Lane Holmes
Lane Holmes is a champion in an artform with which most people are unfamiliar – artistic roller skating. She has been artistic roller skating for about four years.
“I roller skated during public sessions at roller skating rinks before I found out artistic roller skating was a thing. Once I found out about artistic roller skating, I was amazed that I didn’t know about it sooner. I remember thinking ‘you can do that on roller skates? I thought you could only do that on ice skates.’
“We do all the jumps, spins and footwork that ice skaters do, except we do it on wheels. Our sport is so fun, and I hope everyone has a chance to find out about it. There’s something for everyone. And even if you think artistic skating isn’t for you, there are many other styles of roller skating. I have friends who jam skate and speed skate; there’s also roller derby and rink hockey, just to name a few. Roller skating in general has a lot to offer,” she says.
She taught herself by watching YouTube videos on how to do different spins and jumps on roller skates and then practiced in her garage. Eventually, she began skating lessons.
“After a while, I started to compete. I love the competition aspect of artistic roller skating. You perform in front of an audience and judges, and you meet so many people. The memories and friendships I have made roller skating, along with the life lessons and skills I have gained, will stay with me for the rest of my life. Roller skating has pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me valuable lessons and skills, such as self-discipline, and pushing myself to achieve a goal or dream,” Lane says.
Like its sister sport of ice skating, artistic roller skating has many disciplines including freestyle, where one performs jumps and spins to music, dance skating, which is like ballroom dancing on skates, and school figures, the art of mastering edges by tracing circles.
“I love the freedom I experience when I am on the floor skating. It feels like you’re flying, and all your cares go away. The friends and memories you make in skating stay with you all your life.
“I love that skating allows me to try new things. With each program I do, I get to perform to a new piece of music and act out a new character or story. Roller skating pushes me out of my comfort zone, and I have grown so much as a skater and a person because of it. Skating teaches self-discipline. When you have a goal that you want to achieve, you learn how to work hard and push yourself to achieve it. You learn to believe in yourself and have self-confidence. Skating also teaches you how to get up when you fall down; both literally and metaphorically speaking. There are so many life lessons I have learned roller skating,” she says.
Lane also uses other artistic talents with her skating. She edits the music, choreographs the programs and creates and designs her costumes.
“I love to look at all forms of dance to get inspiration and ideas for skating programs, creative footwork, unique arm movements, and much more. This season I am performing a program to Spanish music; so I will definitely be learning more about Spanish music and different styles of Spanish dancing, such as the flamenco and the tango,” she says.
Lane has won many awards. She won gold medals in her dance events at the 2024 USA Roller Sports National Championships in Lincoln, Nebraska. She also won a bronze medal in a figure event at that same competition. In June of this year, she won all her events at the regional competition. In 2023, she won two bronze medals at the USARS national championships. She also won three gold medals that same season at the 2023 American Artistic Roller Skating Championship. During her first season competing, she won multiple medals, including gold medals, at the 2022 AARS Championships.
“I recently performed with my sister as part of the halftime show for the Little City Roller Derby Team at one of their bouts at Bristol Skateway in Bristol, Tennessee. I really enjoyed showcasing our sport and performing in front of people who may or may not know our sport exists,” she says.
She is 19 and is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, but Bristol Skateway in Bristol, Tennessee, is her home away from home. Her parents are Susan and James Holmes.
