National Roller Skating Month Campaign Rolls Out: "Fitness and Fun Come in All Sizes"

The Roller Skating Association International encourages kids from 1 to 100, of all shapes and sizes, to get active during the month of October in celebration of National Roller Skating Month at one of over 1000 nationwide participating roller skating rinks! End Quote

(1888PressRelease) October 01, 2014 - The Roller Skating Association International (RSA) is celebrating National Roller Skating Month a little differently in 2014. This year, they have made their long-standing fight against childhood obesity a part of the festivities. Member skating rinks will be hosting month-long events, as well as a special weekend-long event this October 10-12, 2014 by skating a million miles in honor of National Roller Skating Month (NRSM).

This year's theme, "Fitness and Fun Come in All Sizes," is an important message that anyone, no matter what size or shape, can find fitness and fun at one of over 1000 nationwide rinks. The RSA wants people to know that roller skating is one of the few activities that provides a complete aerobic workout for over 640 of the body's muscles - especially the heart.

Families, kids, and teens are encouraged to dedicate themselves to achieving an active lifestyle and join the RSA as we roller skate a million miles during National Roller Skating Month. To find your nearest skating rink, please go to www.rollerskating.org and use the rink locator.

ROLLER SKATING POPULARITY SEES MAJOR UPSWING
"Roller skating has been seeing an enormous rise in the last several years and industry experts agree that we're on the brink of another roller skating boom. From music videos and commercials to sitcoms and reality shows featuring roller skating, you are now more likely than ever to see pop icons like Justin Bieber or Beyonce spotted at your local skating rink.

Roller skating has recently been featured on So You Think You Can Dance with roller skating sensations, Breaksk8. This form of skating blends breaking, hip-hop, dance, animation and fluidity for amazing feats of agility and artistic talent. Groups are traveling across the country taking part in this energetic and creative form of roller skating - we anticipate you'll be seeing more of this entertaining skate-dance style in the media in 2015," says Lynette Rowland, Director of Communications for the Roller Skating Association International.

Jam skating or breaking isn't the only form of roller skating to hit the scene. "Slolam skating is a new form of roller skating taking off and is expected to see an increase in popularity in months to come. This form of roller skating uses cones, twists, turns and music to entertain huge crowds that are showing up for these events. We are seeing a resurgence of adults returning to this favorite activity, for both fun and fitness," said Jim McMahon, Executive Director of the Roller Skating Association International.

"These adults now bring their children to enjoy one of their favorite activities together as a family. With the rise in popularity of roller derby, speed skating, roller hockey, jam skating or break skating, slolam skating and artistic figure roller skating, roller skating centers are opening throughout the United States and abroad at an rising pace to keep this popular family and fitness activity alive."

TURNKEY PROGRAM TEACHES ALL AGES HOW TO ROLLER SKATE
The Roller Skating Association encourages families to get to their local skating center and look for the giant floor chart (seen here) donated to all RSA member rinks by Crazy Skates asking "What's Your Size?" This fun chart allows skaters from 1-100 to see which skate size they'll need and will be posted year-round.

While there, skaters are encouraged to ask if the skating rink participates in the Roller Skating Association's Super Skater Program, which teaches beginners how to roller skate correctly and awards pins for accomplishments.

Skaters should also ask if they can be a part of the Roller Skating Association's Roller Skating Achievement Program - a turnkey program designed for rinks to teach people of all ages how to be a better roller skater and earn pins and awards for accomplishments for up to 15 different levels of skills - including gold.

Students can choose from artistic skating, speed skating, or roller hockey. There's even a National Roller Skating Championships held every year by USA Roller Sports recognized by the United States Olympic Committee. Member rinks can help skaters take the first step to becoming better roller skaters or even work towards becoming a national champion - just ask your local rink how you can participate or if they'll offer the program.

FITNESS FACTS ABOUT ROLLER SKATING
- Roller skating is equivalent to jogging in terms of health benefits, caloric consumption, reduction of body fat and leg strength development.
- Just one hour of moderate roller skating burns 330 calories for a 143-pound person. If that same person skates vigorously, he will burn up to 590 calories in an hour.
- According to a study conducted at the University of Massachusetts, skating causes less than 50 percent of the impact shock to joints compared to running.
- According to Dr. Carl Foster, associate professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, skating as a form of exercise is as beneficial as running or cycling.
- A study conducted at the Human Performance Laboratory in St. Cloud State University in Minnesota found that skating develops muscles in the entire upper leg, rear end and hip, as well as lower back. Muscles in the upper arms and shoulders are also developed when arms are swung vigorously while skating.
- According to the American Heart Association, more vigorous aerobic activities, such as roller skating, done on most days of the week for 30-60 minutes - are best.
- The Consumer Product Safety Commission found that roller skating is almost twice as safe as playgrounds, three times safer than football, four times safer than bicycling, and five times safer than basketball.
- The National Institute for Fitness and Sports claims that roller skating works most of the major muscle groups - gluts, quads, abs, calves and arms.

We are proud to announce that the Roller Skating Association International has garnered the support of The President's Challenge Program and Let's Move Program with the mission of keeping kids active and healthy in a safe environment.

The President's Challenge is a program that encourages all Americans to make being active an important part of their everyday lives. No matter what your activity or fitness level, The President's Challenge Program can help motivate you to improve. For more information, please visit www.presidentschallenge.org or call 1-800-258-8146.

Let's Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady, dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. For more information visit http://www.letsmove.gov.

The 2014 National Roller Skating Month campaign is sponsored by: Pacer, Pepsi, Crazy Skates, Sure-Grip International, Vanilla Skates, KidsSkateFree.com, JBL Trinity Group and is supported by the Let's Move Program and the President's Challenge Program.

For more information or interviews about the Roller Skating Association International, the state of the roller skating industry or other industry facts, please contact: Jim McMahon, Executive Director, at 317-347-2626 Ext. 104 or jmcmahon ( @ ) rollerskating dot com.

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