DAYTON, Ohio — TikTok, the Super Bowl and competitions all had one thing in common this year: roller skaters. The once retro past-time is making a comeback and keeping local rinks in business.

What You Need To Know

  • After viral roller skating videos and celebrities including roller skating performances like at the Super Bowl, local rinks are seeing an uptick in business 

  • One champion skater Christ "Ghost" Landrum II, is hosting a three-day event to get more skaters learning different styles based on "jam" skating that was created during segregation and became popular in the 70s

  • The skating event will be happening May 31 through June 2 at the Orbit Fun Center near Dayton

When Christopher Landrum II puts on roller skates, he becomes "Ghost."

“When you see me striding, you’re like, ‘I thought he was just doing this’ so they decided to come up with the name Ghost,” said Landrum. 

He said he taught himself to skate as a kid and carefully learned the tricks and different styles from older skaters.

"A lot of people know me for striding, which striding originated right here in Dayton, Ohio," said Landrum.

He said the styles he does are based on what came to the scene in the 60s when roller rinks were segregated.

Back then, Black skaters could only skate in rinks at night, but during that time, some came up with a unique skating style called "jam" skating.

"Jam" style skating peaked in the 70s but it’s not just a thing of the past anymore.

“You got what we call TikTok skaters, they were just not known as well so that was the biggest thing. And, you know, they had different trends and different challenges," said Landrum. 

TikTok videos and the Super Bowl are bringing roller skating back, and it's leading to an uptick in business at local rinks.

“When we first took over the facility here, it was closed, so we had to start our business from ground up," said Orbit Fun Center co-owner Mike Penrod. 

Penrod said renewed interest and big skating events are what’s keeping rinks like his alive.

“With marketing and doing new things to try new things and also paying attention to our customers, making sure that we are providing the entertainment and providing the facility for their needs," said Penrod. 

That’s exactly what "Ghost" is trying to do. He’s planning a three-day night time skating event to pay homage to the past and keep the roller skating legacy going.

“I think what made me passionate about it was it is an opportunity for everybody. it doesn't matter your race, ethnicity or, you know, demographic or economic, wherever you are. and now if you want to be a roller skater, you know, you can be a roller skater," said Landrum. 

The skating event called the "Underground Skating Party" will be on May 31 through June 2 at the Orbit Fun Center just outside of Dayton in Huber Heights.