Thought I'd do a little research on Kappa, and came up with this little gem. Sounds like a perfect fit with the skates:
a kappa is a japanese water monster.
the kappa has a beak, webbed feet and a shell on its back and dwells under bridges, pouncing on any who attempt to cross the river. The kappa also has a bowl-like head, in which it keeps a small amount of water, and this is a key to apparently defeating this monster. when you are confronted by a kappa, your only hope is to make it bow to you, thus making the water fall out of its head and draining it of its power.