Roller-skating’s revival is a rare burst of joy in troubling times – and no one is happier about it than the skaters who kept the sport alive
In April last year, as billions across the globe became extras in Covid’s pestiferous opening act, a 30-year-old actor in California unwittingly carved out an additional role for herself. Ana Coto’s 10-second TikTok clip of herself gliding blithely (and backwardly) along a suburban street to J.Lo’s Jenny from the Block has been viewed more than 16m times. Over the northern summer trend pieces popped up, noting a spike in sales and even a global roller-skate shortage.
The pandemic appeal of roller-skates is obvious, harking back to simpler times. They’re nostalgia on wheels, evoking exactly the kind of feel-good, kitsch glamour that a plague calls for. The outfits, the exercise, the online community; alone at home or at a safe social distance, it’s the perfect antidote to a world in chaos.
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