Remembering Mike Lufholm: passionate skater, photographer, and loving father. His legacy lives on through family and the skating community.

Remembering Mike Lufholm

Mike (#703) smiling through the pouring rain at the 2022 NSIM.
Photo by Maureen Steltz Photography

This past Saturday, September 14th, the skating community lost a beloved figure, Mike Lufholm, who tragically passed away at the Northshore Inline Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota, while doing what he loved most: skating. Mike was not just a dedicated rollerblader but a pillar of our community, his life revolving around the sport, from his roots in aggressive skating to his love for long-distance skating and marathons.

Mike had competed in numerous Northshore events, constantly pushing himself to achieve more. Just this past June, he secured first place in the Recreational 30 to 39 Men class at the Apostle Island Marathon in Wisconsin, a testament to his talent and determination. His passion for skating extended far beyond competition, as he took joy in the simple act of rolling, feeling the wind in his face, and pushing his limits on the road.

In addition to his love for skating, Mike was an avid photographer. His lens captured the essence of the sport he adored and the beauty of night photography and nature. His work can be found on his website, mikelufholm.com, showcasing his keen eye for detail and his ability to tell stories through his images. Over the years, Mike became an integral part of the Minneapolis aggressive skating scene, documenting countless skaters and sharing his work with various inline skating publications. His photographs immortalized moments that would have otherwise slipped away, creating a lasting legacy for the skating community.

Some of Mike’s photography includes Chris Farmer skating (top left), light painting (bottom left), and his toughest shot, Palisade Head at -50°F (right).

Mike’s connection to the sport went beyond his skating and photography. He was an ambassador for Rollerblade, constantly advocating for the sport and inspiring others to discover the joy of inline skating. In 2020, Mike wrote an article for Big Wheel Blading about his experience inline skating 153 miles over four days along Minnesota’s scenic North Shore. His generosity matched his dedication to the sport, which involved sharing his experiences and wisdom with others. In 2021, we had the pleasure of interviewing Mike about his skating journey and photography, learning firsthand about his love for both.

But above all, Mike was a devoted husband and father. He leaves behind his wife, Erin, and their beautiful daughter, Olivia, born just three weeks ago. While skating may have been Mike’s lifelong passion, his greatest joy was being a father. He loved Olivia deeply, and those who knew him saw what an incredible father he had already become. His loss is felt profoundly by his family, friends, and the entire skating community.

In this time of unimaginable grief, family and friends have set up a GoFundMe page to support Erin and Olivia. Any donation, no matter how small, will help them during this challenging time.

Mike was not just a friend to many of us in the skating world—he was an inspiration, a mentor, and a true lover of life. His absence leaves a void that cannot be filled, but his legacy, his influence, his love for skating and his family, will continue to roll on with every skater who steps onto the pavement. Mike Lufholm will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.

Skating the Rollin’ on the River Inline Marathon in Grand Forks, ND. Photo by Maureen Steltz (left), Makio on a rail self portraint (top right), Skating down a parking garage (bottom right)