Old hobby gets new fans - 11th December 2020

Fifty years ago, lots of people used to roller-skate. Now, it is becoming more popular again.

Skaters in Hong Kong have a weekly meet up. There is a good atmosphere, and many skaters are still learning.

Gemma: "I will do it again. But now I feel, my butt's really painful. I, I fell once - but I guess that's how you learn."

Its popularity has grown through social media. But the pandemic has increased numbers a lot. When gyms were closed, people took up outdoor activities. Roller-skating feels great and it's social too.

Gigi: "The feeling of freedom, you know. The wind in my hair and then just go and skate and, and meet a whole community. That's so nice."

Niki: "It's, it's literally been the only upside so far - this entire 2020 - this, actual picking this up and meeting the amazing friends, like, and the community with it."

There has been a big increase in people buying quad skates. Shops are selling out of stock. The situation was even reported in Vogue magazine. Milanie Bekker manages a shop in Hong Kong. She has had problems getting supplies from manufacturers.

Milanie: "Definitely the manufacturer's kind of struggling to keep up with the demand. And then as soon as there are, there's any new stock, it's immediately sold out. Like, it's, it's pretty crazy."