During his Super Bowl half-time performance earlier this year, Usher broke out his roller skates and skated along to the choreography for his songs, “Bad Girl” and “OMG.” It was really fun! Since he’s also incorporated skating into his tours, I assumed that it was just a part of his schtick, like how Pink does the acrobat thing. As it turns out, Usher is really into roller skating culture. He even credits it with keeping him young. In fact, Usher is such a big fan of roller skating that he and model Liberty Ross (#random) are opening the very first “full-service skating rink residency” in Las Vegas, called Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace. The rink will be at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas’ TAO Beach.
“This is kind of a victory lap for Las Vegas,” he tells PEOPLE at the Flipper’s grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 16. He kicked off the star-studded event by skating throughout The Venetian as guests cheered him on.
“It really all started with my residency and we had a second residency and we played the Super Bowl. We went to Paris. Now coming back with this tour, I’m in the flow, having a good time, enjoying and doing things that I really love.”
When it comes to the secret behind maintaining his youthful good looks, physique and energetic spirit, “skating has always kept me young,” reveals the star, “and it’s something that I feel is a necessity for youth nowadays. Everybody spends so much time scrolling. We want you to roll, come out, get active, come and have a good time.”
Stars Dr. Dre and Dita Von Teese turned out for the occasion, joining hundreds of attendees. As for roller skating novices, Usher wants them to hit the rink, too. “There’s no judgment here,” he says. “You fall, you get back up. We invite the entire family to come.”
Having skated since he was a kid, the star has a deeper connection to the activity. “It’s a form of self care,” Usher says. “The freedom and expression, I really feel like it’s a language when you get deeper into the cultures of skating for rhythm, period. And people need to understand how fun this really is.”
Usher hopes he can convince some of his superstar pals to lace up a pair soon. “Dre, Snoop and Pharrell getting out here would be crazy,” he says. “NWA came up through skaters, a lot of those early hip hop bands could only get space to perform in the roller rinks. I can still remember as a kid performing in rinks. It’s always been the grounds for culture.”
And Usher says you’re much more likely to find him at the rink than in the kitchen this holiday season. “I wouldn’t bank on me for your Thanksgiving dinner,” he says with a smile. “No, no. I might be able to do some mac and cheese and a little banana pudding but that’s about it.”
If you had Usher being a huge off-stage roller skating affinado on your bingo card, congratulations! I love that he credits it with keeping him young. It’s awesome when you find that one thing that brings you to your happy place, even if it’s just a momentary escape. For me, that’s hiking or taking a walk. It’s tough to find your peace nowadays, but it’s also more crucial than ever now to identify it and do some self-care.
As for the rink itself, this is actually pretty cool. Roller skating is definitely one of those niche activities that Millennials and older will absolutely try at least once for the nostalgia factor. I remember how big roller skating (and then roller blading) was when I was growing up. We had some fun rinks on Long Island back in the day. There is only one place in the area where I live now, and when we pass it, I’m always surprised by how busy it is. My son has been to a few birthday parties there and it really is a throwback. I need to set up an adult skating party one of these days.
photos via Instagram and credit Nicky Nelson/Wenn/Avalon, Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon and Getty
Oooooo yup I would make a visit if in Vegas! I wish more of these would make a comeback along with crazy golf and arcade! Go Usher 😆 I would be on my bum a lot lol.
This is really cute! I love that he’s offering an alternative to scrolling, and this is fun.
This looks a lot like ice skating, doesn’t it? The music, friends sort of skate-dancing together in a line. Go Usher!
Oh he’s a huge fan and is known to skate often at Casacade in Atlanta, I’m sure you could find videos of him skating on YouTube. It is really fun and I’m happy it’s been having a resurgence in the past decade. I spent most of my early teens at one of the three roller rinks on my side of the city and I was so sad when they closed down in the early 2000s. It’s also a really good workout so make sure you stretch if you decide to go.
I loved going to Jellybeans in Atlanta. It was a major part of my childhood. Now I have to make my way back to Vegas to visit this rink.
Yes! He had a huge skating component to his residency and owns a couple rinks there, I believe. He used to randomly show up at rinks and parties in Los Angeles as well. I love that he supports his passion. Come reopen World on Wheels in Los Angeles Usher!
There is a big roller derby convention every year in Vegas, if this stays open until the summer it will be wildly popular
I grew up in the days when every little girl had roller skates and wore the key on a string around their neck…in those days you skated outside on sidewalks and driveways. Then the indoor disco skating craze happened when I was in my 20s and it became more normal for guys to skate also. If my knees were a bit younger I would love to spend a weekend skating in Las Vegas! ( I would never go there to give my money to casinos )
I didn’t have a key, but my friends and I all got new skates for Christmas from Sears every year. They were vinyl boots with metal wheels and we skated on the streets of our neighborhood. I had skinned knees all summer long. We would have to rent skates when we went to the rink for our monthly PTA fundraiser, where we would skate all evening. Of course this was also when my mom could drop me off at the rink at age 9 and not worry about me until time to be picked up! Good times.
Oh WOW!!!! Please give this man a sainthood!!! I grew up spending occasional Saturdays at the roller rink, wishing I could someday be good enough to invest in my own skates — with those coveted poofy balls on the front that, to pre-teen me, symbolized the Good Life. Later on, in college, I took ice skating lessons, and DID get my own skates, but the vibe and the cool were so NOT the same. When the stressors of my college life got to be oppressive, I would take healing trips to a neighborhood skate party, replenishing my ability to continue the struggle.
Seriously, this is a wonderful move by Usher to support an ethos that is growing harder and harder to find these days. May the Universe surround this man with Blessings! ✨🛼
This is amazing. We had two roller rinks where I grew up and they’re both closed now which is sad. But where I live now and where our kids grew up we’ve only gotten MORE roller rinks. Three owned by the same person that have been around for decades and two recently opened I want to say around early 2019? Maybe 2018. Also owned by one couple. My kids love going with their friends, and the public schools around here often have fundraiser skate nights. My daughter has her own skates and so do a few of her friends.
This sounds fun and I’m glad he enjoys what a lot of folk see as an old fashioned pastime.
We had a very small roller rink near us when I was a teen. I was a regular visitor but I always preferred ice skating, only problem that was for me as a teen it was well over an hour on public transport to get to the nearest rink. The roller rink closed as it fell out of fashion and a new ice rink opened a half hour away so that took over my life for a few years.
I started roller skating in 2021 and I am not kidding you when I say it saved my life. If you struggle with anxiety or depression or OCD (or all 3 like I do!) it’s a game changer for mental health. You get the benefits of exercise but it’s fun and takes you out of your head and give you a sense of accomplishment when you learn something new. Can’t say enough good stuff about roller skating!
ALSO, if you want to start – please don’t buy cheap skates (Impalas). Buy from Riedell, SureGrip, Moxi, Chaya or Bont.
I remember the owners of Skechers had a roller skating rink in California many years before they started selling shoes. There are not enough places to go 4 wheel-skating. Same in Europe. I blame Rollerblades- they killed it all. Kids went from skating to wobbling dangerously on blades and it soured the movement. My neighbour back then was a surgeon and he said rollerblades paid for his house.
I have known he was a roller skater for years. I really want to go to Flippers in NYC and skate there, he shows up often. I am stoked that he is making in popular again!!!!
Next trip to Vegas, the purple suedes are coming with me and I am going skating baby!
God, I used to love roller-skating when I was little. I had a “roller derby” birthday party at my local rink. I think I’d be able to handle roller skating better than ice skating now that I’m in my 50s. And Rosie – I grew up on LI, too! I lived in Commack, which had a roller rink and an awesome flea market, both gone. Now there’s a huge shopping center there with a Target and other stores 🙁
And speaking of skating, I love this video: https://youtu.be/LZtecbz5Jnc?si=yHsnjb6ZTxVESFBV
I’m almost 50 and I would definitely go skating on the regular if there was a rink near me. I was at the roller rink every weekend when I was a kid. Laces in New Hyde Park, Long Island. Now it’s an ice rink.