Hong Kong gets its skates on

Roller-skating is experiencing a renaissance internationally for the first time since the 1970s disco era.

On Hong Kong’s rinks, skaters gather for their weekly glide with the skating buzz back in the city’s air.

Gemma: "I will do it again. But now I feel, my butt’s really painful. I, I fell once - but I guess that's how you learn."

Some credit social media for this revival in its popularity. Yet data suggests the pandemic caused a particular spike in uptake. As virus restrictions saw gym closures, people turned to outdoor sports which allowed social distancing.

Gigi: "The feeling of freedom, you know. The wind in my hair and then just go and skate and, and meet a whole community. That's so nice."

Niki: "It's, it’s literally been the only upside so far - this entire 2020 - this, actual picking this up and meeting the amazing friends, like, and the community with it."

Quad skate sales have risen so dramatically since the coronavirus uptake that some retailers are struggling to keep up with the surge in demand. So much so that in July Vogue magazine reported a worldwide shortage of roller skates.

Milanie Bekker is co-founder of Madame Quad in Hong Kong.

Milanie: "Definitely the manufacturer’s kind of struggling to keep up with the demand. And then as soon as there are, there’s any new stock, it's immediately sold out. Like, it's, it’s pretty crazy." Weniger anzeigen