Dallas Kurtz is one of few people that truly lives the Blade Life. Every day, Dallas gets paid to skate as one of the head blade instructors of Alien Inline, a company that travels around Alberta, Canada, educating school children on the basics of rollerblading. As well as showing them the basics, Dallas plants the seeds of our lifestyle by showing them a few tricks before he leaves…
A typical day in the “classroom” involves teaching the students some basic skills, playing lots of games, and more often than not, a version of “dodgeball” on skates. Before the day is done Dallas makes sure to throw down some grinds and a few spins to show the kids that they’re more to skating than just rolling around… or hockey. “Every kid is positive about getting a chance to rollerblade in school, but you definitely come across kids that think rollerblading isn’t cool; however, once they get to meet you and see what you can do, their minds change quite fast,” Kurtz says. From Kindergarden to Grade 12 and the occasional university student, everyone gets excited about the possibilities of what blading offers when Kurtz shows up.
With concern about the next generation of skaters and growth in the industry, Alien Inline has definitely made an impact on the youth of Alberta with rolling. Over a ten-month school year Kurtz alone will teach over six to seven thousand students. Kurtz has already seen the hard work of Alien Inline paying off in his hometown of Calgary. Teaching students over the years, he has seen many of the same kids pick up blading and return the next year, enjoying it that much more. Out of all those students he estimates that close to a hundred have at least tried aggressive skating, if not switched over to it. “Even the skateboarder kids, if they don’t start rollerblading they at least respect it,” says Kurtz.
Enthusiastic rollerbladers like Dallas Kurtz, showing new groups of kids that there is more to rollerblading than they think, and the efforts of Alien Inline are an example of just one way grassroots efforts can and are making an important impact on the future growth of our sport.
“It kind of opens up their eyes to what’s out there and what rollerblading is,” says Kurtz, “the best thing ever!” — Chris Wedman
1. BS Royale to Mute 180
2. Fishbrain
3. Sweatstance
All photos © 2008 Chris Wedman
fuck yeah dallas!
thats a mad azz idea that ll definatly bring the next gen in rollers and spread from there like domino’s… ive had that idea cross my mind but havent really put it into action due to other events happening. but ill be sure to try this in Australia. get a myspace page for people to join as new commers or as instructors in their own town/city or country even.
I work and skate with Dallas every day for the last 6 years Dirty D is Calgary!
r.p.t. What!
RPT WHAT! yo dallas… holla from dallas tx.
its your boy tex
Excellent, this is exactly what we need more of not only in Canada, but in the US, Europe and everywhere else rollerblading is possible. This is a great example of someone really trying to make a difference in our sport.
respect
dallas remember when you came to dallas…….. that was sick
nice and good work!
but i didnt get enough information about what he is doing exatly? what does it means “he teaches kids”? is there any chance of u explaining it more so we can do something alike?!!
I believe that we must start one of those programs in schools around the U.S.
Oskars, Alein inline sends dallas in a brand new van full of rollerblades to a different elementry/secondary school everyday, where he gives each kid a pair of blades to roll around on in the gym all day.
sick D-KURTZ!
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.p.t.
Outstanding shots and writing. Dallas is a terrific skater and the program should be a must for school kids in phys ed.
The pix of Dallas jumping off the pipes with school stuff in background is a marvellous touch and displays what Dallas is all about. Keep up the good shooting and skating.
jack mumbles
Dallas, you must have had a wonderful Mother. (smile) GREAT STUFF !!!!
Dallas is da shiznit!!
I agree with all of the above. Especially the part about Dallas’s mother. She is wonderful. (She drove me to the skatepark a few times.) Good job Chris and Dallas.
holllaaaa dallas im hella proud of you… this is in on behalf of ya fam in vancity
After some of the shit I have seen you bust this season you earned this Dallas. It good to see someone you know get the respect they deserve. Keep it real Holla
good job little bro! You always had a great attitude and your affliction for rollin’ has been mad crazy! An inspiration for sure and one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met – mad skillz!
You Rock Dallas,You are not just a great saker but an awsome Person.
ROCK ON Dallas!! keep showenem how its done
Dallas, you a g. now Im gonna tell you why you a real G, not fake, you a REAL G dog. Thats why you my homie, Dallas, cause you a REAL G, not no fake hoes up in here. REAL. Im on my way up 35th right now dog. You better be ready to roll holmes cause I got the camera and sum wax and a little dab of that ooo-ee. but whats up now? what the fuck is up?
Hey, neph… whoda thunkit?! I bet that time, as a baby, when you went flyin down that flight of cement stairs in the now outlawed baby walker (and we were all freaked outta our skulls!!) I now believe that you musta been thinkin ‘hey, man… wheels and stairs… whata rush! I could make a career outta this!’ And that you have. BRAVO!! Ain’t that just like you… to see the UP side of EVERYTHING!! Keep it goin!!!
