CULLMAN, Ala. – Shae Gentry, who owns Sportsworld Skate Center in Vinemont with his wife, Valerie, is introducing the community to a fast‑paced, highly disciplined sport: speed skating. The Cullman Rush team is forming now at the rink.
Speed skating is a demanding sport that builds strength and endurance, but it’s also a good time, according to enthusiasts. As a former semi-professional speed skater himself, Gentry is hoping to spark a new passion for the sport in the area.
Gentry’s motivation for starting this team is rooted in his own time on the rink, he said. “When you get out there and you start practicing and you get on that floor and you start going and skating, it helps you to just let everything go.” That feeling is something he hopes to share with others.
His goal is to create a space where people can be active, unwind and build real connections, especially for kids who spend so much of their lives on social media. He wants to give the younger generation another outlet — an exercise routine and a sport they can enjoy outside of school. That vision is also what led him to purchase the skating rink in the first place. As he put it, “It was really my place to go and just let go of everything; the outside world didn’t matter.”
The team is already taking shape, with six members so far. Any age skater can join the team since there are different divisions. “Right now we have as young as 6 and as old as mid-20s,”Gentry explained.
The team is completely free. Gentry said they just want to get people active and involved at the moment. He said there may be some fundraising in the future. “It’s really no different than kids trying to raise money for their high school to play football or baseball.” He mentioned car washes and lawn mowing as a couple of examples. He said back when he was in speed skating they would do whatever they could to try to offset travel costs.
All participants need right now are their own skates and comfortable clothes (comfortable workout clothes, T-shirts, etc.). Quads or in-line skates are welcome, but they must be indoor skates. Indoor skates are meant for flat, polished floors. They use harder wheels so they roll faster and last longer.
Unsure? Check out a practice session. The group meets Saturday mornings at 9:30 at Sportsworld Skate Center, 90 County Road 1223, Cullman, AL 35058.
Contact Shae Gentry at 256-739-4050 or info@sportsworldskate.com for more information about the Cullman Rush team. Find out more about Sportsworld Skate Center at www.facebook.com/CullmanSkating.
