Skate World

Wow. They’ve done a complete remodel and have re-​done the rink floor. The re-​design allows people to sit in booths along side the rink. Arcade area expanded and re-​vamped AND a multi-​leveled «jungle gym» play area with netting to keep the kids inside (think Chuck E Cheese, on a much larger scale). The DJ booth is closer to the rink and they have a projector and movie screen with music videos. Put on your neon and glow bracelets and go check it out for yourself.

Note: I’m writing this not as a skater, but as a parent of a skater.
My kids have gone to skateworld since they were in late elementary school. The owners, Lee and Nicole, run an extremely tight ship, and somehow manage to provide a positive and safe skating experience for hundreds of Tallahassee kids between 8 –18 most evenings of the week, and Friday/​Saturday nights. There is a strict dress code, profanity is prohibited, and there is law enforcement supervision on Friday and Saturday nights. These are the reasons that I had no problems dropping off my elementary school-​aged kids to skate on Friday nights until 11 p.m. for the past 7 years.
The rink is clean, well-​maintained, and the floor is great. Skateworld also runs two speedskating programs, one for Beginners on Tuesday-​Thursday evenings, and one for Advanced, on Mondays and WEdnesdays. The rink also offers hockey several evenings during the week. Lee and Nicole are amazing coaches and work well with kids from ages 5 to 20. Involving my son in this program has been a truly wonderful experience, and Lee/​Nicole work hard to teach the kids not only how to skate, but how to be good teammates. Sportsmanship is a major component of what the young people learn in this program. So, if you think you have a budding Apollo Ohno on your hands, you should definitely consider enrolling him/​her on the Southern Speed Team.
As a mom, I cannot emphasize enough how much I appreciate the management of this rink, their commitment to the kids who use their facility, the quality of the supervision that is provided to the kids, and the values and ethics of the owners. Tallahassee is lucky to have a place like this for kids to spend time on the weekends.

The facility was in good shape, including the floor, snack area, and restrooms. The two things that keep me from rating it higher was the service by the staff and the sound system. I was there on a Tuesday night and could tell right away that the owner/​manager was not around. The girl taking money was not friendly… heck I had to ask her how much to pay (she barely said a word) and the other employees never spoke even though I made eye contact. Definetely felt like an outside, which is fine cause I am… I was traveling to Tally for work and there skating for exercise (I take my skates with me when I travel). The sound system sounded like they only had half the normal speakers on, it was all mid and high range with no bass… it just sounded cheap and when your two draws are skating and music I would have expected better. But then, Tuesday nights are generally slow for the skating industry so maybe they didn’t turn all the speakers on and the staff was the second tier employees. I’ll try them again and hope for better.

Throwback!!! Okay, I know it’s still «hip» in other cities to frequent the olé skating rink, however, in Tally, let’s just say… not so much.
I was convinced that going to Skate World would be a host of fun as I was invited by one of my friends who’s in a very exploratory mood right now. She’s all into going anywhere right now. She’s bringing a friend or two with her and I drag my token tag-​along buddy with me for a night of all-​girls fun at Skate World.
Skate World’s a skating rink. I haven’t been to many in other cities but all in all, you’ve got the little food court area (where the snotty nose kid behind the bar WARNS you not to step outside that area with food or drink), Ms. Pac-​Man knows she’s always in the mix and the lame light show («Push it real good…). Same olé same, but it’s something different.
This was the first time at Skate World, but I was promised to hear some good old school hip hop. The others I was going with were a little disappointed cause they in fact, did not cater to an old school hip hop crowd. Justin, Ciara, Beyonce and maybe an old Jay Z song rotated. Hey, you know hip hop is hip hop to some, they don’t know any better.
If you DON’T know how to skate or, like my tag-​along friend, really fear getting back out there after like 20 years, then Skate World isn’t the most user friendly spot. There’s no, «roped off» area for the newbies (aka you and a group of 3-​year olds). There’s no railing to hold onto to get down from the carpeted area (safe zone) down to the actual rink. This was quite the frightening part for those of us who haven’t done it in awhile. And there’s no one to catch you when you start windmilling yourself back into balance.
What they do have is a portion at the back end of the entire rink where you’re allowed to go back and forth and I think the center portion is also an area where the new gliders can go. Who the heck wants to embarrass themselves IN THE MIDDLE of all the action is a wonder to me, but hey, I don’t design these spots, I just listen to the directions. There’s also a time when all the lights go off and the kids get to whiz by you slipping and sliding and twisting and dancing. Awh… those were the days.
All in all, definitely a cute little spot to a) drag the girls out to get a good laugh b) take a date out to a not-​so-​typical spot or c) take a huge group, rent the spot out and have a gay olé time! At any rate, if you want me to help you with the party, let me know (PLUG ** PLUG **). There’s definitely some ways to spruce up the place and make it to your advantage. Anybody wanna race?