Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 18, 1993 TAG: 9307180115
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Medium
Thought of the sport often conjures up images of disco balls and Donna Summer. Or roller derby.
"Not roller derby," Anderson said. "I don't want to even be compared to roller derby!"
Anderson, 16, is competing in speed skating events at the Commonwealth Games of Virginia, held at Skateland in Lynchburg on Saturday and today. Approximately 75 athletes, ages 5 to 40, are taking part in the various events.
Roller skating has made a resurgence in the United States in part because of the development of in-line skates, often called by one manufacturer's trademark, Rollerblades.
The roller-skating competition, which also features artistic events similar to figures competition of ice skating, is making its debut at the Games.
"It's not very well publicized as far as being on TV like football and basketball," Anderson said. "But the in-line skates are really going to help. They're a lot faster."
And Anderson would know about speed. As a junior in 1991, she set a national record in the 500-meters at the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, Colo. She placed second in three national events that year and was a member of the junior world team.
The rising senior at Brookville High School said working to get roller skating included as an Olympic event was a priority among competitors nationwide.
"Roller hockey was a demonstration sport in Barcelona [in 1992]," Anderson said. "That was at least one discipline of the sport that got to be demonstrated."
An Olympic appearance would be a dream fulfilled for Anderson, who explained that competitive skaters don't have much opportunity to move up much past the amateur level.
"A couple of years ago, before in-lines, all there was was amateur status," Anderson said. "But now, Rollerblade has started sponsoring some races. There are some ways to make money in it now."
But as Gayla's father, Jim, will tell you, college scholarships are few and far between.
"There are some schools that have programs with in-line competition. It's building to a level similar to bicycling," said Jim Anderson, who owns and runs Skateland with his wife, Cindy. "If we lived in Florida, Gayla could probably make a living skating. She could skate in a competition every weekend."
For the Andersons, skating is a family affair. Jim, who is racing in the masters division (45 and older) at the Games, has been roller skating since he was a child growing up in Texas. Cindy also was a competitive skater, and Kristi, their 13-year-old daughter, is taking part in the Games.
"Skating gives me the opportunity to go out and have fun with the kids," Jim Anderson said.
Last August, the Andersons loaded up with in-line skates and headed to Bella, Russia, for a week of competition with the Russian national ice skating team.
"After a couple of days with the in-lines, they were flying," Gayla Anderson said. "They were good because [the in-lines] are so much like their ice skates.
"Going to Russia was probably the neatest thing I've done."
In August, Anderson will head to Pensacola, Fla., for the U.S. national roller skating championships. She will compete in three events, including the senior two-lady event with her partner, Jenni Brown of Roanoke.
Anderson, who trains two to three hours a day on five- to six-day cycles, said she hadn't burned out on skating like many competitors her age, and she plans to continue competing while in college.
"I'm still interested in it and have a desire to compete," she said. "As long as I can remember it's been that way."
by CNB