BUSINESS FEATURE
BY EMILY LINCKE
Jacen Langely and Cheyenne Kirby slide across the rink March 31.
Paul and Wanda Hedrick opened Skate Champions in 1984.
EMILY LINCKE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
COURTESY SKATE CHAMPIONS
Skate Champions 5504 Fellowship Lane, Spring 281-370-0750 www.skatechampions.com Hours: Tue. 5-9 p.m., Thu. 6-9:30 p.m., Fri. 5-10 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m., closed Mon. and Wed. Inline speed skating: Athletes use inline skates to race around a rink. Artistic skating: Skaters perform jumps, spins and tricks to music as part of a dance. SOURCES: BOB JUSTICE, TOPENDSPORTS.COM COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER Inline skates: skates with wheels set in one row, allowing the wearer to maneuver more quickly Jam skating: A variety of dance styles are performed while skating. ROLLWITH IT For beginner skaters, completing a lap without slipping is challenging enough, but for the more advanced skaters, there are many di erent styles of skating that can be performed at a rink. Roller/quad skates: shoes tted with four wheels—two forming a front row and two in back
Evelyn Otiniano and Dylan Thompson practice lifts while gliding around the rink at Skate Champions on March 31.
Skate Champions o ers patrons the option to rent skates or bring their own.
EMILY LINCKE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
EMILY LINCKE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Skate Champions Spring-area roller rink boasts family-friendly atmosphere F ounded in 1984, Skate Champions has provided a safe space for almost three
open on FM 1960; Paul was a skate instructor, while Wanda worked at the snack bar. Later, their son went to the Olympics for his speed ice skating talent. “It’s been a blessing to serve the families of this community through skating, and we look forward to making great memories here for years to come,” Wanda said. Today, the rink continues to welcome families through its doors o ering snacks and arcade games, in addition to skating. It also doubles as an event venue. “I’ve seen a lot of kids come through, and I think it’s really healthy for them, not only phys- ically, but for the mental health aspect of it as well,” Justice said.
While more adults began visiting Skate Champions in 2020 after picking up a new hobby during the pandemic, Justice said the environ- ment remains family focused. “I think [it] matters to families that when … they bring their kids in here, they know that they’re in a safe environment and that they know their kids aren’t going to hear or see something that’s not family friendly,” he said. In addition to public skating, the rink also o ers classes for skaters of all experience levels. “Skating has so many di erent personalities and avors and colors to it,” Justice said. “So it’s really kind of fun to see it all kind of blended together.”
generations of families to spend time together on roller skates, according to Manager Bob Justice. “This atmosphere, ... it’s kids; it’s cotton candy; it’s Fun Dip,” Justice said. “It’s all of those nostalgic things that people remember when they walk in the door. ... It takes them back to their childhood.” Located in Spring, the roller skating rink is owned by Paul and Wanda Hedrick with Justice manag- ing the location since 1999. Skating has always been a big part of the Hedrick family’s life, Justice said. The couple met at a roller skating rink that used to be
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The Woodlands Studio - 8000 McBeth Way #130 / 281-645-6580 Spring Studio Opening June 1 - 8905 Louetta Road Suite A / 281-720-6540 www.CordovanArtSchool.com
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SPRING KLEIN EDITION • MAY 2022
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