While working on my Masters I established the main focal point of the majority of my projects as adaptive reuse, redevelopment, and the feasibility of sourcing, designing and constructing with reclaimed materials. The technicalities are one thing and the evaluation of their feasibility, both economically and structurally are another, and in many case require full lifecycle analysis in order for a conclusion to be made. With that said you’re probably wondering how this might at all relate to rollerblading. Well, it’s the concept.

Just as consumerism is running too fast for it to be sustainable, rollerblading ran faster than it could maintain. Oh, the rise and fall of rollerblading. We all talk about it. And every other person at a skatepark indirectly refers to it when they mention rollerblading. A handful of years of rapid growth and progress fueled by middle and high school kids throwing themselves off roofs and down handrails. The competition was always there and there was always someone to go bigger or be more tech than. It was great. I loved it. But it really didn’t last.

Fortunately with age and through the influence of a handful of pros that weren’t broken beyond repair, rollerblading evolved. No longer was it just about the trick but more so about the style, asthetic and experience. Rollerblading today is becoming sustainable. Look at Beau Cottington’s “Olderblading” edit that was just posted a few days ago.  Everyone, no matter what age or ability, can still put their signature on rollerblading, make it look sick, and do it well into their 30s or longer.

So with that said, here’s a handful of photos and a short little home-video-styled edit (I’m no media-tech-savvy-superstar like a lot of you out there) my good friend Kaycee Landsaw and I shot this weekend of us still living rollerblading and loving the memories were able to get from it. Luck was on our side when we pulled up and the resident that acts as security to the lay down yard was gone and the gate was open…

BEASTMASTER

PS–The photos are huge. Make yourself a desktop.