Skaters from the 1967 U.S.A.R.S.A. (the United States Amateur Roller Skating Association) competition.
 
Although I was an avid roller skater in my youth (as were both of my parents), I had no idea that the the United States National Amateur Skating Association (or U.S.N.A.S.A.) existed. Had I known, I would have immediately run away from home with my brown suede skates (with sweet orange wheels and stoppers) to pursue my dream of being an Olympic Champion roller skater. Regrets, I’ve had a few.
 

USARSA Senior Dance Champions of 1961, Jay & Janet Slaughter of Illinois.
 
In 1937, a Detroit-based group comprised of seventeen roller rink owners formed the RSROA (the Roller Skating Rink Operators Association). The creation of the RSROA didn’t go over that well with the Amateur Athletic Union (or AAU, a national amateur sports organization formed in 1888 who worked with amateur athletes all around the country, helping many on their way to the Olympic Games) as the membership of RSROA included the rink owners themselves and professional skaters. So, in 1939, the United States Amateur Roller Skating Association (USARSA) came to be and became a part of the the good-old AAU.

There were so many competitive categories within the USARSA, ranging from skate-dancing, novice, a curious sub-novice category, and a few for “tiny tots” that could skate (photos from which have been cataloged over at the site USA Roller Skaters), that I can only imagine the competitions themselves were long, grueling events not only for the skaters, but for the fans in attendance. The images in this post provide a fun and fascinating look back in time. Some remind me of the beautiful awkwardness that is the obligatory (and dreaded) senior prom photo. Your good-times roller skating flashback moment, begins now! 
 

Hugh Devore 3rd Place (the outfit is 1st place material all the way), USARSA Senior Men’s Singles, 1956.
 

USARSA Junior Dance contestants, 1953.
 

Dot and Cheryl, USARSA, 1969.
 

USARSA 1966 1st Place Senior Dance winners, Robert Shaffer & Charlotte Owings of Illinois.
 

USARSA Junior Dance Championship contestants Becky Street and Carl Foxworthy, 1968.
 

USARSA Intermediate Dance Champions of 1953, Carol and Tom Seipp.
 

USARSA ‘Fours’ champions, 1954.
 

USARSA Senior Ladies 2nd Place winner, Avis Cook takes flight, 1956.
 

1971.
 

USARSA Senior Dance Champions of 1967, the fabulous Robert Shaffer, Sherry Street Batt of Illinois.
 

USARSA World Championships, 1957.
 

1962.
 

1971.
 

1971.
 

USARSA “Fours,” 1969.
 

Footage of a “Free Dance” roller skating competition, 1956.

Previously on Dangerous Minds:
Andy Warhol, Grace Jones, Bettie Page & more roller skating (because roller skating rules!)