Archive for August, 2009
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!
The last few days we have been talking about roller skate terms and how to use those terms to help us select just the right skates for us. We also talked about inline skates and quad skates. Quads are the “traditional” roller skate and probably what you rented when you went to the rink.
Quads are broken down into two primary categories, indoor or rink skates and outdoor or sidewalk skates.
The indoor grouping is further divided into subcategories depending upon the type of skating being done.
Quad speed skates: Skates meant to go fast with a low cut boot, speed style wheels (harder wheels) and faster bearings. The low cut boot allows greater ankle movement that helps on the corners. This characteristic makes the speed skate popular with the jam (dance) skater also.
Recreational Skates: A style of quad skates that are sometimes referred to as Artistic Skates. These are the traditional high boot roller skates that allows the skater greater control in the spins and jumps found in an artistic dance routine.
Roller Derby Skates: This is a category of quad skates that is growing in popularity. Popular in the 30’s it is known for rough and tumble roller skating. Derby skates are generally characterized by low boots and durable construction that can stand up to hard knocks. Roller derby skaters are looking for a skate that can get up to speed quickly and hold well through tight corners.
Outdoor Roller Skates are quad skates designed to be used on the street or the sidewalk. They can be either high boot or low boot and the major difference between the indoor skate and the oudoor skate is in the wheels. Outdoor skates feature a softer wheel to give you an easier ride and more control on the rougher surface of a sidewalk. Here is where the durometer term we discoussed a couple days ago comes into it’s own.
Of course, these types are further divided into Adult Skates and Youth Skates but those subcategories are pretty much self-explanatory.
That’s it for today folks. Happy Skating!
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.
I
‘m willing to bet that you just walked down to the local park and had to dodge half of the younger members of your neighborhood on skateboards, leaping, jumping and flipping.
Ever wonder how this craze go started? So have I and so I did a little research into the question. Turns out that there is more information out there than I can cope with and so I thought a brief summary might be appreciated for all you busy but curious folks.
The neat part of this sport is it’s origins. Surfers that weren’t getting enough time on the waves started experimenting with boards on wheels so they could get the same expreience on the street in front of their house. In time a somewhat rudimentary version of the skateboards we see today emerged. In actual fact they looked much like what populate sidewalks today. After all, there isn’t much more you can do with a board and four wheels.
Sometime in the 60’s the sport really started to catch on when companies started manufacturing boards so they were available to everyone. Now it is more than a sport – it is a way of life for many. Skateboarding parks are springing up all over the world and skateboarding is becoming a lifestyle.
Don’t sit on your duff – get out there and skateboard!
