Washington skate: history on 8 wheels

Washington state has a long history with roller skating. In fact, before we were even actually a state, we were building rinks.

And it goes beyond just a need to go fast and run into people.

Sheeza Brickhouse works at Get Your Bearings Skate Shop in Shoreline.

Obviously, that’s not the name on her driving license. It’s her derby name.

"I'm one of the founders of the Bellingham Roller Betties," Brickhouse said. "And then I graduated from Western in 2008, and moved down here to Seattle and joined Rat City, and skated there for a long time until I got in a car accident and had spinal damage."

Brickhouse has built a life around roller skates. She’s skated, she’s coached skaters, and now, she makes skates.

She said it began when her mom needed a safe place to drop her off, while she was at work.