We get asked all the time about why we have such restrictive rules regarding the types of wheels we allow or more specifically, don’t allow.
In February 1956 Harry, of Harry’s Roller Rink, laid down a 2.25 inch solid maple floor. It is tongue in groove and not a nail to be found anywhere. The floor is what makes a roller rink special and because of Harry’s solid investment almost 70 years ago, the floor here, at what is now Moonlight Rollerway, is in as good condition now as it was when it was first laid.
This floor has seen many world champion artistic skaters roll over it. We have had skaters from Argentina, Spain, Italy etc. come just to practice here because of our pristine floor. It is for that reason that we have so many rules regarding our floor.
No gum in the building – Everyone likes to chew gum, no one wants gum stuck to the bottom of their skate wheel. We know most people are respectful and won’t let their gum out of their mouth but unfortunately there are those that won’t or can’t keep it in their mouth and for that reason we do not allow any gum chewing in the building. We have gum frogs predominantly placed at the entrances and on the skate rental counter to collect your gum should you forget.
No small, mini or micro wheels – The rule is that if your skate can roll over 3 stacked US quarters without knocking any down, then your wheels are cleared for our floor. The reasoning is that with the smaller wheels the trucks are lower and run the risk of scraping, scratching or gouging the floor. Again, we know most skaters are proficient and careful when using these wheels, but unfortunately there will be some who are not and for that reason we do not allow wheels that do not pass our 3 quarter test.
No bolts sticking out of your wheels (quads or inlines) – If you take a turn to quick or lean to far or fall it is too easy for a bolt sticking out of your wheel to cause a scratch, scrape or gouge on the floor. Once again, we know that there are skaters who will be very careful, but then there will be those that will not. For that reason we do not allow bolts sticking out of your wheels.
No fiberglass wheels – As we are an artistic rink, we keep our floor sticky to assist in jumps and figures. We do not have a surface that is conducive to sliding. Fiberglass wheels are the hardest, most slippery wheels made for sliders and experts only and not recommended for sticky coated surfaces. They can also be so slick they could cut through the coating and create slices, or gouges, and for that reason we do not allow fiberglass wheels.
No sliding – see fiberglass wheels.
If your plate has a place for a toe stop or brake you must have something there – We understand conventional toe stops can be intrusive to some skaters and that you can’t spin or flex completely and proficiently with one in place. However if your plate has a spot for a toe stop or brake and you leave it empty, now there is a bare metal that can unfortunately gouge or scratch our floor. We know you are a proficient skater, but everyone falls, everyone slips and that is a chance we are not willing to take. Our Pro Shop sells toe stops and toe plugs which are smaller to fit your skate. There is also a “no stop plate” available to order through the Pro Shop.
No food or drink on the skating floor – This should really be common sense, but it’s not. Food or drink on a skating surface could cause the floor to be slippery if spilled (I know you promise not to spill, the cap is on the water bottle etc.), it could also cause damage to the floor if water were to seep in to one of the grooves of the floor and get below the surface. This isn’t usually an issue during public session because most proficient skaters are aware of these dangers, but if you have ever been here during a film shoot you know it is the biggest offense.
No Hoodies Worn Over the Head – The reason for this is that we do not allow skaters to wear headphones while on the skate floor. With headphones, you are distracted and not following the same rhythm and flow of the other skaters, you are unable to hear the whistle of the floor guard and the announcements of the DJ. If you are wearing a hoodie over your head we cannot be certain you are not wearing headphones.
In the roller skating business, the floor is a huge part of the reason for being. We take a lot of pride in our floor. Without these rules we would be just another roller rink in the Los Angeles area. That’s not our goal. Our goal is to make sure this floor is around for at least another 70 years for all to enjoy.