Archive for the 'Inline' Category
We have been discussing some of the basics of roller skate terminolgy and skate selection this week. Yesterday it was quad skates and today we are going to look at the main types of inline skates. Inline skates are very popular for good reason, particulary if you want to skate outdoors or to speed skate. They behave much like ice skates with three to five wheels aligned in a straight line. They are preferred for outdoor fitness skating but actually there are 4 primary types of inline skates:
- Racing Skates: The sole purpose of Racing Inline Skates is to go fast. The boot is designed to fit closely to the foot in order to reduce wind resistance. The wheels are designed to interchange easily to allow the skater to skate either indoors or outdoors.
- Fitness Inline Skates: The inline fitness skate is aimed at the skater that likes to skate outdoors and whose main goal is to exercise enjoyably. The boots are high top which gives the skater very good foot and ankle support. That can be a factor on some outdoor terrain. They are also designed to be very comfortable so the wearer can skate for longer periods without foot fatigue.
- Aggressive Skates: Aggressive skates are primarily aimed at the outdoor skater that likes to perform tricks. They require a durable, supportive skate.
- Hockey Skates: Inline hockey skates are designed for the sport of roller hockey, an activity that is growing in popularity, particularly among active kids and young adults. This is another high top skate to afford good foot protection and support. The competitive nature of roller hockey calls for a very durable skate to stand up to the abuse it will receive.
Guess that will do it for today folks, now all you have to do is – go shopping!
Yesterday we talked about the term “durometer” and what it means to the skater. Today let’s touch upon the term “ ABEC” and what it means to the roller skater.
Bearings
ABEC is a term used in conjunction with the bearings that fit inside the wheels of your roller skates. It stands for Annular Bearing Engineers Committee. All that mouthful means is that “ABEC” is a rating to determine the heat tolerance, rotating accuracy and other measurements of a bearing.
Basically, at least in theory, the higher the ABEC number the better the bearing. What I mean is, not all bearing manufacturers rate their bearings and some of those are the best bearings available, Powell-Bones for instance. Also, the difference between a high rated bearing and a lower rated one can be very hard to detect at the rink.
The long and short of this term is that it gives you a tool for comparing skates but don’t depend on it as the final determing factor when buying. Don’t hestitate to talk to your fellow skaters and get their opinions.
Champion
Inline Skates
Yesterday we talked about the various kinds of quad and inline skates and some of the differences. Lets continue that discussion with some of the unfamiliar roller skate terms that you will encounter when you start seriously skate shopping. Let’s deal with durometer today.
Durometer – this rather daunting word refers to the hardness of a skate wheel. A low durometer represents a softer wheel and a high durometer represents a harder one. Generally you can go on the premise that the higher the durometer the faster the wheel and therefore the faster the skate. Low durometer wheels grip the skating surface better while high durometer wheels tend to be slicker.
Those who intend to use their skate outdoors should try to hold to a durometer of 88A or less. Most indoor or rink wheels will have a durometer of 94A or higher. The experts consider a 94A wheel as being “grippy” while a wheel of 95A or higher is “firm”
Most recreational indoor skates come with wheels of 95A durometer. This gives them a good roll but they tend to have poorer traction on turns. You need to decide which of those qualities is most important to you.
Tomorrow we’ll get into “ABEC”. See you then.
The other day we were talking about the differences between inline skates and quad skates. Today let’s touch on the way they differ when you actually put them on.
Inline Fitness Skate
Today inline skates are primarily used outdoors although you will find some rink skaters using them. Inlines behave more like ice skates than quads do so many ice skaters start out with inlines when first starting in roller skating. Many fitness skates are inlines as are most European speed skates.
There is growing interest in quad skates for rink skating, particularly the artistic or dance skating. Quads are usually easier to manuever for shuffle moves and dance-style skating with a great feeling of stability. The high top “Artistic Style” skate has a narrower wheel and base than a speed skate in order to allow the skater to do intricate moves. This also makes them an ideal choice for the recreational skater.
Inline Skater
Speed style quad skates have a low boot with a wider wheel and wider base than the art skates. They are made to go fast and hold on the corners. “Jam Skaters” generally use them for their very athletic acrobatic moves. Finally, skaters involved in the modern version of roller derby like the low boot and wide wheels of the quad speed skate.
Most of us think of the high top boot when we think of quad skates but there are some really neat looking low top, speed style boots and they are becoming more and more popular.
Low Top Quads
Generally speeaking, you can equate price with quality in roller skates. In many cases a low price skate is a low quality skate. Leather boots are still the standard for comfort and durability but many modern synthetics are very close behind. While you may not get much when you buy a low price skate they may be the beginning skaters best choice. You can then upgrade without as much pain when you know what you really want.
So you’re thinking of taking up roller skating? Thinking that maybe it might be fun and even help you lose a few pounds, get into shape and meet some new friends? You couldn’t be any righter! To intoduce you to the basics of this very enjoyable sport we have prepared a concise summary of some of the terms you will run across.
Quad Roller Skates: A type of roller skate with four wheels arranged just like car wheels. A traditional choice with good stability.
Inline Skates or Blades: Skates with three, four or even five wheels arranged in single line. This type of roller skate is a good transition for ice skaters and is popular with the speed skater or the hockey skater. Also known to some as roller blading.
Roller skating has evolved from a pastime to a sport activity due to its popularity. Roller skating is also recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA) as an aerobic fitness sport. Taking long strides can help increase the heart rate and strengthen the back muscles. Studies have shown that roller skating is equivalent (or in some cases superior) to jogging or cycling since it utilizes all of the body’s muscles. You can burn up to 600 calories while skating 10 miles per hour. According to the statistics released by the National Sporting Goods Association, inline skating topped the list of sports that witnessed the greatest growth between 1993 and 1998, in terms of participants. Roller skating is a fun and effective way of participating in fitness activities.
Tomorrow we’ll discuss the different roller skating sports. You will find that there is something for everyone in this activity.
Even on the nicest summer day replete with sunny skies and a slight refreshing breeze, it can be difficult to muster much enthusiasm for a workout routine. Running is tough on the joints, and its long-term effects arenât all beneficial. Low-impact cardiovascular workouts are often the best way to get in shape fast.
The health benefits of outdoor inline skates are noticeable in a very short time, and the fun starts instantly. A durable pair of fitness skates can coax even the most reluctant person into enjoying some healthy exercise. Skating is an intrinsically social activity, so groups of friends can get in the act.
Aggressive inline skating, or commonly referred to as Rollerblading, is an extreme sport that has emerged into the mainstream over the last ten to fifteen years. These skaters usually perform many different kinds of tricks on a variety of courses. The skates used by aggressive inline skaters are usually smaller and softer than other inline skates. This allows the skaters to accelerate or decelerate faster, and also have more control over the skates when performing tricks. However these skates have a slower top speed, and are also usually less durable than normal inline skates, so these skaters have to replace their wheels more often than other skaters.
The courses used by aggressive inline skaters are commonly referred to as Vert, Street, and Park. Vert is when the skaters âdrop-inâ to a half pipe so that they can gain speed and do tricks when they shoot up and out of the half pipe. Vert skaters usually perform the most amazing and dangerous tricks because they routinely fly more than ten feet or more above the half pipe. Street skating is when skaters use the natural terrain on the streets to perform their tricks. Some of the obstacles used to perform tricks on are handrails, curbs, ditches, and ledges. Street skating is illegal in some areas, but many skaters do not always conform to the laws and skate there anyway. Park skating is basically a combination of Vert and Street. A Park course is usually constructed to have some of the attributes of what skaters can find on the street, but also have small half pipes and boxes that allow skaters to perform some of the higher flying tricks that are harder to perform on the street.
With the increased success of the X games and extreme sports in general, aggressive inline skating has really thrust itself into the mainstream. More and more kids are starting to play extreme sports which means that this sport will just continue to grow. The professionals of the sport continue to strive to out-do one another so the sky is the limit to where tricks will go in the near future.
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My friend Bob, who considers himself something of an expert when it comes to all things rollerskating, says that my rink skates have wheels that are too hard for outdoor skating. What’s the deal?
Wheel hardness is determined by an “A” scale rating. The higher the number the harder the wheel. The softer wheels that are ideal in the outdoors are rated 78A or 84A. This gives the skate more “rebound” for skating on the uneven surfaces found in sidewalk skating. Rebound makes it possible for a wheel to roll over uneven surfaces rather than bouncing over them like a harder wheel would.
The softer outdoor wheel lends itself to a softer and less tiring ride in addition to making control easier on rougher surfaces.
Guess Bob knows what he’s talking about afer all.
Roller skating is not only fun and super exercise but it’s a great way to socialize, meet people and develop lifelong relationships. While it is a relatively inexpensive sport you don’t wan’t to throw money away foolishly when you are just beginning. Shopping the web is for sure a good way to go but sometimes the dicisions you have to make can be a little scary when you’re new. We’ll be talking about that over the next few days on this blog and hopefully we can make it easier.
One good way to get your feet wet, metaphorically speaking, is to go to the rink and rent some skates so you can try different sizes on your feet. The only problem with that approach is that rental skates tend to get a lot of use and sometimes the fit is pretty sloppy.
In my opinion, you should measure your feet before you even turn on your computer. This gives you a starting point for size decisions and you are well on your way to being a smart shopper.
Stand with your bare foot on a blank piece of paper. trace around your foot and then measure the distance from the back of your heel to the end of the big toe. Do this for both feet just to make sure they don’t differ significantly.
Some websites have charts that will convert this measurement to size but I would just call or e-mail the store that you have chosen and discuss roller skate sizing with them. If they don’t have time for you then you need to find a store that does. After all you’re the consumer here.
There seems to be growing momentum in getting roller sports into the Olympics. This will do a lot to bring our sport to the attention of the world. When you think about it, if ice skating can have an Olympic venue, why shouldn’t roller skating? The possibilities are huge. I can’t wait for the day when we can get as excited about our roller sport stars as we are about ice skaters.