Jim and Jan Barnett, three-year residents of Summerset IV in Brentwood, recently returned from competing in the United States National Artistic Roller Skating Championships in Ft. Wayne, Ind. Jim received the second-place silver medal in the over 65 Adult Golden Men’s Solo Dance event, and Jan receive the first-place gold medal in the 55 and over Adult Veteran’s Ladies Solo Dance Division.

The Barnetts have been involved with the sport of artistic roller skating most of their lives, skating, teaching and competing in rinks and auditoriums all over the United States. They’ve spent the past three seasons representing the Fountain Valley Skating Center in Southern California, traveling there every five or six weeks for lessons and practice with their 80-year-old coach, Bob LaBriola. Between trips to Fountain Valley, the Barnetts travel north for weekly practice sessions at the Sunrise Rink in Citrus Heights.

Jim, who serves on the maintenance staff at Summerset IV, believes it’s never too late to take up and enjoy the sport of roller skating. “Adults comprise over 49 percent of the competitive skaters in the USA National Roller Sports Association,” he said. “Skating is fun, healthy and very social.”