Washington Area Roadskaters

Join us for the Friday Night Fitness Skate! A 12 or 8 mile fitness skate that skates the same route each week so you will know the route and pavement hazards (since it is dark) and be able to work on form, endurance or speed as the cold wind is pushing against you! ;) The route has nice long stretches of uninterrupted skating, open roads with very few cars and the regroups are short and infrequent.

We will meet at Freedom Plaza at 7pm as long as it is not raining, snowing and the pavement is not wet or icy. We’ll warm up with a skate to the Capital and then skate along the mall and museums to the National Monument. We will then head to the Lincoln Memorial through the World War II Memorial.

From the Lincoln we will proceed to Haynes Point down Ohio Drive with the option to take the 3 mile Haynes Point loop (12 mile total skate) or practice stops or stunts at the regroup spot while others skate the loop (8.5 mile total skate.)

The skate is mostly flat on good pavement with a small slope coming down from the Washington Monument and a 40 yard small slop from the Lincoln to Ohio Drive and a couple patches here and there.

The wind can be very strong and cold especially on Ohio Drive and Haynes Point as we skate adjacent to the water.

Please feel free to jazz up your gear with lights, I wear a helmet bike light (since it is pretty dark) and a set of body lights. Most of the regulars skate with lighted wheels for fun! Wear your lights so you have fun, can see and be seen!

In case of bad weather, I will update this post via the comment section around 6pm on Friday.

Of course, all skating is at your own risk.

Hope you will come join us!

*Location Change * Since Freedom Plaza is under construction, we will meet at the plaza in front of The International Trade Center near the National Children's Museum (on Pennsylvania Ave).

We'll begin with going over a few drills (varies week to week). The skills we drill will be for the first 30 minutes.

For the second half, we will casually skate down the bike lanes on Pennsylvania Avenue from the plaza to the U.S.Capitol and stop at 3rd St. and then skate back the same route.

This route is about 2 miles in total and is perfect for those who are new to skating in the city but feel comfortable on skates in a parking lot or roller rink. This is also great if you wish to start with shorter routes to increase your physical fitness or stamina for some of the other routes. This is an excellent opportunity to prepare to skate with others on the road. You will also get to meet skaters who will arrive for the Intermediate and Advanced skate routes following the introductory skate.

This is great training to feel prepared for the Tuesday Night and Friday Night Skate!

Route:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7653831

Inline skates (rollerblades), roller skates (quads), bicycles, unicycles, skateboards, longboards and other similar modes of transportation are welcome to join.

Helmet and pads are required. Skate at your own risk.

🌸 ANNUAL CHERRY BLOSSOM SKATE 🌸
Spring is here, and it’s time for the big one! Join the Washington Area Roadskaters as we celebrate the season with our most scenic roll of the year.

Note on the Start: Freedom Plaza is still closed for renovation, so we are shifting our meetup just a block away to Pershing Park.

*📍 MEETING POINT: Pershing Park (WWI Memorial) Corner of E St NW and 14th St NW
*⏰ TIME: Meet at 10:00 AM | Roll at 10:10 AM
*📏 DISTANCE: ~8.9 Miles
*🩷 ATTIRE: WEAR PINK! Let’s turn the streets into a sea of pink to match the trees.

🗺️ The Route Our leader, Chris Topher, has a fantastic route planned to hit all the best bloom spots:
* The Classics: We’ll skate past the Washington Monument on our way to the Floral Library.
* The Waterfront: From there, we’ll roll along the Tidal Basin for those iconic views before heading out to the long, smooth stretch of Hains Point.
* Hidden Gems: After the loop, we’ll visit the Enid A. Haupt Garden (behind the Smithsonian Castle) for a different look at the spring colors.
* The Finish: We’ll wrap things up with a fast finish through the 12th Street Tunnel (a group favorite!) as we head back toward the start.

✅ Quick Reminders:
* Safety First: Helmets are required!
* Hydration: Bring water to stay fueled during the 9-mile loop.
* Vibe: This is a social skate, but be prepared for some city street navigation and tunnel riding.

The Route:
https://onthegomap.com/s/fcnmrvu2

Let’s make this the best Blossom Skate yet. See you there in your best pink gear! 🛼✨

For up to the minute details, check Facebook and Instagram.
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WashingtonAreaRoadskaters/events
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/weareskatedc/

We hope to see you Sunday!