On a warm Thursday evening, our neighborhood bike caravan made its way to the weekly roller disco night. The caravan consisted of parents, kids, and three electric bikes. As we arrived at the roller disco, a friend glided towards us on skates, enjoying a vegan ice cream Chipwich. We locked up our bikes and began to prepare for the event.
My 8-year-old daughter eagerly hopped off the back of my bike and extended her foot towards me, asking for help in putting on her skates. As I laced up her quads and took out the Impala Barbie skates from my bike box, I asked her if she recognized the music playing in the background. She shook her head. “This is Daft Punk!” I exclaimed with excitement.
Interestingly, I had expected a reaction similar to what happened in the Barbie movie trailer where everyone stared and laughed at Barbie for her outfit. However, I had forgotten that tonight was Neon Night at the roller disco. In comparison to the vibrant neon outfits around us, we were the least conspicuous people there. Two women passed by us in neon onesies, circling back to offer my daughter a blinky light-up rubber duck on a stick. Delighted, she accepted it and named him Wilmer before skating off.
As I looked down at my hot-pink skates, it became evident that they perfectly resembled the Impala Lightspeed skates featured in the Barbie movie trailer. It made sense for Impala to collaborate on this movie as they specialize in beautiful, entry-level skates with a retro appeal. Full disclosure, my daughter and I already owned Impala quads before these special-edition versions arrived. While they are fun and versatile for both rink and outdoor skating, the boot on the quads does take some time to break in due to its stiffness.
The Impala Lightspeed rollerblades, however, only start in a size 5. These skates are better suited for adults or older teens due to their larger sizes. When I put on the skates, my daughter looked puzzled. “I thought you didn’t even like Barbie,” she remarked. Sweat began to form on my forehead as I tried to explain myself. “It’s not that I don’t like Barbie,” I replied. “I just don’t like what she represents.” Although my daughter seemed disinterested in my explanation, she rolled away, immersed in her own joy.
But what does Barbie truly represent? Growing up in the 1990s, I found Barbie to be an interesting and aspirational figure. She didn’t fit the mold of a typical doll, but rather embodied various exciting professions such as an astronaut or a doctor. Barbie served as a role model, but at the same time, her unrealistic proportions presented a contradictory image. We yearned for our legs to become long and our breasts to become narrower, yet in reality, these changes never occurred for most of us.
Returning to the skates, they may appear to be solid plastic and feel heavy when held, but they actually fit true to size. Impala offers them in whole sizes, and for me, a size 8 is comfortable. Surprisingly, a friend with a shoe size of 8.5 can also wear the skates in a size 8, possibly due to the generous padding compensating for the slightly smaller size. It felt like being a part of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Inline Skates.
Unlike the Impala quads, the plastic boot of the Lightspeed skate consists of two hinged pieces. This design allows for lacing the boots tightly and securely while still maintaining ankle flexibility. After a week of skating, I found that I could comfortably glide for one to two-hour sessions without bruising my shins.
As the night continued at the roller disco, the music kept blasting from the DJ’s tent, and the atmosphere remained energetic. Our bike caravan added to the vibrant scene, and the neon lights reflected off our stylish skates. Although I may not resemble Margot Robbie, the joy and sense of community that roller skating brings is unmatched.
The Barbie collaboration with Impala expanded my understanding of the iconic doll. Beyond her physical appearance, Barbie represents the power of imagination and the ability to challenge traditional gender roles. Just like the skates themselves, Barbie skates through life with a sense of adventure and the freedom to be whoever she wants to be.
Leaving the roller disco that evening, my daughter and I rolled back home, feeling invigorated and grateful for the memorable experience. The Impala Lightspeed skates had not only provided us with a fun and stylish way to participate in roller skating, but they also reminded us of the endless possibilities that lie ahead. Barbie may be made of plastic, but her impact on our lives stretches far beyond the flick of her hair or the color of her skates.