News Articles

Here is a collection of news articles, awards and certificates that document the contributions of many skaters, trends of roller skating and inline skating and the development of the roller skating scene in Golden Gate Park and San Francisco over 48 years.  I couldn't get them all, but I think I got most of them!!!

2-27-2025  - KPIX CBS 5 - San Francisco's "GodFather of Skate" Reflects on Local Icon Status

< 2-26-2025 - KALW FM - "ROLLIGION" - The next Generation of the Church of 8 Wheels

7-10-2024  -  KQED - Church of 8 Wheels' "Skate Week" Rolls into San Francisco

6-12-2024  -  SFist - A Roller Rink Near the Golden Gate Bridge Roller Rink - Skate Week San Francisco

4-12-2024  -  KRON - Church of 8 Wheels Host Receive SF Landmark Status

11-2-2023  -  What is a Park - The GodFather of Skate

8-11 2023  -  The Bold Italic - Inside the Church of 8 Wheels, we worship good vibes only

Live DJs, colorful lights and roller skates: San FranDISCO is here - 11-29-2022

San FranDISCO holiday roller rink - 11-28-2022

San Francisco votes YES for car-free streets and homeless oversite - 11-28-2022

Cities became more pedestrian-friendly during the pandemic. Many aren't going back - 11-27-2022

A groovy new disco roller rink is now open in San Francisco - 11-22-2022

'San FranDISCO' transforms Civic Center into 5,000-square-foot pop-up roller skating rink - 10-18-2022

SF unveils new ‘San FranDISCO' roller rink in Civic Center - 10-16-2022

S.F. roller skaters rejoice: A pop-up rink is coming to Civic Center - 10-13-2022

Wanna Try Roller-Skating in San Francisco? Better Head to Church

San Francisco voters ensure stretch of JFK Drive remains closed to cars - 11-8-2022

SF votes to keep JFK Drive closed to cars

The GodFather of Skate's quest to help revitalize downtown San Francisco - 11-5-2022

+Three Owls Rescued from Inside Church of 8 Wheels on Fillmore - 4-1-22

+Car-free JFK Drive isn’t just for the young, wealthy and fit. That’s a myth its opponents want you to believe - 3-5-22

+Church of 8 Wheels - Holy Rollers Unite!!!  -  2-16-22

+Hundreds attend Golden Gate Park rally to promote car-free JFK Drive  - 2-12-22

+David Miles Jr., the ‘Godfather of Skate,’ brings a new mural to Golden Gate Park  - 1-12-22

+Total SF: These spiritual spaces in San Francisco are good for your soul  -  7-7-21

+Hundreds rally for “JFK Thrive,” not JFK Drive  - 4-11-21

+Golden Gate Park’s main drag has been closed to cars during the pandemic. The fight over its future is heating up  - 4-6-22

+My 40+ year fight with SF museums over street safety in Golden Gate Park  - 3-30-21

+ We've Spent Thousands. Now the Church of 8 Wheels is closing again  -  3-18-21

+ SF's Church of 8 Wheels hits breaks again after reopening for only a few days  - 3-17-21

+Indoor roller skating back in S.F. as Church of 8 Wheels reopens - 3-13-21

+ The Holy Rollers - S.F. Weekly - 11-25-2020

+San Francisco's nightlife lives on at a roller rink in Golden Gate Park - SF Gate - 11-12-2020

+San Francisco's Church of 8 Wheels was almost razed. Now it's reopening at reduced capacity - SF Gate - 11-6-2020.

+Jingle All the Way - St. Helena Winter Rollerland - 11-27-2019

+Public Art Roller Rink Brings Disco Skating To Ft. Mason - SF Chronicle - 9-11-2019

Sept. 2019 - Burning Man Award - Black Rock Roller Disco

+Roller Revival - 40 Years of Roller Skating in Golden Gate Park - KQED - The California Report - 7-12-2019

+Roller Revival - 40 Years of Roller Skating in Golden Gate Park - KTVU Fox 2 - 7-12-2019

+Legend Of The Skate Patrol, Guardians of Golden Gate Park - SF Chronicle - 7-11-2019

+S.F. Chronicle Podcast - Golden Gate Park Roller Tribute with David Miles - 7-11-2019

+ The Bay Area Reporter - MAGA Hat Slasher Arrested - 4-4-2019

+The Bay Area Reporter - The MAGA Hat Slasher - 4-3-2019

+S.F. Examiner - Church of 8 Wheels founder beset by attacks, conspiracy theories  after stabbing outside venue - 4-2-2019

+KPIX5 News - MAGA Hat Wearing, Sword-Wielding Assailant  Slashs Man Outside San Francisco Roller Rink - 4-1-2019

+ S.F.Chronicle - Sword wielder in MAGA hat slashes man outside SF Roller Rink - 3-31 2019

+ S.F. Examiner - Man slashed by sword-wielding assailant  wearing MAGA hat  - 3-31-2019

+ Atlas Obscura -   At the Church of 8 Wheels, Roller Skating Fans Prayers Have Been Answered - Feb. 25, 2019

Sept. 2018  -  Burning Man Award - Black Rick Roller Disco

8-8-2018   -  Roller Skating Keeps It's Groove In A Changing Bay Area - SF Chronicle -

9-22-2017  -  These 1970s Golden Gate Park roller skaters are pure joy!!!  SF Chronicle

Sept. 2017  -  Burning Man Award - Black Rock Roller Disco

 7-1-2017  -  Learn the GodFather's Skate Moves - Modern Luxury/San Francisco Magazine

11-27-2016  -  Hidden Gems!!! The Church of 8 Wheels - The California Report - KQED

Sept. 2016  -  Burning Man Award - Black Rock Roller Disco

8-26-2016  -  Burning Man's, "GodFather of Skate" keeps the party rollin' at the Black Rock Roller Disco - The Guardian

8-26-2016   -  Burning Man's, "GodFather of Skate" keeps the party rollin' at the Black Rock Roller Disco - The Guardian  

10-30-2015  -  Godfather of Skate’ graces Golden Gate Park - S.F. Chronicle -

Sept. 2015  -  Burning Man Award - Black Rock Roller Disco

 7-1-2015  -  How a bricklayer from Kansas City became the next Almighty - Leisure Issue - The New Astrisk

 6-9-2015  -  San Franciso's "GodFather of Skate" fosters skate club in Kenya - NBC Bay Area

 5-28-2015  -  Crazy in love with a dying sport in GG Park - SF Chronicle

 10-15-2014  -  Church of 8 Wheels - Best of the Bay - SF Bay Guardian

Sept. 2014  -  Burning Man Award - Black Rock Roller Disco

8-1-2014  -  Holy Rollers Ride Again - S.F. Chronicle -

7-16-2014  -  Roller Skating Lessons @ the Church of 8 Wheels - S.F. Chronicle - Roller Skating Lessons

7-1-2014  -  Church of 8 Wheels - Best of the Bay - San Francisco Magazine

6-1-2014  -  Church of 8 Wheels - Best of the Bay - S.F. Weekly

4-18-2014  -  There's a Roller Disco in an old San Francisco Church - The Bold Italic

4-17-2014  -  S.F.Weekly - Shake Your Groove Thing: Q&A with the GodFather of Skate

4-16-2014  -  Full stop - The GodFather of Skate

4-4-2014  -  S.F. Chronicle Old Sacred Heart Church site now a roller-skating sanctuary - S. F. Chronicle

3-27-2014  -  Holy Rollin' - Skate Nights Are Wheely Fun - Bay Area Reporter

11-20-2013  -  Secretly Awesome: Roller Skating in an Abandoned Church - Hoodline

11-20-2013  -  Holy Rollers: Skaters overtake S.F. church tonight - SF Gate

Sept. 2012  -  Burning Man Award - Black Rock Roller Disco

Sept. 2011  -  Burning Man Award - Black Rock Roller Disco

7-10-2011  -  Napa Valley Inline Marathon and Half Marathon - Front Page - Napa Valley Register

4-5-2011  -  David Miles Jr. Reigns As The Park's Skating Mayor - S.F. Chronicle

4-5-2011  -  Sunday Streets Could Spawn Skating Worlds Record - S.F. Bay Guardian - 4-7-2011

3-17-2011  -  Sunday Streets Kicks Off in the Embarcadero - S.F. Examiner-

3-9-2011  -  When Roller Skating Ruled The Bay Area -

Sept. 2009  -  Burning Man Award - Black Rock Roller Disco

Sept. 2009  -  Burning Man Award - Black Rock Roller Disco

Sept. 2008  -  Burning Man Award - Black Rock Roller Disco

6-29-2009  -  Inline Skaters Rock Valley - Napa Valley Register - The Sports Page

4-5-2009  -  S.F. Examiner - Image of the week - YMCA Youth Skating Program

4-18-2008  -  Santa Monica Daily Press - Skating For A Cause SF To LA

4-15-2008  -  Oakland Tribune - SF to LA - Skaters Roll South Bringing Message of Anti Violence

5-17-2006 - California State Assembly - Unsung Hero Award

5-17-2006  -  San Francisco Tomorrow - Unsung Hero Award

5/17/2006  - San Francisco Board of Supervisors - Certificate of Honor

5-17-2006  -  San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom - Certificate of Honor

5-17-2006  -  Assessor/Recorder - Certificate of Honor

5-17-2006  -  California State Senate - Certificate of Recognition

4-25-2006  -  S.F. Examiner - Board Approves Car Ban On JFK Drive

12-18-2006  -  S.F. Examiner - Just Rolling With It

4-15-2006  -  S.F. Examiner - Saturday ban on cars in the park clears hurtle

12-11-2006  -  S.F. Examiner - Heart Of The City

4-10-2006 -  S.F. Chronicle - Autos On The Agenda

3-14-2006 - San Francisco Chronicle "Outdoors" - Spreading the word in an effort to hold off middle aged spread

3-6-2006 - Oakland Tribune "High Roller" - David Miles Tries to Keep Bay Area Scene Hoppin'.

3-8-2004  -  S.F. Examiner - Rolling Through Time in Golden Gate Park

4-8-2003  -  S.F.Chronicle "Outdoors" - It's All Downhill From Here

2-25-2003 - S.F. Chronicle - Supervisors Toying (again) with baring park traffic on Saturdays

7-11-2000  -  S.F.Independent - Front Page - Signature Day At City Hall

6-20-2002  -  Napa Valley Register - Skaters Sing Praises of Silverado Trail

6-13-2002 - The Weekly Calistogan - Silverado Trail Set to Close for Skaters

2-13-2002 - S.F. Bay Guardian - Battle of the Network Stars

10-15-2001 - S.F. Chronicle - SF to LA  Skate-A-Thon - Skate Against Terrorism

3-3-2000  -  Forbes Magazine - Forbeslife - Raucous packs of inline skaters are commandeering streets all over the world

7-25-1999  -  S.F. Examiner - Contest On Wheels

March, 1999  -  Boy Scouts of America - The Skate Police

12-3-1998  -  S.F. Examiner - Searching For Missing Woman

April, 1998  -  Sunset Magazine - Rockin' and Rollin' In The City

10-23-1997  -  City of Los Angeles - Certificate of Commendation - 1997 Skate Against Violence Campaign

10-22-1997  -  San Jose Mercury News - Lining Up to Combat Violence

10-14-1997  -  City of Santa Monica - Proclamation - Skate Against Violence Week

7-2-1998  -  S.F.Chronicle "Outdoors" Surviving the Inline Shakeout

8-7-1997 - San Francisco Chronicle - Golden Gate Park Sunday Traffic Plan Irks Bikers, Skaters

8-6-1997  -  S.F. Examiner - New Plan Would Let deYoung Stay Put

4-16-1997  -  San Francisco Chronicle - Skaters Seek Share Of The Streets

3-26-1997  -  S.F. Weekly - Night Crawler

March, 1997  -  Fitness and Speedskating Times - I don't know, I just follow the crowd

7-20-1995 - San Jose Mercury News - The Bridge to Boardwalk Roll San Francisco to Santa Cruz

9-5-1996  -  Wall Street Journal - More people taking up skating by starlight

11-21-1995  -  S.F. Independent - Front Page - Friday Night Fever

October / November - 1995  -  Inline Magazine - The Streets Of San Francisco

3-13-1995  -  S.F. Examiner - When Irish Feet Are Skating

2-24-1996  -  The New York Times - National Report - Night Skaters Claim Streets as Their Own

1-17-1996  -  S.F. Chronicle "Wednesday Special" - The Midnight Rollers Friday Night Skate

11-4-1993  -  San Francisco Chronicle - Invasion of the Rollerbladers

11-5-1993  -  S.F.Examiner - Shooting Victim's Friends Mourn - Skate Patroller Bruce Marshall

9-2-1993  -  S.F. Chronicle "Outdoors" - Inline Skaters Move To The Music

1-11-1993 - S. F. Chronicle - Front Page - Melanie Miles

12-13-1992 - Tri Valley Herald - Front Page - Skating Away

12-13-1992 - The Valley Times - Skating Enthusiast Roll into Pleasanton

8-24-1992  -  Long Beach Press Telegram - Kryptonics Championships - On a Roll

August, 1992  -  California Lawyer Magazine 50th Anniversary

November, 1991  -  Sunset Magazine - Why Leave It To The Sharks

6-30-1991 - Long Beach Press Telegram - Kryptonics Championship -Rolling For The Gold

6-10-1991  -  Time Magazine - Whiz, Zoom, Crash, Ouch

6/3/1991  -  Sports Illustrated - World's Longest Skate Race - Long Day's Roll into Night

5-29-1991  -  S.F. Examiner - "Style" - Blade Runners of the 21st Century

4-14-1991  -  The Fresno Bee - Front Page - Worlds Longest Skate Race - Fresno to Bakersfield

4-14-1991 - The Bakersfield Californian - Front Page - The Worlds Longest Skate Race - Fresno to Bakersfield

2-23-1991 - S.F. Examiner - Skating on the Freeway

2-22-1991  -  Oakland Tribune - Taking a Final Spin

12-26-1990  -  S.F. Examiner - Front Page - S.F.'s Coldest Christmas

9-13-1990  -  The San Mateo Times - Slight of hand - and foot

3-19-1990  -  S.F.Chronicle "Outdoors" - Roller Skating

March, 1990 - Golden Gate Park Skate Patrol - Explorer Post 582

2-22-1990  -  S.F. Chronicle "Outdoors" - Roller Revolution

1-9-1990  -  S.F. Examiner - Skate Crusaders

8-21-1989  -  S.F. Chronicle "Outdoors" - SkateFest in Golden Gate Park

3-25-1989  -  S.F. Examiner - The Parks Real Wheeler Dealer

Fall, 1987  -  Skate Express Magazine - San Francisco Skaters Keep Golden Gate Park Smooth

8-28-1987  -  S.F. Independent - Inside San Francisco

May, 1987  -  S.F. Chronicle "Outdoors" -  Roller Workout

9-9-1986 - The Golden Gator - A County Fair San Francisco Style

9-8-1986  -  S.F. Chronicle - S.F. Fair Ends With Big Ideas For 1987

7-24-1983  -  S.F. Chronicle - Front Page - Datebook - Tha San Francisco Urban Fair

3-14-1983  -  San Francisco Board of Supervisors - Certificate of Honor - Golden Gate Park Skate Patrol

6-7-1982  -  S.F. Examiner - High Rollers In The Park

Oct. 1980  -  Roller Skating Magazine - SF To LA - Taking it To The Streets

8-11-1980 - S.F. Chronicle - Golden Gate Park Skate Patrol

3-24-1980 - S.F. Chronicle - Front Page - Skaters' Day In The Sun

June, 1979 - S. F. Chronicle - And Now They Want Music Too

3-15-1979 -   S. F. Chronicle - What has 8 wheels, padded antlers and wears pink satin shorts?

8-21-1977  -  It all began in 1977

 

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