Last summer, I wrote a guide to roller skating in Ottawa, sharing some of the best places for roller dancing, trail skating, park skating, and roller derby in Ottawa. Since then, the community has continued to expand, and plenty of new developments have happened! Here’s an update on what’s new and exciting in the local roller skating community.
Rideau Rollers: Ottawa’s new roller skating store!
Ottawa has a roller skating store again! Located in Chinatown at 787 ½ Somerset St. W, Rideau Rollers opened its doors this month as an independent skater-owned business. Owner Alysha Gardner explains why they decided to open their store: “When I started roller derby, I bought my first pair of skates from Neon Skates, our local skate shop. When Neon Skates closed during the pandemic, it was a huge blow to the local skating community. They were a community hub with knowledge and expertise. Shopping online is okay for some things, but it doesn’t produce the same joy as walking into a store full of roller skates, or walking out with a big bag of new gear!”
Skates at Rideau Rollers. Photo courtesy Alysha Gardner.
Rideau Rollers has already become a favourite spot for many of Ottawa’s roller derby athletes and park skaters, with its selection of wheels, skate park gear, and protective pads, but the store also offers many affordable options for new skaters, including recreational skates for outdoor and rink skating/dancing, in a friendly and welcoming environment.
“We have most sizes in stock, so you can try them on and make sure the fit is good,” says Alysha. “Everyone is different and wants different things from their skates. These are all quality skates that will last years.”
Alysha emphasizes the benefits of having a skater-owned brick-and-mortar store where you can shop in person: “I’ll tell you if I’ve tried a particular product or I know someone who’s tried it. I play roller derby and skate at the skate park, so I have some idea of what different skates, wheels, etc. are good for. We have replacement parts for all the brands we carry. If you destroy your plates and you need them replaced for a derby game on the weekend, I will be up at night swapping those plates so you can skate. We have relationships with every major skate brand, so we can order in niche things. Want a custom ColorLab boot on a SureGrip Lo-Ride plate? We can do it. We sponsor Ottawa Valley Roller Derby and Kingston Roller Derby. It’s all for the good of the community, to keep skating alive in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario!”
4 Wheelies: Ottawa’s roller rink
Ottawa has recently opened up a roller rink! I had the opportunity to try out their new smooth dance floor during their pre-opening event for media and influencers on June 22. Older folks who remember Ottawa’s Skateway and the Skadium roller rinks from the 1980s can relive their youth, and all those roller dancers practicing moves in their kitchen during the pandemic lockdown can show what they’ve got on the dance floor! Read a review of the 4 Wheelies experience here.
Where else can I dance? Other upcoming roller dance parties
Ottawa Quad Session Roller Skating has been running roller skating social sessions for years now. They offer rental skates, fun tunes, and the friendliest folks with some of the best roller dance moves in the city—but it’s also a beginner-friendly environment with a designated beginner’s section. Their regular sessions run on Fridays from 9-10:45pm in the Norm Fenn Gym at Carleton University (tickets here). But they’re also hosting a few special roller parties this summer, too:
- Saturday, August 5, 2023: Poolside Vibe Roller Party at Lansdowne Park in the Horticulture Building: the all-ages session are 5-7:30pm (tickets here), and the adult sessions are 8:30-11pm (tickets here)
- Friday, August 25, 2023: Pride Roller Party, in the Norm Fenn Gym at Carleton University, 5-8:45pm (Follow OQS on EventBrite for updates)
Ottawa Roller Derby is also hosting a “Movie Night” themed roller disco fundraiser on July 29 at the Jim Tubman Chevrolet Sens Rink (2185 Arch St) from 7-10pm—follow Ottawa Roller Derby’s Instagram and Facebook for more details.
Roller derby bouts: The joy of knocking people over on roller skates
If you haven’t seen a roller derby bout, it’s worth checking out! Roller derby is a full-contact sport played on roller skates, where teams skate on an oval track, and one designated skater on each team (called the jammer) scores points by passing members of the opposing team. The opposing team will try to stop the jammer from scoring points by slamming them with hip checks, chest blocking, shoulder hits, etc. The games are always fun, inclusive, and family-friendly, often with sports announcers calling out the plays.
Ottawa Roller Derby vs. Kingston’s Skateful Dead. Photo: Darren Stehr.
Ottawa’s two roller derby leagues, Ottawa Roller Derby and Ottawa Valley Roller Derby, have already started their bout seasons, so there are plenty of chances to see some impressive roller skating athletes in action!
- Saturday, July 22, 2023: Double Header at St Laurent Complex (525 Coté Street), with Ottawa Roller Derby playing the first bout, followed by Team Ontario versus Les Bûches (Ottawa Roller Derby)
- Saturday, July 29, 2023: Ottawa Valley Rapids versus Toronto Roller Derby, followed by an open league scrimmage (Follow Ottawa Valley Roller Derby for more details)
- Saturday, August 12, 2023: Ottawa Valley Roller Derby bout/scrimmage (Follow Ottawa Valley Roller Derby for more details)
- Saturday, August 19, 2023: Ottawa Roller Derby bout, more details to come (Ottawa Roller Derby)
Where else can I enjoy recreational skating?
The City of Ottawa runs several roller skating drop-in sessions—bring your own skates!
- Lois Kemp Arena, 200 Glen Park Dr, Blackburn Hamlet, Mondays, 6-6:55pm (family sessions), 7-7:55pm (adult sessions)
- Lansdowne Park, Tuesdays, 7:45-8:45pm
- Jim Tubman Chevrolet Rink, 2185 Arch St: different time slots every day (see schedule for details)
CIB Ottawa also occasionally organizes informal meetups where skaters embark on skating adventures along Ottawa’s bike paths, streets, and skateparks. They will likely change their skate crew name soon, but join their Facebook group to follow their adventures!
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