Port-Harcourt is Rivers State's capital city and the 4th most populous city in Nigeria. It's one of the states located in the south-south geopolitical zone of Nigeria, with 23 local government areas.
Also, it's a place known for fishing and local boat-building exercises. It's also fast becoming the major place with the country's most oil and gas industries.
Port Harcourt is a major site for industrial activities with many private, government and international organisations, especially those related to petroleum.
Furthermore, it has different recreation clubs, sports centres and facilities where people can participate in different events that relax the body. Examples are football, skating, golf, video games, basketball, and many more!
Parks and tourist centres are also common in Port-Harcourt, where people from different parts of Nigeria visit.
This article will tell you everything you need to know about rollerskating in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.
Here are the top rollerskating scenes in the top cities of Nigeria.
What Is the Rollerskating Culture in Port-Harcourt?
Rollerskating is a sport that involves using skates to move on rinks and other surfaces. It is also considered a fun activity.
Like other big cities in Nigeria, rollerskating is a secondary sport compared to football in Port Harcourt. This is a result of people seeing the sport as pretty dangerous.
They claim they've seen people with broken arms and legs due to the sport, thereby leading to them not supporting it.
However, irrespective of the situation around the exercise in the state, some people enjoy the activity. Young people especially. Although, there are no popular rinks and facilities for skating like the stadium for football.
Hence, most skaters in the state make it a duty to create one for their use by taking the exercise outdoors, while others do it at home, right in their space.
Irrespective of the lack of access to skating facilities and resources, skaters within the state never saw it as a discouragement to stop rollerskating practices. Some even organise new skating clubs and events among themselves.
Also, some parent who don't have problems with the sports activity usually support their kids by dropping them off at a skating club after school or during the weekends.
There have been a few rollerskating championships and game performances in Rivers. An example is the Garden City Rollerskating Championship that happened around December 2012. This public event occurred at the Liberation Football Stadium in Rivers state, now called Yakubu Gowon Stadium.
The event involved about 500 skaters competing against each other for the championships. Those who won went home with cash prizes, awards, and scholarships.
The championships event was a good scheme to give young and upcoming skaters a taste of professionalism in the rollerskating sport. But unfortunately, there hasn't been a record of skating championships in the state after this event.
Moreover, it will be a great idea for the government to provide facilities for local skaters and host more championships. Also, volunteers can revive and give the public a nice view of the sport.
Here's where to find the best rollerskating hubs in Lagos.
Where to Skate in Port-Harcourt
There aren't many places to skate in this city, as there are no rinks and only a few clubs with little visibility. The development of rollerskating rinks and clubs will be a nice way to keep the sport alive in the state.
A good place to go for rollerskating activities in Port Harcourt is the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, a major stadium in the state. The stadium is open to the public as many people storm the place and use the facilities during weekends.
The football stadium is used for many sports, from football, basketball, table tennis, track and field, aerobics to rollerskating.
There are different pitches for different exercises, and it's a sure place to get started with rollerskating practices.
You can join their skating session, where you'll be able to work with professionals that are ready to help you through learning different skating practices and effective tricks.
You also get to work with their facilities and resources as a beginner. You should check with the stadium management on how to join.
Another place to explore skating activities is the Stunt Riders Skating Club in GRA phase 2, Port-Harcourt, Rivers state.
The club supports the sport by training new and upcoming skaters of different age ranges and helping them get comfortable with rollerskating practices using the rollerblades.
As a new or upcoming skater, you need a place to share your difficulties with skating and get help with it.
They teach their students how to achieve new tricks with their skates and work their way around skating. An effective training method is used to help students learn easily and quickly.
To learn from them, you can always visit their location and check with the management to get adequate information on their training session and the payment rate.
Join the rollerskating culture in Abuja!
Where to Get Your Skating Kits in Port-Harcourt
Even though rollerskating is not so popular in this state, you can still get nice gear from the sports shops there. In addition, you can either get new or fairly used skates from the stores.
Buying a nice pair of skates is secondary but buying the right pair is important, especially if you're buying for the first time. You need to know a few things before shopping for your training kits.
You should note that skating wheels labelled your shoe size is always smaller than your actual shoe size. So, always check for the next size or try it out before buying.
You should consider the following things when getting your sports and games kit:
- Your budget
- The right size and comfortability
- Be free to choose gears that suit your style
- You should be sure of the skate to go for, either inline or quad skates. You can also get both if you want to.
- You should also decide if you want a high, middle or low-top skates
- The roller's wheel – you might prefer a soft or hard roller's wheel.
- The skate material is also important. If you want a lasting skate, you should go for leather or suede material.
Here are a few places to view and shop for skating products to get your best fit:
- Favour Sports Planet, Rumuomasi
- Rivers Sports, Ikwere road
- Master P Sports World, Aphalia road
If shopping online works for you, you can also use the online shopping method to get your kits.
Explore rollerskating in the city of Ibadan!
Safety Precautions to Take When Involved in Rollerskating
As much as rollerskating is fun, you still need to do it safely. You don't want to get yourself injured or get any bone broken. Here are a few effective tips that will help you stay safe while you have fun with the exercise:
- Wear your complete protective gear: Your helmet, knee and elbow pad, skates, and gloves.
- Use the correct skate size. This prevents your leg from blistering after the exercise.
- Maintain your skates well, and check for wear and tear at any point of use
- A prior warm-up will help you loosen your muscle which reduces the risk of tears
- Following your coach's instructions is also important
Peradventure you had a fall, following the above precautions will help keep the impact to a minimum.
Learning Rollerskating With a Superprof Tutor
We know the situation surrounding rollerskating in Port-Harcourt. However, if you like skating and want to learn something new and get the best, you should check professional tutors on Superprof.
As an upcoming skater, you need to use all the help you can get to be your best at the sport. There's no other way to do this than to get a good tutor to help your performance.
You can always take rollerskating lessons with good tutors on Superprof with a first free lesson. Also, you are free to share your learning difficulties with your tutor.
About 157 tutors on Superprof are available near you to give rollerskating lessons.
It doesn't matter if you're a student or you're working. You can always schedule your learning activities after school or work respectively.
Superprof has amazing tutors that can help you in the development of your interest in the sport. They also help you put your skate into good use while you learn new gliding tricks.
In addition, you are free to go through the profile of each teacher/skater via the Superprof website and also view other students' comments about them.
Before contacting any tutor, ensure that they meet your specification in terms of qualification, reviews and budget. All these are necessary for effective learning.
You could also choose a private or group session depending on what you want and your budget for the lesson.
If you're already into the sport and want to upgrade your skill as a skater, you can talk to your tutor about the new things you wish to learn. You'll be provided with the best resources for effective learning.
Another thing you should discuss with your tutor is availability and lesson schedule for effective learning. This will help you and your tutor conclude the lesson's time and place.
The rate of learning rollerskating on Superprof differs with each tutor and the type of session you're taking. The price ranges between 800 to 5,000 NGN per hour.
So, get a rollerskating tutor today!
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
