A recent trip back to South Jersey to visit family brought me to the Rollway Rollerrink for the first time in about 20 years. As a current roller derby skater in LA, I needed to make myself skate to keep my endurance up. I entered the building and was immediately whisked back to my 9 year old self. Nothing had changed.(except, unfortunately, they painted over the clouds and rainbows that used to be on the walls!) The skate rentals were still there,(and possibly the same skates that i used) the concessions were still the same, and on a Friday night, the place was hopping with 8 – 13 year olds. The kids seemed to be having a blast. They were without their parents supervision and loving it. The music was still the same top 40’s Q102 mix, and they offered backward skate, backlight skate, the Ghostbusters skate… I couldn’t believe that the owner remembered me from when I took skating lessons two decades ago. Everyone was super friendly, and I felt fortunate to meet and talk with some of the employees there who remember and used to watch original roller derby! *Just a VERYIMPORTANT heads up for my derby sisters — if you’re coming here to free skate, WEARYOURKNEEPADS. I was taken out by a 10 year old and tore my PCL. That was almost four months ago and I’m still recovering.