Camden, NJ roller skating duo gets shoutout from Ebony Magazine

Jadaliz Guzman says she picked up skating less than a year ago.

Christie Ileto Image
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Roller skating duo who share special bond on the rink go viral
A viral video shows a special relationship that a roller skater from Mt. Airy has with a 6-year-old girl who he credits with helping him learn to roller skate.

CAMDEN, New Jersey (WPVI) -- We all need a little two-step in our lives on this Friday eve, and this adorable video featuring two roller skaters from the Philadelphia area got a major shoutout from Ebony Magazine on Instagram.

Inside Millennium Skate World in Camden, Darian McFadden has been teaching 6-year-old Jadaliz Guzman how to two-step on roller skates.

Guzman picked up skating less than a year ago.

McFadden says he would see the Guzman skating on Saturdays and would watch her and another instructor for basic things like how to balance on the wheels. Then one day she began coming to him for tips.

"Her grandmother had come up to me one day and said, 'Jada asked, she wants to skate just like you and she asked me to ask you if you could teach her some things,'" recalled McFadden.

Now every Saturday the two of them skate together.

Guzman says she trains with another instructor and learns fun tricks from McFadden. Their special bond went viral after Ebony Magazine and Blavity on Instagram spotlighted their fun video.

"It's my passion," said Guzman.

"We have a close little tight bond," said McFadden. "When I get to the skating rink, she's happy to see me, and I'm happy to see her. It's heartwarming to see that people like to see positive things."