Have you ever seen skaters gliding across the floor with their arms hooked while a skater twist, pivots, and turns in the front? That’s a roller skating routine known as “Snapping”.
I saw skaters “Snapping” for the first time as a freshman at Howard University located in the heart of Washington, DC. Temple Hills Skate Palace was closed down at the time, so I took the metro from Howard to Lanaham Skate Center.
The trip takes about 1hr and 30 min – 47 min, if you do not miss any busses. I needed to skate though.
When I arrived, I had time to at the warm up before formally being introduced to Snapping. As I rounded the corner of the large smooth, slick floor at Lanham, the DJ bellowed “Trains and Trios”, a call I had never heard before, so I skated off the floor to watch and take notes. It seemed like everyone had their friends to roller skate with the second the DJ breathed on the mic to stop the track.
“Trains and trios” are a rhythm skating routine in which skaters lock hands and perform different maneuvers. Skaters use the terms interchangeably in the modern era, but in the past the distinctions between trains, trios, and quads were more pronounced in the language.
When skaters “Snap” together, they link arms while the skater in the front uses the line of skaters for leverage to perform different maneuvers. As the skaters go around the rink, the line of skaters alternates leaders. There are different routines and timings, but that’s the general idea.
What Is A Snapping?
“Snapping” is a roller skating style developed in DC, Maryland, and Virginia aka, the DMV. “Snapping” is a combination of pivots, turns, and routines. Snapping is a skate style with a history and technique system that began developing in the 70s and 80s.
A”Snap”, is a one-foot pivot. Snaps are the building blocks of “Snapping”, the style. In fact, the first piece of advice master snappers give learn the Snap on both legs, front to back and back to front. That’s why I can make a tutorial about how to do a single Snap ethically. If you’re looking to try “snapping” for yourself, this tutorial can help you start.
“Snapping” can be done alone or in a group. In the modern age, skaters snap on trains or trios, a group of skaters linking arms. Sometimes skaters create snap routines with unlinked arms.
The name “Snapping” was given to the style over time. According to Derrick Craddock of the RSSC of Baltimore, a group of skaters from Baltimore, people started to call the style snapping because of the smooth ‘snap’ that the skaters in the area turned with.
I was able to get some exclusive pictures of the RSSC from back in the day. If you want to learn more about the “RSSC of Baltimore” check out their Instagram for all of the OG footage.
Conclusion
“Snapping” is a skate style from the DMV, known for it’s fast intricate footwork and athletic acrobatic movements around the outside of the rink. In Snapcity, skaters use stiff high top boots with jam plugs and hard wheels. The hard wheels make it easier to pivot at high speeds. Without being so slick that they impede maneuverability.
The legacy of Snapping continues to grow and develop. I’m currently living in Washington D.C and I’m using the time to experience Snapping first hand. I like to make Snapping show cases on my roller skating channel Rhythm Skating . Groups like The Link Up through events around the DMV and when they do I come out.