Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Cross.
Hi Jackie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Sure, my name is Jackie and I am Austin’s very own Roller Realtor—to be explained shortly. I grew up roller skating, got a degree in Physics, spent a year in Paris, France before working as an Optical Engineer only to realized it was not what I wanted to spend my life doing, then jumped into Real Estate, all the while maintaining a connection to roller-skating.
Now, when I say I grew up roller skating, I don’t mean casually… I was an athlete training 5-6 days a week with a coach, for at least 2 hours a day on average to become a World Class skater. I succeeded in my efforts and can proudly I am a 3-time world team member. I’ve also been a certified USA Roller Sports instructor and judge. Achieving that level of skating presented me more opportunities than I ever imagined performing in music videos, movies, shows, festivals, and at all sorts of events. Fun fact: I paid my way through Paris, France via roller skating gigs… and teaching French high school students math and physics for the US SAT exams.
Let’s chat more some other time to fill in gaps but to get us caught up to today, I’ll say: I found Real Estate and fell in love. Not only are all my skills optimally utilized in this career, but it works well with roller skating—to my surprise! At the end of 2019, I stopped teaching skating, started saying “no” to skating opportunities, and became a 7 AM- 7 PM dedicated Realtor. When the pandemic hit, everyone started roller skating. My phone rang from past skating students calling in to suggest that I start teaching again due to the increased demand. Lo and behold, I started teaching skating and suddenly I was selling roller skaters houses. When I realized I could do both, I went all in—as I do.
Having benefited SO MUCH from being a skater, I’ve started Ignite On Wheels as my platform to give back. The Ignite On Wheels School of Skating currently has 5 teachers that offer lessons and classes to the general public weekly. Then there is Ignite On Wheels Entertainment which I started to make it easier for local professional-level roller skaters to be found and to create a space where experienced professional skaters can mentor those who are newer to the industry. I’ve been in the very niche space of professional roller skating for over a decade. For clients, it doesn’t take long to realize that there is a big difference between someone who can skate and someone who is a skilled skater. Similarly, there is a big different between someone who can skate and someone who can teach skating.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh goodness no! Haha Is there ever a smooth road to anything? One of the biggest struggles has been finding the right people to work with and keeping the company culture in check. Our company, Ignite On Wheels Entertainment, is fairly new. Though I have been in this industry for a while, I am also fairly new to Austin. Before starting this company, I had been involved with a number of skating groups and I saw how having just one bad egg in the group/company can make things… rough. Having a loose culture that only revolves around one gig at a time is also not ideal. So with this endeavor, I’ve put a lot of thought and effort into outlining culture guidelines, focusing on community and trying to ensure everyone jives with it. This has been a bit of an adventure. I should mention there are 18 skaters on the current roaster and we get new applicants monthly. Having to decline an applicant or part ways with someone is never fun, but it has been necessary and in the end, it is what keeps the company happy and healthy.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Ignite on Wheels Entertainment?
We are a collection of epic Austin-based skaters. We consist of teachers, artists, designers, tech nerds and each of us is utterly in love with roller skating. We have skaters who break dance on skates, do stunts, cartwheels, spins and lifts. We LOVE to perform to live audiences, create content and to teach others how to skate. We look forward to adding roller skating magic to more corporate events, birthday parties, music videos, festivals and films. If you want to learn how to skate, when we aren’t performing, we are often teaching through our School of Skating.
“Ignite” was chosen for the name because the goal is to ignite something new in the skating community, set our passions ablaze and light up the imaginations of our clients and onlookers…
You can read more about our services or sign up for a class through igniteonwheels.com
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Say “No”. Say no to opportunities that do not fit your vision. Say no to people who only take and never give. Say no to the snooze button and get just get out of bed. Say no anything that is a distraction.
I am a born and raised “yes” person. I still say “yes” a lot, but learning to say “no” has been incredibly impactful. You only have 24 hours in a day. Say no to what does not add value to those 24 hours. Then, say “yes” to everything else.
Pricing:
- To book our talent for a project, send us details about the gig and we can provide a quote.
- Our School of Skating classes starts at $25.
- Private lessons are $25-$65
Contact Info:
- Website: igniteonwheels.com
- Instagram: @igniteonwheels
Image Credits
Generally Right Brained (Rachel) Tristan Respress Zoe Otey
