I started roller skating as a junior in high school in 1969 in San Diego, CA. On the weekends, I would hop on the public transit and go down alone to the local skating rink to skate. While skating, I would also watch the more experienced skaters move gracefully around the skating rink doing this style of skating called ‘Rexing’. 

The dance style of ‘Rexing’ was done in two forms:

1. ‘Freestyle Rhythm Roller Skate Dancing’ is a style of skating where the skater or skaters skate continuously in a backward motion while forming an hourglass and incorporating rhythmic maneuvers.
2. ‘Spot Rexing’ is a style of roller skating where the skater stays within a 12-foot-diameter circle while making a figure-eight pattern and incorporating rhythmically prescribed steps and movements.

In 1970, I saved enough money to purchase my first pair of roller skates. After many hours of watching other skaters skate and asking a lot of questions, I soon gained enough confidence in my skating skills that I began going to the rink every weekend. I soon became so fascinated with the rhythmic Roller Skate Dance Style Of ‘Rexing’, that I soon joined a Rexing club called the ‘Nomads’. In my first few months of competitions, I placed second in men’s singles at the junior level division in the state of California.

I then graduated from high school and took off for college in Seattle, Washington, at the University of Washington. I was somewhat heartbroken to leave San Diego, but I knew I had a plan to make a difference and improve my life. Anyway, to my big surprise, there was a skating activity where they converted a basketball gym into a place for skating at the University of Washington in the IMA building, and that had been in operation since 1965. The activity of roller skating was offered every Friday and Saturday evening.

After skating there my first year of college, I soon applied for a student part-time position, and It wasn’t long before I became the ‘Student Coordinator’ and took over the skating activity, turning it into a skating program. I then put together a plan to make the skating sessions more entertaining for their participants. I then created skating classes to teach students, facilities, and staff how to skate. I taught basic fundamentals that included body balance and skate movement, as well as rhythmic dance moves, steps, and routines. I was the student coordinator for the skating program and taught skate classes for 6 years, even 2 years after I had graduated.

Through the years, I have been a warrior in helping to make the ‘Northwest Skating Community’ a fun, safe, and learning atmosphere for all to enjoy. I have created and developed many adult skating programs related to skate classes for the past 50 years throughout the Greater Seattle area. My philosophy toward skating has always been therapeutic in nature. It is my hope that participants in my skate workshops will have a therapeutic experience from the music and lyrics being played during class time.