Roller skate instructor at Skate Base London and blogger for The Gen X Skater. Kelly interviews skaters and skate influencers within the London urban skate scene.

Meet NizM:

I was first introduced to Niz Malverite during my trip to ChicGo last May, where I had the opportunity to see him perform at the very first Legends of JB Skating showcase. Niz delivered a fantastic solo performance, representing the Middle School JB skaters and showcasing the style, energy and creativity that make Chicago JB skating so special.

This week, I hosted my very first JB workshop in London, and NizM became my first guest instructor direct from Chicago.

I have to tell you — it was an absolute blast! The energy, the JB combos, and the connection between everyone in the room made it a ttruly envigorating and memorable experience.

So, while I had the chance to spend some time with this JB legend, I couldn't resist grabbing an interview!

"JB, in my opinion, is probably the most unique skate style in the sense that it has its own built-in genre of music that dictates how it goes.

So as someone who's seen the evolution of it, the moves have gotten more creative, but I recommend anybody to come to Chicago and see foundational JB by the older skaters where it's done a little more smoother with cleaner technique."

~NizM

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Roller skate instructor at Skate Base London and blogger of The Gen X Skater. Kelly interviews skaters and skate influencers within the London urban skate scene.

Meet Michael Newson:

During my visit to Detroit, I met Michael as I was leaving the Detroit Roller Wheels skate session. As I walked through the car park, Micheal was hanging out with friends and began chatting to me as I passed. I found him to be a very warm, friendly, and open hearted character.

As the conversation flowed between us, I thought it a good opportunity to interview Michael on his perspective on Detroit Skating Culture. He was happy to oblige.

"I come to the skating rink first to skate, create, and then I socialise second - I make like-minded friends."

~Michael  Newson

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Roller skate instructor at Skate Base London and blogger of The Gen X Skater. Kelly interviews skaters and skate influencers within the London urban skate scene.

Meet Shawnee Shawn:

I first caught a glimpse of Shawnee Shawn doing her thing during the first JB Legends of the Wood event in Chicago at Lynwood Roller Rink.

I watched her glide effortlessly past the JB skaters on the large rink, seamlessly transitioning from backwards to forwards and side surfing with incredible style and grace.

Like me, Shawnee Shawn is tall and strong looking, but it was her combination of speed and elegance that immediately stood out to me. In fact, I was so impressed that I pointed her out to my friend [who was standing beside me at the time] Laverne.

It wasn’t until around a week later that I was properly introduced to Shawnee by George at The Rink. At this point, I wasn’t even looking for anyone else to interview — but the moment I looked up and saw her, I immediately began deleting files from my phone just to make space for our conversation!

"The essence of skating is freedom. I mean I fellowship with everybody in here. But ultimately when I get on the floor it can become just me, the floor and the music."

~Shawnee Shawn

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Roller skate instructor at Skate Base London and blogger of The Gen X Skater. Kelly interviews skaters and skate influencers within the London urban skate scene.

Meet Emma:

I had been in Chicago for eight days by now and was enjoying a Tuesday morning Over 25s session at The Rink — where the average age of the skaters seemed to be around 60+. It's a place where you can come along on your own, yet never feel alone - they're an incredibly bouyant and friendly bunch of people.

Early into the session, I got chatting with a smiley, vibrant woman called Emma. Emma was clearly having a thoroughly good time, effortlessly doing her thing as a social butterfly whilst she skated. She told me she was over 70 and absolutely loved skating.

Her personality was so playful, open and engaging, that I felt compelled to find out more about her skating journey. And, Emma being Emma, she instantly agreed and came to find me for a chat soon after.

"I can do it all by myself. I don't have to have somebody go out with me to the skate. I get in my car. I get in my skates and I go skating. That's it. The freedom. The freedom to be in you."

~Emma

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Roller skate instructor at Skate Base London and blogger of The Gen X Skater. Kelly interviews skaters and skate influencers within the London urban skate scene.

Meet George:

After landing in Chicago at 2pm on Monday, I wasted no time getting to the rink for my first skate of the trip later that evening. The following morning, I headed to the 10am–2pm over-21s open skate session — and that’s where I met George.

You could spot George’s presence instantly. Every few steps around the rink, he’d stop to chat with another skater, always smiling, always engaged. It was clear that skating meant far more to him than just time on wheels — it was community, connection, and friendship.

When we crossed paths early in the session, we stopped for a conversation. George proudly told me he had just turned 80 and had been skating for decades. From that moment on, I knew he was someone whose story and experience I wanted to hear more about.

"As an adult skater, there is no athletic activity that's comparible to roller skating. When you roller skate on a good session, it's like going to the health club. Going to your psychiatrist. Going to your doctor's meeting. And going to church - for $10.

"We share conversation and experiences and feelings with each other."

~George

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Roller skate instructor at Skate Base London and blogger of The Gen X Skater. Kelly interviews skaters and skate influencers within the London urban skate scene.

Meet Steve:

I first met Steve last year, as he was enjoying a jam during a social skate meet.

I can honestly tell you that he's one of the warmest and most open hearted skaters you could ever hope to meet. He's someone that really loves to jam skate. If you've ever met Steve, you'll know that he's always ready to throw down his middle work in his hockey skate conversions, teach you what he knows and learn a new move - so long as it's rhythmic.

Funnily enough, he wasn't always into the jam skating. He started out as a long distance skater 40 odd years ago, and yep, he went on to set a world record.

"I'll tell you the experience was amazing, especially Scotland, tge mountains, you could just see mountains basically. I was doing like 98 miles a day, you know. Nine days, ten hours, 25 minutes."

~Steve

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Roller skate instructor at Skate Base London and blogger of The Gen X Skater. Kelly interviews skaters and skate influencers within the London urban skate scene.

Meet Roland:

I’ve known Roland since 2022, when he first took photos of my son and me on roller skates. The skate scene was much quieter back then, and Roland was just beginning his skate photography project. Since then, he’s photographed me on several occasions — first at the skate park and at my home with my son, later in a photography studio, more recently during rehearsals for an upcoming three-day performance at The Posh Club, as well as sporadically during a variety of meets and events. Roland has also photographed my mum in her skates — at the age of 70. Come to think of it, Roland has photographed most of the leading figures and members of the skate community.

When I first met Roland, he was certain that skating wasn’t for him. But when I saw him again around a year later, he was in a shiny new pair of skates, drilling his foundation moves with a dedicated focus. Since then, he’s become just as obsessed with skating as the rest of us — it’s been beautiful to watch his passion for skating blossom.

"Roller skating has a unique ability to kind of charm and disarm people. They just really observe and get pulled into the moment through curiosity. Skating's not like anything out there." 

~Roland Ramanan

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Roller skate instructor at Skate Base London and blogger of The Gen X Skater. Kelly interviews skaters and skate influencers within the London urban skate scene.

Meet Laverne:

I was first introduced to Laverne at Gatwick Airport whilst on my way back from Skate Love Barcelona a few years back. Since then, our paths crossed a few times when meeting with our artistic skating teacher, and then — we bumped into each other again at Gatwick on our way to an artistic skating retreat in Ibiza. We became roomies on that trip, and honestly, we’ve had a beautiful connection ever since — always deep chats about our shared passion, or fresh skate skill exchanges at a skate meet.

Anyone who knows her will likely tell you the same thing; she’s charismatic, warm-hearted, generous and so so passionate about her skating — at home or abroad. And also, you better believe that Laverne is no stranger to a spontaneous skating trip. So many skaters have been inspired by her “just go for it" attitude when it comes to making the most of a skate vacay. Laverne has skated in most parts of the world and had lessons with just about every prominant instructor across the global — it's no wonder she's become one of London's primary contacts for those wanting to host international skate teachers in the UK.

Her desire to travel [prolifically] and connect with skaters all over the world, paired with her unquenchable thirst for soaking up a wide variety of skating styles has impacted her knowledge and ability to skate most styles like no one else I know.

Laverne has become quite a talking point in London, as we proudly watch her living her best skate life — creating the richest of skating experiences possible.

"I think I've now done about 25 [skate trips] in the last two years. I like to try a little bit of everything. I love skate culture. I don't know, I just like to travel and learn and meet people."

~Laverne

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Roller skate instructor at Skate Base London and blogger of The Gen X Skater. Kelly interviews skaters and skate influencers within the London urban skate scene.

Meet Skater Dredd:

Skater Dredd is a well known South London skater who has been a prominent figure in the urban skate scene for several years now. I learned about Skater Dredd a couple of years ago from skaters who were singing his praises [in big ways].

After several conversations with skaters he'd completed conversions for, I began recommending him to my own roller skating students. I've since met and spoken with him on many occasions, and realised for myself what a genuinely warm, respectful — put your best foot forward — kind of person he is. I've no doubt that such first rate personal attributes only add to the service he provides for our skating community.

So there it is, it just goes to show how creativity, while being intentional in upholding key personal values, goes a way towards building good reputation and success.

"Obviously there's a monetary value to it, but it's deeper than that. All of these people that I've built for, I'm a very small part of their skate journey, and that means a lot to me. And seeing when they progress and grow and so forth, I'm a very small part of that and I appreciate that."

~ Skater Dredd

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Roller skate instructor at Skate Base London and blogger of The Gen X Skater. Kelly interviews skaters and skate influencers within the London urban skate scene.

Meet Kat François:

My fellow Gen Xer, Kat François started skating about a year ago. We first met when she joined one of my roller skating courses, and I can honestly say that we've maintained a strong connection ever since.

As someone who's watched Kat make strides in her skating journey over this time, it's clear that she's someone who walks and skates her own path. I've seen her take on the many challenges that learning to skate across a variety of disciplines poses, and courageously carve her own way. She's fully immersed herself in UK skate culture — at home and abroad!

Perhaps Kat's background as a performing artist along with a long-standing relationship with physical fitness spanning decades has been a key factor? Somehow, I feel that these are yet more consequences of Kat's creativity, drive and tenacity. But hey, read on and decide for yourself.

"So many, good, good people, good sisters. All ages, but I'll say the majority of these are around 40 plus, people that I just never would have met otherwise. That's been the most surprising and rewarding thing, the new friendships, and the depth of those friendships."

~Kat François

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