Respect Earns Respect (by: Nikki Elliott)

Skate Sessions wants to thank Nikki Elliott (Nin ~Freestyle Roller~ on Aggressive.com) for her submission to the site.

So before I start ranting, I know of our sports history. If you do not know then please check out this documentary called Barely Dead. (note: Barely Dead is available for download right here at Skate Sessions)

There are many types of rollerblading, but most people only recognize two which are Recreational skating and Aggressive skating. Personally I do something called Freeskating/Freeriding.

Free skating: Also known as urban skating or free riding. Includes many tricks such as jumps, slides, and grinds. The emphasis of free skating is getting from A to B by the fastest possible route, by skating quickly through city streets and negotiating all obstacles.

Here are a few examples of freeskating:




Nicolas COLLIAUX Skatepark de Rouen, Freeskate Edit 2011 from SEBASKATES on Vimeo.


Now I noticed a lot of people who I showed what freeskating was trashed it completely. They would say things like "gay" and "stupid", etc. But isn't that what a lot of people think about rolling in general?

A lot of people ask me why rollerblading is not respected amongst others.

You want to know part of the reason why people can’t respect our sport? It's because we cannot respect ourselves. You hate on anything and everything that isn’t on a aggressive skate. People need to open their eyes and get their heads out your asses. We are all in it for the love of rollin and yet you want to trash other’s style?

Until we learn to respect each other and the skill and hard work it takes to do what we do whether on aggressive skates or slalom/freeride skates, we will remain underground.

It wouldn’t fix all our problems as far as the underground issue, but I’m tellin you it would make things a hell of a lot better for us rollers.
Roll 4 life.