Aiden Emler (left) and Addy Emler were among the more than 130 skaters at the Simic Recreation Center over the weekend. Teresa Erickson, board president, reported, "Things went well!"
Goldie Bushnell (center front) appears to confidently skate at the Simic Recreation Center. She uses a skating "wheeled walker" for assistance as she learns to skate. It has been several years since the Simic Recreation Center was open. Thus, there is a new generation learning to skate with the reopening of the skating rink.
Stella Crocket was among the more than 100 people who skated at the Simic Recreation Center this week.
With the Simic Roller Skating Rink reopened and a new generation of youngsters learning how to skate, I thought it might be appropriate to share the following from the Nov. 27 issue of the Nelson Gazette. I expect many of today's skaters do not understand nor use the proper code.
I was never an accomplished skater and it has been 40 or more years since I tried. However, should I decide to risk life and limb at the rink, I still have the shoe skates I purchased when the Simic opened in 1979. As one of the founding board members, I was allowed to buy the skates at rink cost with the initial skate order. Other than being dirty from being stored in the garage attic the skates are like new.
When it comes to my skating interest, my dreams are always bigger than reality. About 60 years ago I got the bug to learn to ice skate. About the same time, combination ice skating and tennis courts were built in Superior's City Park and the open area between Kansas State University's Marlatt and Goodnow dormitories.
I thought ice skating would be fun and purchased from the Blauvelt sporting goods department a new pair of ice skates. My father and grandfather were both good ice skaters. Grandfather once skated from Hardy to Superior and back on the Republican River. After an ice storm Dad skated from his home on the stateline southwest of Superior into high school.
As a college student, I didn't have much opportunity to master ice skating. I doubt the new skates I have were used more than once or twice. The combination courts may work in more northern locations but they were not appropriate for this area. Seldom was it cold enough to keep the water on the combination courts frozen.
And now for the proper skating signals from 1884:
As roller skating is quite popular in this city (Nelson), the new manual for carrying on flirtation predicts this exhilarating sport will be of interest to many of the belles and beaux who read The Gazette. The following are according to Hoyle:
One leg in the air means catch me.
Two legs in the air means smashed.
Hitting the back of your head with your heels means I am gone.
Laying on your back means assist me.
One skate in your mouth means too full for utterance.
A backward flip of the heels and a sudden cohesion of the knees to the floor indicates a suppliant.
Suddenly placing your knees horizontally on the floor like a letter V indicates I am paralyzed.
To pick your teeth with the toe of somebody else's skate has reference to the fact that you are off of your proper base.
And now you know the proper signals for roller skating.
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