Rollerblades of Glory! Happy Nightskate Every Wednesday in June and July

One of my favourite childhood memories is taking part in Saturday morning roller discos, skating round and round in my four-wheel roller boots (this was the days before blades), listening to Belinda Carlisle and Roxette (Yes, I am old). 

It's been a while since I've been on wheels but having see the Happy Nightskate (so-named as it's organised by the Happy Fitness gym) go past my house in a blur of of colour and music in previous years, I decided it was time I took part.

So, after purchasing a pair of old rollerblades from second-hand superstore Ho&Ruck, it was off to the Innpromenade to practice...  

It didn't start well. My reaction after three seconds was 'no way!'...it's fair to say I didn't exactly feel confident about taking part in a 15 to 17 kilometre night skate. But, realising I could leave when the route took us past my house about 40 minutes in, I decided to give it a go. 

I took the R bus and got off at Mitterweg, right outside the Happy Fitness car park. Arriving at around 19:20 I couldn't miss the meeting place as there were already dozens of people rolling around, many of them in international football shirts, as every week the Nightskate has a different 'dress up' theme and last week it was the World Cup.

Skaters gather from 7pm, and there are roller boots available to borrow if you don't have your own. It's completely free! (you just need to leave some ID). I was already sweating just from skating around the car park (the Happy Fitness gym shares a car park with a supermarket so there are plenty of parking spaces available if you want to drive to the start point) so I took a free lemon soda, which was very cold and refreshing.

The mood was buoyant. It seems people really, really LOVE rollerskating! Life Radio - one of the sponsors - were doing a sterling job in building a joyful atmosphere through the roving PA system. 

As 8pm approached the countdown began, and then we were off onto Mitterweg, and heading towards the city centre.

A police escort ensures a safe passage through the city, and there are plenty of marshals in orange hi-vis vests to help out too. There is also an ambulance on hand, just in case.

The route varies week by week, depending on roadworks and other events that might be happening in the city but it's generally around 17 kilometres to do the full circuit. You can leave the skate when you want though and I had it in mind that I would cross the Innbrücke (the bridge next to the market square), take my boots off and walk the rest of the way home. 

I really wanted to cross the bridge at least, as I've walked, cycled and driven over it, kayaked under it and wanted to add 'skated' to the list.

Innbrücke crossed, past the Hofburg palace and Landestheatre we went before a few minutes rest time outside the Graüer Bar hotel on Universtitaatstrasse. At this point I decided I was having way too much fun to bail out early so I thought I'd stay on, at least until the rest stop at DEZ shopping centre before maybe getting a bus back home.

At DEZ, most of us used the break time as an opportunity for a sit down, although, some of the better skaters preferred to show off their skills.

Deciding I had enough energy - and curiosity about what was to come - to carry on, we all hit the road again after a break of twenty minutes or so.  I'm very glad I decided to skate on, as heading north on Andechsstrasse as the sun was setting, staring up at the Nordkette was definitely one of the highlights of the evening. 

After turning right onto Langstrasse, we then had another stop where that street meets the busy Hallerstrasse. While we waited for the road to be secured there was a disco stop with a chance for people to show off their Macarena moves.

'Hallerstrasse is yours!' announced the MC after a break of around ten minutes, so we all turned left and  headed back towards the centre.

With the sun having gone down, the atmosphere became a bit more celebratory with lots of people following closely behind the disco truck (occasionally hitching a lift too!) Lots of the youngsters had left by this point too, the crowd was definitely thinning. 

At Mühlbauer Brücke, I departed. The 13/14 kilometres I'd done was enough, especially when added to the hour or practice earlier in the day. 

My feet were saying 'no more!' so I'll have to do the other 4 kilometres or so to complete the circuit another time.

There definitely will be another time too as I was genuinely shocked by how much fun it was!

June 26th - Christmas! half year celebration

July 1st - Beach party

July 8th - Tirolean evening

July 15th - Apres ski or Disney

July 22nd - Colourful

July 29th - Pyjama party

Happy Nightskate is completely free. For more information, visit the website here.

Happy skating!

Header photo ©Leon Barton