Roller Rink in Redwood City rolls customers back to the 1970s

posted March 15, 2009

by Catherine Benson of Campanile

Annie Vought

Senior Jessica Linebarger (above) rents a pair of vintage four-wheeled roller skates at the Redwood City Roller Rink, reinforcing the rink's image as a classic 1970's hotspot

Although the sparkle of the disco era is only a memory, Redwood City Roller Rink turns back time, bringing the 1970s back in full force; a unique combination of rundown facilities, vintage roller skating and the top 20 pop songs create an experience of timeless and inexpensive retro fun.

The location of the Roller Rink is telling of the declining status of roller skating. It is nestled literally on the wrong side of the tracks in an industrial section of Redwood City.

Upon entering the roller rink, customers are quickly faced with the facility's dated decor in dire need of a renovation and with the stench of sweat and carpet mold hanging heavily in the poorly circulated air.

The building is far from impressive, with a small entryway, scattered carpeted benches and picnic tables facing the small rink, helpful for parents who need to keep a close eye on troublesome children.

Customers pay for their skating experience upon entrance, with varying fees that depend on the time, day of the week and type of skate. Prices run from a flat $6 "Early Bird" rate to $10 plus $4 for roller skates or $5 for inline skates on "Disco Night."

The roller skates themselves are neither pristine nor completely decrepit, which is common for skating facilities, while the choice between traditional roller skates and modern inline skates will drastically affect the quality of the skating experience.

The Roller Rink's traditional roller skates consist of a boot with four wheels with ball bearings, arranged the same way as a traditional car and a stopper in the front, making steering and stopping difficult.

Though traditional roller skates might be harder to get used to, they offer a unique, retro experience, while modern inline skates are found at most homes.

In contrast to the clumsy traditional skates, inline skates have two to five wheels arranged in a single line and heel stops, which make skating edges and slowing down much easier.

Customers will most likely prefer to either bring their own inline skates or rent traditional skates for a rustic, vintage experience.

After paying and choosing the roller skate type, the customer is handed a small, fair-style ticket, which is exchanged at a second counter for roller or inline skates, depending on the color of the given ticket.

Although receiving the skates is a relatively effortless process, forgetting one's socks comes with a high price; the Roller Rink charges an outlandish sum of $2 for a pair of socks.

The paneled wood rink itself has seen better days, with some warped areas and small gaps between the floorboards that need to be repaired and may be hazardous for unsuspecting roller skaters.

The rink's size is fairly small — similar to a basketball court but large enough to skate for hours without getting tired of the setting.

Maintaining the retro theme, vintage gaming systems like Ms. Pac Man, Golden Axe and Space Invaders line the far wall of the roller rink, although a sign cautions, "No Refunds on Games Play at Your Own Risk," making their reliability questionable.

Two small "party rooms" with glass windows connecting to the main sitting area are available for rent to large groups; however, with fairly small crowds, the picnic bench seating should be adequate.

On "Disco Skate" nights, overhead lights are dimmed and '70s era disco light fixtures and a traditional disco ball take center stage, casting various patterns of light of different patterns around the rink.

While the facility's decor is vintage, both in terms of disco party-esque decorations and the waiting area's outdated upholstery, the majority of music played is not. Skaters can rock out to a playlist including Top 20 hits like Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold" and Soulja Boy's "Crank Dat" along with line dance classics like "The Cha Cha Slide."

While the majority of customers appear to be couples with small children searching for alternative family fun, some obviously experienced skaters are able to simultaneously skate backwards, dance to Beyonce's "Single Laidies" and lipsync at the same time.

Although neither the facilities nor the music at Redwood City Roller Rink are anything special, the overall experience is remarkable.

Though the rundown Redwood City Roller Rink is several decades past its glory years, the establishment remains an unconventional Bay Area gem. Though most roller rinks closed their doors during the 80s and 90s, Redwood City Roller Rink and Cal Skate of Milpitas stayed open. They remain the only two rinks in the Bay Area to survive the end of the disco era.

It might seem unconventional, but an evening spent hilariously struggling to understand the techniques of the roller skate and dancing the night away to the latest hit songs is more fun and memorable than an evening spent downtown or at the movies.

In addition to Saturday night "Disco Skate," the Roller Rink also features "Contemporary Christian Music" on Tuesday evenings for a reduced price of $6.

Although the Roller Rink's hours seem somewhat random on weekdays, Friday and Saturday afternoons and nights are always open for public skating.

Some customers might be initially put off by the rink's poor condition, but those that choose to endure will be vastly rewarded.

However, a word of caution for the timid: if looking like a fool while wearing 80s garb and dancing to T-Pain does not sound like fun, Redwood City Roller Rink should be avoided — but if it does, bring a sense of humor and get ready for an unforgettable night of retro roller skating fun.