Medusa Skates

Medusa Skates is the best. Great staff, great service, great selection. Going anywhere else is a dumb idea. Don’t be dumb.

Glitter and Medusa skates are celebrating their 3^rd year anniversary of the stores opening today.
I stopped by to say hello to the crowd, peruse the gear, have some cake, and say «Hi!» to Dexter. Wonderful female owned local business owner supporting the derby and skate scene here in Austin. Tons of gear and hands on sales and support of all the stuff they sell. Stop by and support your local businesses!

I’m pretty fresh meat and I can say that the two times I have called on Medusa Skates for some advice, Glitterotica has always been nice and helpful. She has gotten back to me-​same day by phone or text. In Austin, service can be hit or miss but not at Medusa Skates. Today I called about moving to narrower wheels with a higher durometer but that I was on a budget. Looking at derby gear could be a full time job. I told her I skate at the Bloodshed on a sport court and she made a recommendation for Prestos and told me why. I asked about ceramic bearings and she said that was an investment for later down the road because once you go ceramic, you don’t go back. Talking to her or anyone at Medusa Skates feels simple and right. This is the first time ever that I have joined an organized sport for fun and they are helping me navigate this brand new amazing world. I can’t wait to go get my Prestos and Cheezeballs!

I went by here after work on Wednesday because I’ve been wanting to get back into skating lately. There’s a problem there though, I’m a 5’5″ fat man (well over 200 lbs) on the downhill side of 35 and I last skated back when I was around 20.
After some thought, I decided I didn’t care about speed (I was a roller blade kid mostly) and I wanted to just have fun this time around. I also have some joint problems that keep me from riding a bike around Austin, so skating is a good compromise for me.
Well, that means there’s basically one shop in town as far as I can tell and this is it. When I went in the owner had a couple guys in and they were in the middle of remodeling and rehanging a wall display. Despite that, she made sure I knew that she was ready and willing to help a middle aged bastard with whatever was needed. I looked through her shop a bit and then told myself to stop being stupid and explained my situation to her. I also let her know I was likely to be doing some out door skating because I live out in Elgin and we just had a lot of our roads repaved.
She showed me a couple different skates and then we had to play the sizing game. We went through about 5 pairs of skates with her having to go retrieve most of them from the back since they weren’t out in the floor stock. She recommended me a couple of brands of beginner skate and encouraged me to try both of them on to figure out what was comfortable for me and then helped me grab some wrist guards, a tool, and some outdoor wheels and cheaper bearings to go with those for now. I also grabbed a pair of sugar skull socks for my teenage daughter because I’d been looking for something she’d get a kick out of and those fit the bill.
When I made it plain I was a little nervous about changing out the wheels and bearings she gave me her card and told me to call her and she’d walk me through it herself if needed. (I was being silly btw, it’s stupid simple to do.)
Great shop, good selection, only game in town and she’s still incredibly helpful and obviously cares about what she’s selling.

Whenever I’d go into the indie record stores as an awkward teenager, and plenty of specialty shops in the years since, a lot of times there’s this air of snobbery from employees… almost like my money isn’t «cool» enough to be spent there. (I’ve heard this happens to other people too, so maybe you know what I mean.)
Anyway, yesterday when I went into Medusa for the first time with my friend, just by default I was more or less expecting the same. I only lately took up skating again (strictly leisure for now, I bruise easily: P) and, y’know, rink rental skates are crap, so I wanted to drop a modest sum on a pair of starter-​but-​by-​no-​means-​cheesy quads. Informed consumers that we are, we planned to drop by a few places around town and just happened to start here.
My friend, who is the better skater between us, prefers inlines and there isn’t much for those here as they mostly cater to derby clientele. So while he was talking to people in the shop, I learned a ton just by looking around. (Btw, some commenters note that it’s a small space – but you know what, it’s a pretty new business, probably trying to keep overhead low, and it’s laid out really well. They don’t waste an inch of space and it looks fantastic.) Most importantly I learned some colorful new words from the knee socks display right when you walk in the door.
But seriously, I asked some newbie questions and got totally straightforward answers, tried on some Labeda’s (which I ended up buying right then!) and skated around the shop a little bit like a baby deer. Altogether, we were probably there an hour and I never once got the uppity vibe from *anyone*, patrons or staff, which is a really big deal to me.
I didn’t catch the girl’s name who rang me up – I think she might be the owner – but it was super crowded and almost closing time, so I didn’t really express my gratitude for her kindness before bolting out the door. Point being, I hardly ever smile, but according to my friend I was positively beaming when we left. Madame, in case you’re reading this, thanks. Everything about my visit to your shop was great already, but you legitimately made my day.
In summation: Love. Yep. Medusa is exactly what local businesses should strive to be, they carry relevant quality gear and aren’t stuck up about it. Go. Give them your money. Talk to them. Also, shop cats are the business so maybe pet Dexter if you get a chance (sadly I did not this time, but maybe when I go back).

I drove all the way from SA through Austin rush hour traffic with me and my lil jr derby doll just to go to the shop and it was sooooooo worth it. I got a whole bunch of stuff for only 200 bucks… but honestly online I would of paid A LOT more. My daughter was sooooooo happy and made a new friend… Dexter the cat and the store mascot. I have never said this before but I had a very pleasant bathroom experience. It was all kinds of derby pictures and decorated so cute… I know what a girl but I was in awwwww…

Lovely experience– this place made my day! Thanks to the beautiful owner and the owner’s friend, Glitter, who is derby savvy and super friendly. She showed us around and helped us try on gear. This review is short but very sincere.

Bank track rollerderby originated right here in Austin, Texas ya’ll and if you didn’t know that NOW YOU KNOW!
That being said, don’t go buying your derby gear (skates, pads, tights, skins, wheels, bearings, toe stops, or even rollerderby tickets) online, EVER!!! Why go through the headache of having to pay extra for shipping and handling when you can get anything and EVERYTHING you need right at Medusa!!! For the wheels (reals).
Medusa Skates shop owner/​derby lady/​captain of HELLCATS for TXRD/​and badass will help you find what you need without breaking your bank. Derby pads — she’s got a ton! Derby, skate, and BICYCLE helmets — yeah she’s got a ton of those too in ALL sorts of colors. Funky tights to wear while you are practicing or need for an upcoming derby bout that has devils on it and/​or glitter — yeah she’s got that too. The best thing about all of these things and more is that most likely (actually 90% of the time) EVERYTHING IS ON SALE!!! Seriously!
This is a wonderful shop with a wonderful owner and wonderful things for all your derby, skating, and bicycling (well, at least helmets) needs. Whether you are a seasoned skater or just starting out, you should take the advice of Glitterotica. She’s a pro!
Oh! OH! Take a look at the magnetic board at the register. You can post your flyers for practices, bouts, parties, and anything local. Lots of magnets to get your promo on!
Oh, and don’t forget to «Check In» on the Unilocal app. You get a free skate tool, too!

Love Glitter! She is a wonderful person and runs a very honest shop. Good variety of skates and plates. She has an amazing assortment of wheels for concrete, wood, outdoor, and sport court surfaces. She stocks for both beginner and experienced skaters whether they play roller derby, speed skate, or jam on their wheels. So glad to have a great shop like this in Austin!

Love this shop. With 2 skaters in the house (my daughter AND me) our derby costs could be astronomical but thanks to Glitter and her advice on what to get and what NOT to get it helps us a TON.
Her selection is amazing and it gets better every week.

I took my daughter in as a new jr derby member to be fitted for her first set of gear and was not disappointed. We came in under budget and Glitter was so sweet and patient since we see complete newbies!

Go BEFORE you online shop! I almost bought a roller derby starter kit online– long story short I would’ve been screwed. Glitter helped me pick out the correct items in the correct sizes AND helped me carry it to my car! This wasn’t just «Good customer service» this was a private customized shopping session with an expert.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this shop! I bought all my beginner rollergirl gear online because I thought it would be cheaper, but the shipping costs and time wasted waiting for it to arrive made me realize brick-​and-​mortar were the way to go! So when I upgraded my skates, Glitter (shop owner) was more than wiling to talk through the pros and cons of each kind of skate. She is so knowledgeable, and is willing to help a skater find just the right fit. I called her a few days after Christmas and she talked through how to clean my wheel bearings, all over the phone! This place has everything you could need as a skater, whether you’re a beginner or a derby girl.
The girls that work there are always ready to answer your questions – what should I use to wash my pads? What’s the best way to re-​lace my skate to quit putting pressure on my toes? What color helmet looks best? Anything and everything!
Pricing? Comparable to anywhere else you might shop, AND it’s quality products – nothing you’d find at Academy or Walmart. I can’t recommend this shop enough – it has everything you need for your skating experience!

I was pretty nervous about buying skates and gear, because I am basically the noobiest noob ever. When I walked into this shop I knew right away that I was in good hands. The owner is incredibly nice and helpful, and even when she was busy she still had time to help me fit some skates. She seemed to have good supply of sizes and styles on stock, and i was able to get a really good quality pair of starter skates for around $ 120. She also carries lots of high-​end skates and gear for the pros, but I never once felt pressured to go for the expensive options.

Medusa’s selection and customer service keeps getting better and better. I’ve shopped there several times over the past month, and have had no problems not only getting the products I want, but also dealing with returns when I was gifted an item that was the wrong size. Most recently, the owner worked with a friend of mine who lives out of state to build a gift bag for my birthday — subbing items that were out of stock and ordering certain builds of what I needed. Great customer service; always a good bet to shop at Medusa Skates.

I’ve been to several brick-​and-​mortar, derby-​owned skate shops, and can honestly say this is my favorite one. (Not to mention the only one in Austin.) Glitter is super helpful, and stocks everything you could possibly need playing derby. Also, she carries all the best skate brands (Bont, Antik, Riedell), so you can try everything on before you make your purchase, rather than using a size chart and hoping the boots you ordered online fit. The store is very well stocked, too — plenty of stuff to look at and choose between.

This place is great for all your rollerskating needs.
The owner Glitter is so helpful and nice she is the best.

I’ve been a loyal customer for about a year now and the service and selection at Medusa Skates just keeps getting better! Glitter has her opinions (formed from experience and with good reason), but she won’t make you ever buy anything you’re not comfortable with. Every skater has their own preferences and she takes feedback from her experiences and the experiences of others to help you determine what the best gear is for you. The selection is even better and easier to peruse now that she’s in the Hyridge location, and she’s always happy to order anything she can if it’s not in stock.
If you’re into roller derby, speed skating, artistic skating, outdoor skating, recreational skating, or just looking cute and owning a bunch of awesome socks, you’re going to have a great experience shopping here!

You won’t find a better place to buy derby gear in Austin than Medusa skates. Glitterotica really knows her derby! She can direct people to the best gear, pads, skates, plates, wheels… whatever! She also carries derby skinz, skatewear, and all kinds of really neat stuff.
Best of all, she’s really friendly, and she doesn’t mind talking with you to help you figure out what to get. You’ll save a ton of money NOT buying the wrong gear if you talk to her first.

It’s about time for a great shop to open and start helping Austin gear up and accessorize! Medusa Skates has everything you need!!!