Chris Webster's favorite way to see downtown Denver is cruising at 40 mph on eight wheels. That's four wheels under each foot.

Webster is an avid in-line skater. He's part of a small but enthusiastic clan infusing this mountain state with a bit of urban sport. What Denver in-line skaters lack in numbers, they make up for in speed, daring and persistence. And they would love some company.

Using a model common in major cities on the East and West coasts, Webster and his skating cohorts are trying to build momentum for the Denver Inline Skate Club. But it's tough to compete with all the other outdoor activities the region has to offer.

"My main goal of the club is to get the social group going," Webster said. "It's fun to have an activity where you get some exercise and get to know people."

And if that involves weaving in and out of traffic and getting lost "somewhere near" Commerce City, that's even better.

Every Wednesday in the spring and summer, Webster and 10 or 12 fellow skaters meet in Washington Park and head out on what they call "street skates." One person takes the lead, taking the pack on a 10- or 12-mile tour of the metro area.

"You have to be able to handle changing lights, potholes, curbs, changing conditions . . . " Webster said. "That is part of what I enjoy; it makes it fun."

Traveling 10-15 mph on the flats, and as fast as 40 mph on descents, the group takes up a lane of traffic as it navigates the city. If the situation gets ugly (for example, a bus pulling over), it's easy enough to jump on the curb, Webster said. Members of the group wear protective padding, helmets and headlamps.

Skater Karen Kalafat said the street skates aren't for beginners, but once a skater has developed skills - and confidence in those skills - roaming the city can be a lot of fun.

"There's something about skating on the street that is more interesting. There is a safety aspect that people have trouble getting over," she said. "Once you are comfortable on your skates, you see a pothole, you jump over it. There's a stick, you skate around it. It's not a real threat if you are used to it."

Virtually all the people involved with the Denver Inline Skate Club have moved to Denver from other cities where skating plays a more prominent role in urban fitness.

They tell tales of skate clubs in New York, Washington, Atlanta, Philadelphia and San Francisco, where packs of 60 or more people form, and police sometimes close off streets. In Europe, major street skates can draw thousands of participants.

Webster said that when he lived in New York, street skates were one of the few options for outdoor thrill-seeking.

"Going 35 mph down Broadway with a cab right next to you, that is an adventure," he said.

Kalafat describes a similar experience in Atlanta.

"Atlanta doesn't have any bike paths; that is how I started skating in the street," she said. "There were no trails. We would go as a group of 30 people in the streets with headlamps."

In Atlanta, Kalafat skated almost every day; in Denver, it's a few times a week. "In Atlanta, you aren't a 15-minute drive from rock climbing," she said.

Kalafat said in Washington Park and elsewhere, Denver has far better trails than Atlanta, but she still finds herself drawn to street skating. The bike paths are not wide enough to accommodate a skater's full stride, and sharing the path with bikes and pedestrians can interrupt the fluidity she enjoys skating in the street.

Webster said trails are too predictable for his tastes.

"Sometimes it is more fun to just say, 'Let's go this way and see what happens,' " he said. "I like to do it by the seat of the pants, because you just don't know what is coming next. It makes it more interesting."

To get more beginning and novice skaters up to speed for street skates, the Denver Inline Skate Club is holding Monday night skates in Washington Park, where veteran skaters work with newcomers on developing skills and confidence.

Monday and Wednesday night groups meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Smith Lake parking lot.

For skaters more intent on building fitness than dodging potholes, there's the Denver Speed team, another small but devoted group of in-line skaters capitalizing on recreational opportunities in the concrete jungle.

"We skate for fitness and training for marathons," club member Ed Dunne said. These skaters meet three or four times a week for more focused workouts. Some club members travel out of state to compete in in-line races at marathon distance.

The Denver Speed group also uses the Denver infrastructure in creative ways. The parking lots at Invesco Field are ideal for after-work training, Dunne said. There's no traffic, the area is lighted at night, and the lots connect in such a way that skaters can do laps circling the stadium. Denver Speed workouts vary, focusing on speed, hills and endurance. Sometimes the skaters run up and down the stairs at Red Rocks Amphitheater.

The Speed team is looking to grow as well, and members need not be interested in racing.

"It's a great all-around workout," Dunne said.

Lace 'em up

The Denver Inline Skate Club and the Denver Speed team are casual, social clubs that do not require membership fees or time commitments.

• Find out more: For more information and meeting times and locations, visit www.denverspeedskating. com.

Back to Top