Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo state, the 3rd most populous city in Nigeria after Lagos and Kano state. Moreover, in terms of geographical area, Ibadan is the largest city in Nigeria.
The Yoruba tribe dominates this state, but you can also find people from other tribes. And everyone communicates in the English language. Also, you will find people from the Christian and Muslim religions.
It's popularly known as the pacesetter of the country because many things started from there. A good example is housing the first university in Nigeria: The University of Ibadan. It also has other places of interest that people can tour.
Many people love this city because of the cheap cost of living and feeding over the years. This is a plus, unlike Lagos and Abuja.
Ibadan has many activities of economic interest, and it's the fourth city with the largest economy in Nigeria. Also, it's a major trading and production centre, making it a busy place.
Even though it's a busy city, it still has several centres for recreation and relaxation. There are many places to go on tours after a long day. This includes skating rinks and clubs.
Skating as a sport was approved in Oyo state in November 2018 and is overseen by the Oyo State Roller Sports Association (OSRSA).
In this article, we'll see what rollerskating is like in Ibadan and where you can skate and have fun in the city!
Here's where to find the best rollerskating hubs in Lagos.
Wheels Rollerskating Club
Rollerskating may not have as many views as football, but it's a good way for anyone to exercise, have fun and learn something new.
There aren't many skating hubs in Ibadan like in Lagos and Abuja. Nevertheless, it has a large inline skating family: The Wheels Skating Club.
The club is open to each religion and tribe as long as you can read and understand the English language.
This club was established in 2015, overseen by volunteers, and it's popularly known for inline skating and road tours.
It's an international inline skating hub with most outdoor activities, whereby they tour the city of Ibadan. This means most of their activities are done on the road.
Although this club concentrates on outdoor and road activities, it also has its primary venue at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium (formerly Liberty Football Stadium) in Oyo state.
They aim to promote inline skating among people in Ibadan, Oyo state, and Nigeria.
The Wheels Rollerskating clubs are not limited to the rink. They do outdoor inline skating tours on the streets of Ibadan as they travel across the city.
Organising skating events and tours is one of the ways they promote inline skating to increase their number. They organise events like:
- Wednesday fun skate
- Friday fitness skate
- Saturday free-styling and other weekend activities
They always inform their members when it's time for events or tours to avoid missing out on the experience. They do this through emails, the club's website, and Facebook page.
Just like the Oyo state football teams, their second way of promoting inline skating is by getting the government involved in what they do.
They approach government agencies and work with them to promote the interest of skaters and increase the roller skating size in the city.
A big plus to this club is that it's regulated by the Oyo State Roller Sports Association (OYSRA).
Joining this club as a new member will help you become committed to the exercise. Plus, you'll have close mentorship under skaters with many years of experience.
You will be engaged in different classes and training as you gain experience that will help you over the years as you improve with inline skating.
Be free to check their website on how to contact them to get detailed information. Also, ensure that you read their terms and conditions before applying.
To join the club, you must pay a registration fee of 3000 NGN, after which you'll fill out the registration form on site. Ensure you read the form properly before filling it. After this, you can proceed to create a profile as a member of the club.
As a member, you'll be able to access their classes on different tricks you can perform with your skate. You can also go on different road tours with them that will help you gain experience.
Your skate gears are important and you must take them with you for any lesson and tour.
You can get new kits from them at an affordable price. In addition, they have different sizes of roller skates as well as different skating gear packages. So, you are free to choose the one that suits your budget.
Hi-Impact Planet Amusement Park
Most skating rinks in Nigeria are located in amusement parks and malls, just like in Lekki and Ikeja, Lagos. Therefore, visiting those places is the easiest way to find a rink.
Hi-impact is large and it's a popular amusement park which is a great tour idea. Although it's not located in Oyo state per se, it's close enough for residents to travel down for tours to have a great time there.
The amusement park is between Lagos and Ibadan expressway, opposite Mountain Top University.
The park has a lot of amazing views plus a skating rink. In addition, they have different indoor games for people to engage in. It's a good place to hang out with family and friends and experience a wonderful time. This is also a great place for school tours and excursions.
Their rink is within one of the buildings in the park. You can rent out skate shoes and protective gear if you don't have one with you. Just don't miss out on the fun.
You should also read their skating rules before setting out to the rink, so you don't violate them.
The rink is mainly for fun, so they don't offer skating classes.
They're open from Monday to Saturday between 11 am and 4 pm, and Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm. So you can always tour the place with friends and family whenever you're free.
Be part of the rollerskating culture in Abuja!
Where to Get Skating Kits in Ibadan, Nigeria
Just like football, basketball and other sports, you need to make necessary gear available for yourself to participate in rollerskating.
If you're wondering what you need for your classes, be free to talk to your instructor about it. This will help you avoid getting the wrong kits.
The main things you need to have as a skater are your skate, wrist guards, elbow pad, knee pad and a helmet. You need to take them with you for each lesson or tour. This will cushion the effect of falling against the road or any area at the rink.
All these are protective gears to keep you safe when gliding. If you love skating as well as yourself, you need to get the essential kit for the exercise.
These kits come in different types and sizes. Therefore, you must ensure to pick out the right size for yourself.
Furthermore, there are stores in Ibadan close to you, where you can get both new and fairly used skates. You can also get other protective gear from them.
Some of these stores include:
- Sports World, Abiola way
- Lifted Bond Bicycle Store, Aleshinloye
- Nike store, Amuloko
- Mikkem Sport Shop, Adamasingba
- Arena store, Challenge
- Sun-Ade Sports Equipment, Dugbe
Here's where to enjoy rollerskating in Port Harcourt.
Importance of Rollerskating
Many people view rollerskating as a fun activity which is correct, but over the years, it has been discovered to have many health benefits.
Every sports activity like football, basketball and table tennis has its benefit and rollerskating is not left behind.
You can do it while hanging out with friends, enjoying nature, and listening to good music. You can even join tours organised by skaters around you. It's a great way to get away from school, work, and life stress.
If you love and enjoy the exercise, you're doing yourself a lot of good, and it's a great way to build a healthy life.
Also, it's a great form of aerobic workout which involves all the body muscles. It is a good exercise to jump on before and after school or work.
The part of the body most used during the exercise is the leg, but somehow it has a way of engaging all the muscles in the body simultaneously. This makes rollerskating a full-body workout.
Furthermore, you don't have to panic about going to the gym or commit to a painful exercise routine to burn fat and calories. Instead, you can make that happen with rollerskating classes and activities.
Furthermore, it's a great exercise to improve your mood and mental health, which alleviates the symptoms of depression.
Unlike football, exercise can be done anywhere, either indoors or outdoor. You can decide to take it outdoor to enjoy some fresh air, nature, and your environment.
You can do it on your own, with friends or family. This will help you feel better.
Like playing football, chemicals called endorphins are released in the brain during skating tours which helps you feel good. This helps you reset your mind and become more productive. It also helps kids learn better in school.
It gives high sensory stimuli which help regulate the lower part of the brain, which in turn gets rid of stress and anxiety in the body.
In conclusion, rollerskating is a great exercise that makes people physically and mentally healthy, leading to a long life!
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