Chatsworth : Roller Skater Sets Championship Goal

Maybe it’s not as racy as roller-blading. And yes, competitors prefer fancy beaded outfits to the baggy, grungy couture of snowboarding.

Nevertheless, her sport is just as cool, just as tough and just as competitive as the other, trendier sports that her athletic peers participate in, says 14-year-old Chatsworth roller skater Darcy Wooten, who recently won a first place title at the 1995 national amateur artistic roller-skating championships in Syracuse, N.Y.

A freshman at Chatsworth High School, Darcy practices triple salchows, rolling, spinning camels and other moves with her coach four hours a day, seven days a week at Skate Palace in Oxnard. Two nights a week, her mother drives her from practice in Oxnard to another rink in Buena Park, where she works out with skating partner Kyle Kurosaki, 22.

What motivates her to practice what some might consider a passe sport?

“I want to win a world championship,” Darcy said.

This year, Darcy and Kurosaki won the pairs championship for their age group in Syracuse. In the freestyle (singles) category, Darcy placed 12th out of 27 competitors, despite a torn hamstring.

Though comparisons to ice skating are inevitable, Darcy, who began skating six years ago, said her sport may be even more difficult to master.

“People think roller-skating is just like, skating around. But I think it’s harder than ice-skating because the skates are heavier,” among other reasons, she said.

A spokesman for the U.S. Amateur Confederation of Roller Skating in Lincoln, Neb., said that the sport is officially recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and is included in the Olympic Festival, held every year except during Olympics year. But like bowling and racquetball, roller-skating has not yet been included in regular Olympic competition.

Olympic sport or not, Darcy still plans to try for a world title after two more years of regional and national competitions. However, she’ll have to place either first, second or third in the junior world class championships before she can qualify.