City on wheels

HUBLI: Skating is a new-found craze of children and youths in the city. Till a year ago organisations conducting skating training camps found it difficult to get a handful of learners. However, in the last one year, many people including young professionals and school and college students have shown interest in the sporting activity and enrolled themselves at various skating camps.
This latest interest among people has also resulted in an increase in the number of institutions imparting training in skating.Earlier there were only two skating training institutes in the city, but now the number has gone up to five, while a few more organisations are expected to open up shop in the commercial city.
Take an early morning stroll on the premises of Corporation, near Siddharoodhmath road and you will see hordes of people of all age groups with their skating shoes on, learning the essential skills of good balance and speed control. Skating enthusiasts are seen practising in several other parts of the city as well. While morning hours are preferred by many, some skate even in the evenings, dodging vehicles and people.
Karnataka Roller Skating Club and Kaizen Roller Skating Academy and other institutes are flooded with a lot of enquiries for enrolment, thanks to summer holidays. Each institute conducts two to three batches a day. Charges are in the range of Rs 500 to 2,000 per person, depending on the stages of learning.
"Earlier it was difficult to get 10-15 candidates per batch, but now the number has gone up to over 60," Eranna Kadappanavar, a skating trainer told the Times of India.
Skating is seen as a good energiser, which contributes to the physical and mental well-being of a person, Eranna said. Thirteen-year-old Abhay Patil, who is learning skating said, "I am attracted towards skating because it thrills me." Homemaker Mamta Patil said she is enjoying skating a lot and it helps her remain active throughout the day.