Always just rented skates as well. The girls could all skate backwards, and even spin around. I crashed instantly every time I tried anything showy. Crashed a lot without trying anything showy.
When I went back to school in very early 90s, lots of students on campus used those two-wheel rollerblades as a means of transportation.
The bowling alley in my town had a couple of pool tables and the billiard room was the big hangout for a while. I could have some modest success shooting pool in those days.