For the 35th year, dozens of road skaters will roll from Athens to Atlanta as part of an annual October tradition.
The Athens-to-Atlanta Road Skate invites roller skaters and Rollerbladers to skate 38, 49 or 87 miles into Atlanta on Oct. 9 as part of the oldest road skate event nationally, according to organizers. Anyone from ages 8 to 80 can participate in the race, which ends at Atlanta's Historic Fourth Ward Skate Park.
There were 118 participants at last year's event, the highest total since 2012. Those choosing to travel the 38- and 87-mile courses begin in Athens at 7:30 a.m. while the remaining participants send them off. A bus then takes the 49-mile skaters to the 10 a.m. Dacula starting point where the 38-mile racers conclude.
The race is timed and recorded but is not necessarily competitive, said Scott M. Jones, an event volunteer since the first race in 1982. Most people are just trying to reach Atlanta or beat their best time, he said.
Both quad skates and in-line skates are allowed, although the event debuted in 1982 as an all-quad event, Jones said.
A bus to Athens will pick up registered participants at 9 p.m. Oct. 7 or 5 a.m. Oct. 9 from Skate Escape in Atlanta for $30. There is also a mandatory meeting in Athens that skaters must attend Oct. 8, the night before the main event.
During the race, there will be six checkpoints along the route that serve water and fruit. Skaters begin arriving in Atlanta around 11:45 a.m. Oct. 9, organizers said. An awards ceremony occurs at 6 p.m. in Historic Fourth Ward Skate Park.
Entry costs $100-$120 before Aug. 2 and $120-$140 until pre-race day depending on what distance participants choose.
For more information, visit the Athens-to-Atlanta Road Skate website.
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