as the influx of new community members, new factories had to be opened in the US to keep up with demand. During this time, lots of new skate groups were being formed all over the country with people ready to develop new skills and learn together.
In early February 2021, Dawn Walker founded the Facebook group “Skating Mamas And Anyone Who Skates of SCV” in order to find other moms who wanted to join in with their newfound hobby of roller-skating, and in less than a month it had gained 450 members. As of writing, the group boasts a roster of over 1,700 members, all who are interested in roller-skating within Santa Clarita. It started as a group for moms who wanted a fun activity to pick up during quarantine, and turned into an inclusive introduction into a lifelong hobby and community. They still meet up and skate together every other Saturday (weather permitting), and bring a welcoming environment for anyone wanting to learn.
During the middle of the pandemic, this author graduated from college with a degree in anthropology. Freshly unemployed with no ceremony to send me into the world, I felt lost living back at home with my family. That’s when I too, like so many other people, bought my first pair of skates and fell in love with the sport. With my doctor’s approval and an adult-sized helmet, I started seeing major progress in my skills and my mental and physical health. The act of getting outside and making new friends helped me get through what would have otherwise been a really hard time. Now, post-pandemic, meeting with the Skate Mamas and local friends to skate together once or twice weekly has been the reprieve and outlet we all needed during such unprecedented times.
For more information please visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/787939971848033/ or @skatingmamasofscv on Instagrama 

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