Skating sisters on a roll
Meet the Hines sisters – Sonnet Hines, a Professional Communications student at TMU, and her sister, Geneva, a recent TMU Media Production grad. Until 2021, they had never roller skated before. But in the midst of the pandemic, they gave it a shot – and today, they’re hooked. Watch above to hear the impact it's had on their lives and how the skills they've learned at TMU are helping them share their journey.
(Video: Toronto Metropolitan University/YouTube)
When the Hines sisters first started getting into roller skating, they had no idea where it would lead.
“I just thought it was going to be like, maybe going to the rink every once in a while,” said Sonnet, 20, a third-year professional communications student in The Creative School at TMU.
Her sister, Geneva, 23, who graduated from the media production program in 2023, echoed the sentiment.
“I just thought it would be a way to get outside and try something new. But then we started meeting people and making connections, saw there were festivals and events, and a whole international community – it just kind of snowballed,” she said.
‘I could probably do that’
It all started in 2021, in the midst of the pandemic, when videos of people roller skating on TikTok first caught Geneva’s eye.
“I was like, ‘I think I could probably do that’, and there wasn't a lot to do… It just seemed like something fun to try out,” she said, noting that the sisters had grown up playing competitive soccer, and were missing that athletic outlet and challenge.
So, she went online to Retro Rollers, and clicked.
“I got the last pair of size nine key lime skates," Geneva grinned. "They arrived, funnily enough, on my birthday. So that was the first day that I got to skate."
Just a few weeks later, Sonnet’s phys. ed. teacher assigned her class to try something new.
Having seen her sister experimenting with the sport, she said, “I thought, ‘You know what? I'll make this my challenge’. And then it didn't stop – I was like, ‘Oh, this is, this is really fun,’” she said, explaining that she borrowed her mom’s old skates to mark her debut.
“Ya, and she never got them back,” Geneva laughed.
From there, the more the sisters got into skating the more hooked they became.
From advancing their ability to skate on four wheels, to the thrill of mastering new moves, to connecting with people of all ages and backgrounds, attending community events and festivals – roller skating became far more than “going to the rink once and awhile”.
Authentic online presence
So much so, they began documenting their experience online. With skills in motion graphics, design, video editing and more honed during their TMU studies — Hines Sisters Skate was born — which is the name of the Instagram account showcasing their journey.
“And we don’t just show the end result of some crazy move,” Geneva said. “We show the process of how we learn and build up to doing it,” she said, noting that they wanted to be as authentic as possible with their content.
What’s more, Geneva has even channeled her creative skills into launching Hinesight Design, creating and selling custom-illustrated designs and roller skating wear, inspired by her passion for the sport.
Today, the sisters say the impact of roller skating extends to almost every aspect of their lives.
“It’s just given us so much joy,” said Sonnet.
“The connections we’ve made are amazing. You know, you can become friends with someone who’s 65 and someone who’s 15 all in the same community,” she said.
She also says the physical challenge of the sport has been rewarding.
“We’re competitive, we like sports. So, just being able to compete against ourselves and say, ‘What can we do with our body? What move can we do next?” -Sonnet Hines
The travel aspect also inspires them to keep rolling — with a skating event in Spain already set for next year.
But that’s not all.
Social skills, life lessons
“It’s the confidence I’ve gained. The way I’ve been able to grow, discover who I am, and connect with people,” said Sonnet.
“Sometimes, it can be daunting to go to different places and talk to new people. I can get nervous with that. But the more I skate, the better I get at those conversations."
“Plus, it’s the life lessons. The different perspectives people give me - we’re learning that there’s more than one way to do things,” she continued.
Geneva agrees.
For instance, she says, when there's a “cypher” (a circle that’s formed and a skater goes into the middle to freestyle), it’s hard to work up the nerve to give it a shot.
“I'm, like, terrified… But, everyone kind of takes turns. You don't have to go in, but we've been trying to challenge ourselves. It takes a lot of courage to get in the middle in front of all these people. So, we’re definitely gaining confidence from that – and we're both good about pushing ourselves to put ourselves in those situations.”
In terms of advice for TMU students and community members, the pair say the experience has taught them the importance of taking the first step.
“There are so many things you can achieve, and you won’t know until you try,” Sonnet said. “So if there’s something you’re thinking about, just do it.”
Geneva adds, “That’s it – just start, and don't be too caught up in perfection… You have to start from somewhere, so just put yourself out there… You’ll never know what could happen.”
Follow Geneva and Sonnet at Hines Sisters Skate at @hinesisterskate on Instagram.
To check out Hinesight Design, visit @hinesight.design on Instagram or TikTok.