Gipp Arena seen in this Gazette file photo

LAURIUM — Roller skating has officially rolled back into the spotlight, and it’s lighting up screens across the world! This is according to the Skate Moore Skate Center, of Moore, Oklahoma.

And Laurium is keeping up with the rolling trend.

On Monday, Laurium announced that it is bringing back roller skating to the George Gipp Ice Arena during Summer 2025.

“We are so excited to bring back this parks and recreation opportunity to our community members,” said Village Manager Ian Lewis.

Village Accounts Clerk/Deputy Treasurer Megan Jackman said that while the promotion is for roller skating, roller blading is also allowed and is open to all ages.

Jackman said that while the skating program is not hosted by Keweenaw Roller Derby, derby skaters are also welcome to utilize the time for additional practice.

Like the splash pad project, the roller skating program is part of the Get Active Initiative, which looks to provide more parks and recreation based opportunities to individuals throughout our community and the surrounding communities, Lewis said.

While roller skating may seem to be just another retro fad, opinions from across the country are noticing something more than just a recurring fad.

As Skate Express, of Chino, California, stated on its website in Feb. 2024, the return of roller-skating’s popularity can largely be attributed to an increasing sense of nostalgia enveloping today’s culture. As people yearn for simpler times and traditional, screen-free activities, roller-skating remains a joyous reminder of carefree youth and the magic of togetherness.

“Roller-skating embodies a timeless spirit of joy, community, and togetherness that endures across generations,” states Skate Express. “Its triumphant return to popularity, further bolstered by advances in technology, highlights how skating remains relevant even in today’s fast-paced, digitally-driven age.”

At the same time, the digitally driven age is, at least partially, credited with the resurgence of roller skating.

In his LinkedIn.com article, Consumer Trend: The Re-Emergence Of Roller Skating, Bob Zurek, credits social media, TikTok and Instagram with the resurgence of roller skating. But he also credits the revival of fashion trends from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.

“Bell-bottom jeans, neon windbreakers, and vintage-inspired roller rinks are making a comeback, creating the perfect aesthetic for a new generation,” Zurek wrote. “The appeal of analog activities–film photography, vinyl records, and now roller skating–signals a broader movement towards experiences that feel tangible and authentic.”

As roller skating’s popularity has skyrocketed, so has demand for roller rinks, Zurek wrote. Cities across the U.S. are seeing a resurgence of these iconic venues, with new rink openings and old-school rinks experiencing a renaissance.

Lewis said that currently, roller skating hours will be held every Monday between 4 and 8 p.m.. The first session will be held Monday and it will run throughout the Summer.

The cost to roller skate is $3.00 per person.

The village of Laurium requests if anyone or an organization would like to volunteer to help run a shift during roller skating hours, please feel free to reach out to the village staff at 906-337-1600 or via Facebook messenger.