2024 has been an exceptional year for inline skating. With the community slowly adjusting back to some level of normalcy in a post-Covid world, skaters from all over are making the most of their time and enjoying life and all that comes along with it. That often means spending time with friends and loved ones, traveling to new locations, and of course, strapping on the skates for a fun session. We decided to speak with some of Blading’s best and brightest stars to see what 2024 brought them.
JARO FRIJN
Where did you start 2024?
At the beginning of 2024, I knew the year would bring many competitions. My goal was to participate in as many of them as possible and perform at my best and to really make a living out of inline skating. Alongside that, I wanted to explore and expand my own skating style. This meant spending more time skating street.
Where did you end in 2024?
I ended 2024 on a great high! Becoming 3rd at the World Championships, doing a skate show in front of 15,000 people and traveling a bunch. After seven years with USD, I decided to make a fresh start by switching to IQON. They’ve put me on the pro team which is another step up the ladder.
What are some of your favorite memories from this year?
The greatest memory of 2024 is probably the World Championships in Rome. My family and good friend came along, which made it felt more like a good old holiday. With that feeling in mind I skated the competition without any big mistakes. It made it extra special to have them all there.
What were some spots you traveled to this year?
At the beginning of the year, I visited my good friend Adriaan Portmans in Barcelona to work on my street skating and enjoy some time away from the rainy, cold weather of the Netherlands. After that, I participated in Winterclash, but I quickly escaped to sunnier places again. I traveled to France, Italy, the UK, and the US.
What were some of your favorite musical artists or songs that you enjoyed this year?
Besides skating I’m also a DJ. Well I am most likely to DJ old school Hip-Hop, Afrobeats, and House. But ever since I was young I would always listen to “Power” by Kanye West. Even now when they let me pick a song for finals, I choose this one.
What are some photos or videos that sum up your experiences in 2024?
Peep Jaro Frijn’s winning performance at the SPT Jam in Liverpool, UK
Peep Jaro Frijn’s appearance on Wheel Scene‘s Platform podcast
What were some goals that you accomplished this year?
My goal was to make a living entirely from inline skating, even though I knew it wouldn’t always be easy. With the endless support of This Is Soul Skateshop (@thisissoul) and my recent switch from USD to IQON, I finally somewhat achieved it. At 24, I’m no longer living with my parents and I am focused on building a stable income and life. (As much as you can as an inline skater, haha)
What did you wish you had done in the year but missed the opportunity?
I think I lived 2024 to it’s fullest. It’s probably been the best year of my life so far, and there’s nothing I would do differently.
What is something that made you grow as a person this year?
After tearing my ACL and outer meniscus in 2022, I had to undergo three surgeries in total. The last one was right after my 3rd place finish at Winterclash 2023. To this day, I still deal with the aftermath on a daily basis. To keep my body as strong as possible, I do strength and conditioning training three times a week. With all that in mind I manged to end 2024 in a healthy way.
What is something that kept you going or motivated you this year?
My motivation has been to showcase this beautiful sport to people who may not know about it. I’ve focused on growing the sport through shows, competitions, lessons, and social media. Also making a living from inline skating is a big middle finger to all the people that said you coudn’t. haha
What are you looking forward to in 2025?
I’m really hyped about the relationship I have with This Is Soul Skateshop (@thisissoul) and IQON (@iqon_brand). There are a lot of exciting things coming up, one of which is a street edit that I’m really looking forward to.
Photos provided by Dominique Wagner & Katy Viola
Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more quality skate content.
