Ask Coach Caroline Mirelli how long she has been roller skating, and she'll reply, "Forever." She turned 80 in February and learned to skate when she was 9, so "forever" translates into 71 years.

In her skating skirt, hat and leopard-print skates, Mirelli looks like she could easily skate another 71 years or more.

Mirelli, who lives in Whitehaven, enjoyed a bit of fame in the late '40s and early '50s as a part of the professional Skating Vanities show. "It was a 'Holiday on Ice' type of show with skaters and other acts like vaudeville, ballet and a person who walked on a giant wooden ball," she says. The Vanities performed all over Europe for audiences that included the queen of England, and even had an audience with the pope.

Her husband, Tony Mirelli, was also in the show, and they performed together for five years. "He did a comedy routine where he ran across the floor in shoes he made himself with recessed wheels," says Mirelli, crediting him with inventing the shoes now popularly known as Heelys. "I wish he had a patent."

Mirelli has many happy memories and stories from her days in the Vanities. "We had quite a life traveling," she says, "but we left the show when I found out I was pregnant." Sadly, the baby lived only for 12 days. A friend of the family suggested she start teaching children to skate.

That was in 1957, and Mirelli has been instructing ever since. (The couple later had a daughter, Kelli, who was born in 1972.)

In 1991, after her husband died, Mirelli almost hung up her skates for good. That's when local rink owner Mike Morris handed her the keys to East End and Cordova skating centers.

Mirelli has lost count of the number of students she has had, but guesses it's in the hundreds. She knows for sure that at least 20 of them have been national champions.

"There have been some awesome skaters to come out of Memphis," she says.

Currently, there are 25 members in the Memphis Figure Roller Skating Club. Mirelli also teaches group lessons for 20 to 45 students on Saturday mornings at East End and Thursday nights at Cordova. On Monday evenings at East End, she teaches a group of seven to 10 adults.

"Skating is freedom, and rolling around feels good," says Mirelli. "I'm seeing more adults skating now than ever."

Caroline's club skaters often help her out with her group lessons, especially on Saturday mornings for the age 10-and-under class.

"I call them my 'little coaches,' and they help put the skates on the little ones and take care of them," she says proudly.

Being in the club can be expensive when you add up dues, skates and costumes, but Mirelli says it gives the skaters an opportunity to travel and build confidence.

"How many kids can stay on the floor for two minutes all by themselves in front of their peers and judges?" she asks. "They have to know their routines and keep focus. A lot of kids can't keep focus."

The club skaters practice from 7 to 10 a.m. almost every day during the summer. "It's a discipline," says Mirelli. "They have to stay healthy."

Pamela Hall's twin daughters, Mallory and Morgan, 12, started skating four years ago. They went to East End with a friend one afternoon and loved it. When they got better, they joined the club.

"It gives them a sense of belonging, and the competition increases their self-esteem," says Hall.

The twins practice 10 to 12 hours a week, and their hard work has paid off. Both girls have taken home multiple awards at the regional competitions, and in 2009, Mallory won first place in the inline category at nationals.

"Coach will come any day you want to come; that's her passion," says Hall.

Mirelli says roller figure skating is much harder than ice figure skating. "It's the same moves, but the blades on ice skates make some of them easier," she says. "We call it cheating."

"Many people can't believe what we can do on roller skates," says Mirelli, adding that roller skaters can easily transition to ice skating, but not vice versa.

The club skaters are like a big family. "We have group birthday parties every three months, one of the adult skaters brings doughnuts every Saturday, and in general we have a lot of fellowship and funship," says Mirelli.

The club puts on two special programs every year -- summer and Christmas. "The Christmas show is our opportunity to give back," says Mirelli. "We always pick a charity to give our proceeds to. The summer show is a recital for us."

Mirelli choreographs all the routines and designs all the costumes. In February there is a three-day meet. Judges come from all over the region, and it gives the club skaters in Memphis and the region an opportunity to take achievement tests in figures, freestyle and dance. Mirelli thinks it's important for the skaters to work toward a goal.

The club skaters are encouraged to compete in several categories. "People tease that I make my skaters do everything, but I like variety. One day they'll specialize," she says.

In 2004, Mirelli was inducted into the USARS (USA Roller Sports) Coaches Hall of Fame, in 2009 she was named an Elite Coach, and this year she was named Coach of the Year.

Mirelli is proud of her awards, but cherishes the connections she has formed with the skaters. "Being a widow, I could have just given up, but I knew there was more to life if I had something to offer."

More information:

East End Skating Center, 5718 Mount Moriah Road (363-7785)

Cordova Skating Center, 7970 Club Center Drive (755-0221)

© 2010 Memphis Commercial Appeal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.