The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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  • About 200 students in the summer ACES and ENCORE programs, which are supported by the Mankato Department of Community Education and Recreation, took inline skating lessons this week. The activity was part of a $10,000 grant from General Mills to promote healthy eating and lifestyle choices. John Cross

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  • Emmanuel Savage (back to camera) gives a few safety lessons before students in Hoover Elementary’s ACES program try their hands — and feet — at inline skating Tuesday at Mankato East. Savage is an instructor at Robichon’s, a Twin Cities-based inline skating school. John Cross

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August 4, 2010

Youngsters learn inline skating techniques

Instructor describes the purpose as to 'save their skin'

By Tanner Kent Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — There was at least one important reason for the 200 or so rollerbladers in the Mankato East parking lot to listen when Emmanuel Savage was speaking.

“We’re showing them how to save their skin,” said Savage, demonstrating to students a litany of safety techniques designed to save inline beginners from such afflictions as “skater’s manicure” or “lost bellybuttons.”

The lessons were part of a $10,000 General Mills grant received by the summer ACES and ENCORE programs to encourage healthy eating and lifestyle choices.

 Cori Sendle, community education coordinator, said the grant program included weekly themes for healthy eating (fruits, vegetables, grains, etc.) and several recreational events, including visits from yoga and tae kwon do instructors. The grant also allowed students to participate in walking clubs (pedometers included) as part of the President’s Challenge, a nationwide initiative to promote 30 minutes of exercise for five days per week over the course of six weeks.

Sendle said she added inline skating lessons to the mix because she was surprised to find how many students have never tried it.

Noelle Robichon said her school has developed its own curriculum for teaching inline skating and its instructors are trained in its methods. She said the school gives lessons to both adults and children and it caters to all skill levels — from those seeking a conditioning regimen for an inline marathon to those just learning the basics.

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