Superstitions are something it seems almost every athlete faces in one way or another. With hockey players taking the cake, of course, with some of the most bizarre superstitions imaginable. I could imagine though that rollerbladers, who generally follow a normal routine when skating, develop thier own superstitions or beliefs when on their blades.

My superstition is something I unfortunately developed the hard way… by falling. Which is why if my wheels slip, hit a rock or a crack, or just get caught up on something in the first three initial strides of skating up to an obstacle, I have to turn around and give it another go. I know it may seem weird, but for some reason in the past, every time I continue on skating after a slip-up I always fall or extremely miss a trick in a weird unusual fashion.

For quite some time now this superstition has been intertwined into my skating, and will most likely stay with me the rest of my skating days. Now it’s time to acknowledge and confront your superstitions. In the meantime… keep BLADING! — Dan Barnes

Photo © 2009 Nick DeMarchi