rexing

Rexing is a style of backwards roller skating that started in California in the 1950’s.  Spot rexing is backward skating in a baisic figure 8 pattern within the space of a standard figure circle, with very intricate steps, slides, and turns.  It was originally done to the blues/rock music of the time.  While the style of rexing has evolved over time, disco, and jive are NOT rexing by any strecth of the imagination.
Rexing can be done on inline skates, but with limitations. There are certain steps such as a flat #8 spin that simply cannot be done on inline skates.  The term rexing was around for 35 years before inline skates came on the scene.  So it is therefore NOT a term based on inine skating.
My qualification for this statement:  I was president of a SOCAL rexing club for 2 years in the 1970’s.  We were high point club for the season one of those years.

This comment is basiclly confirming what Gary Campbell has stated about rexing. What some
jam skaters call rexing, is in fact, not rexing at all. Rexing originated in Southern California and consisted of backwards skating, utilizing a sequence of steps similar to many of the step patterns of ballroom or line dancing, (except on skates). Terms such as figure 8, duck walk, grapevine are just some of the steps used in rexing. 
There were also many rexing clubs sponsored by the various home rinks they skated out of, and which were governed by the “ARC”, (Associated Rexing Clubs). Club members attended meetings, paid dues, practiced and honed the art of rexing and competed in various rexing competitions hosted by various rinks around Southern California. At one point in the 70’s a move was even made to put rexing on the National map, and ultimately enter this particular type of skating as an event in the Olympics. This did not succeed however, as many rinks closed their doors in the late 1980’s and rexing faded out.
My qualifications for this comment: I am a former Rebel Rexer who skated/competed througout the 1970’s decade out of Palisade Gardens Roller Rink in San Diego, CA. I also formed and currently run a rexing group site whose memberships consists only of rexers from the 1950’s on through the 1980’s and the various SoCal clubs.

Mike Campbell, Randy and Arny Bailey and all independant rexers and/or those who rexed under the ARC umbrella: this is an invitation to join my rexing group site at: 70s_sandiego_palisadegard ens_gang-subscribe@yahoog roups.com. We have members from most all the ARC rexing clubs and the decades span from the late 50’s, (when rexing first started,) to the 1980’s and I’m sure you will find several people you know on the group.  A lot of us still rex at the Linda Vista rink. There are only two rinks open now…Skateworld Linda Vista and Ups and Downs in Escondido. We also have annual reunions. The next one is coming up on April 24, 2009. We’re still looking for former members of the Imperial Rexers, (originally out of Rocket Roller Rink but moved to Sweetwater after Rocket closed.
BTW, the movie Roll Bounce was not about rexing. The screen writer, Norman Vance Jr. used to skate at our Palisade Gardens, (North Park SD,) as a child and fashioned his movie off of his own childhood experiences skating at the rink. He came along in 1978 when alot of skaters began doing roller disco. It wasn’t the same as rexing.
Rollergirl Lizzy
70’s Rebel Rexer

Attention All!  We rexers, past & present, now hane our own ‘online rink.’  Point your browser’s to:  http://www.arcrexers.org .  It’s a ‘My Space’ style site, complete w/forum.

I skated at Palisades, was 1st Prez of Jr. Rebel Rexers and ended up a spot rexer with the Nomads.

Attention Rexers Past and Present!
The group site now has a new name and new URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/g roup/SoCal_Rexers_Online< /p>

We also just launched a new social networking site for rexers and old school skaters at:
arcrexersonline.ning.com

My husband, Don [Ollie] Niemeyer,rexed at the Palisade Gardens roller rink in San Diego in 1954-1958. He was 17-21years old then. He was in the Navy stationed there. He is 72 now & still rexes. He had a skating partner named Deanna…& always wondered what happened to her. If anyone has any information regarding Deanna, please let us know. Her parents owned a small restaurant in San Deigo back then. Watching the rexers at the Palisade Gardens made him want to learn to skate backwards in the worse way. He was on board ship..the LST 1148, at that time. Don had 2 months straight skullary duty & went roller skating 61 nights in a row, until the engineering officer restricted him for one night on board ship & took him off skullary duty. He has very fond memories of the rexers at Palisade Gardens & still thinks of them when he skates to this day.
Don [Ollie] & Sandy Niemeyer

I started skating before most of you were the gleam in your father’s eye. 1945 downtown San Diego, at Pacifica next to Seven Seas store. Continuous skating backwards was called “rexing” then. Mom, older brother and sister did well in skating, but I was faster in “rexing”. “rexing couples” was a skate time but I was too small (9 years old) to skate with anyone.

Later skating at Mission Bay rink, next to the roller coaster, saw and learned some of what is called “spot rexing”. Of the three terms of ‘orexing” nothing was set rules, all were free style. In the early 50’s “spot rexing” started a sequence of over 30 steps, as was said, either, single, couple, or like line dancing.

Disco, Jamming, inline, bounce, boogie or any other term means “rexing” NO WAY! When did “rexing” or the term, start is a good question. I read som€one had a aunt that had a trophy from the 30’s of “rexing couples” from a rink on University street in San Diego. I have asked San Diego paper for some research on the subject with no response.

ln the 50’s there was about 10 of us couples that grouped together and called ourselves “Royal Rexers”. Most of the time we would meet at Mission Bay riqk for the first session and then go to Palisades Gardens for the last session on Friday and Saturday nights. We had small amount of dues to pay, I think it was 10 cent for the snacks our folks would buy for our meetings at someone’s house. There were other couples that would meet us at Palisades Gardens on those nights. I know this went on until February

19,1957 when I was drafted into the Army. You can check my club pigtures at http:llaruexersonline.nin g.com/profile/DavidDuffey . They were taken February 18, you might see yourself or a friend if you’re old enough. I’m still looking for anyone of my era and can email me. Duffeydw@clearwire.net All replies will be in total confidence unless noted.

In late 1960 or early’61ARC (America Rexing Clubs) was form under {he insurance package of RSROA S,oller Skating Rinks of America). Under this umbrella, they made rules, regulations and Limitations for all skaters in these clubs. The open floor pattern was change to a “hour glass” to conform to the Dance and Figure pattern. The spot rexing circle was made bigger as most coutd not tum as sharp asthey did in the 50’s. Also many steps were dropped as they couldn’t do them with the tighter trucks asmost used. A square dance step was added, posture was held tight. There was not motre free style of skating.

I can see r,vhy in the late 80’s, the generation did not want to be under someone’s rules as wqdidn’t either i* tfre 50’s. The revenue drops d rinks clesed. The 60’s called us of the 50’s wild, unruly and non-conformity. Only one time was the cops called on one of our parties, the music to loud, turned in down and they left. No one haufed off to jail or anything else. We skated for the love of it. We knew who was a better skater and didn’t have to prove it. We were always trying to improve and didn’t need someone to tell us how bad we were. The 50’s style of skating is almost gone. The only two I’ve found since the 50’s is Mouse and Doris Frank and have lost contact with them. Have met with above Don (Ollie) Niemeyer and re-new our friends:hip of the 50’s.

I am sorry to see rexing fade as much as it has. A very good site to keep up with rexing is to visit http://arcrexersonline.ni ng.coml. If you want a scream, go watch inline skaters doing, or trying to do, spot rexing on you tube. I now wish I had kept up with skating as now at 73 tryngto get my skating legs back is much fun.