Rollerblader

Inline skating is a multi-disciplinary sport and can refer to a number of activities practiced using inline skates. Inline skates typically have two to five polyurethane wheels depending on the style of practice, arranged in a single line by a metal or plastic frame on the underside of a boot. The in-line design allows for greater speed and maneuverability than traditional (or "quad") roller skates. Following this basic design principle, inline skates can be modified to varying degrees to accommodate niche disciplines.

Inline skating is commonly referred to as ''rollerblading'', or just ''blading'', due to the popular brand of inline skates, Rollerblade.

History of skating

An inline skate appeared in a Paris patent in 1819, but were overtaken in popularity by quad skates.The Rise & Fall of Rollerblading
/ref>

The German branch of SKF developed and produced inline skates in 1978 with wheels designed for hockey rinks and streets. The product was discontinued after one year as the management did not want a consumer product in its portfolio.

Other inline skates were developed as a substitute for ice skates. In 1980, a group of ice hockey players in Minneapolis, Minnesota, were looking for a way to practice during the summer. Scott and Brennan Olson formed the company Rollerblade, Inc., to sell skates with four polyurethane wheels arranged in a straight line on the bottom of a padded boot. They sold the company in 1984 to Bob Naegele jr., who advertised to the general public and sold millions. ''Life'' magazine published a photo of American skater Eric Heiden, training for the 1980 Olympics, using such skates on a Wisconsin road.

The sport became popular in the United States in the 1980s and 1990s, with tens of millions of participants. In 1996, Jason Lewis completed the first solo crossing of the United States on inline skates, part of Expedition 360, a successful attempt to circumnavigate the globe using only human power. En route he was hit by a car in Colorado, breaking both legs. After nine months he completed the journey from Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco. In 2012, Kacie Fischer became the first woman, and the fastest person, to inline skate across the United States; she skated from California to Florida in 47 days. Aggressive inline skating events were featured in the X Games from 1995 to 2005. Popularity waned in the 2000s, with parental concerns over injuries and the rising popularity of soccer, lacrosse, and skateboarding. There was a revival sparked by the need for socially distanced recreation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Disciplines

Aggressive inline

Aggressive inline skating (referred to by participants as ''rollerblading'', ''blading'', ''skating'' or ''rolling'') is a sub-discipline primarily focused on the execution of tricks in the action sports canon. Aggressive inline skates are specially modified to accommodate grinds and the jumping of large gaps. Aggressive skates are identifiable by a prominent gap in between the second and third wheels (known as the H-block) which allows for grinds perpendicular to the direction of the wheels. A hard plastic surface on the sole of the boot known as a "sole plate" or "soul plate" allows for grinds parallel to the wheels. From these grind surfaces comes a lexicon of well-known grind stances, though sliding can occur on any surface of the boot or wheels. Aggressive skates typically have much smaller wheels than regular inline skates. The small size allows for more freedom when grinding as there is less risk of catching on obstacles. These smaller wheels feature a flat profile to accommodate the impact from jumping tall heights.

Alpine skating

Alpine skating on roller skis owes its existence to skiing, enabling skiers to train in the off-season despite a lack of snow. Skaters complete a course marked by gates while descending at high speeds. Its basic movements are therefore similar to those of downhill skiing and many athletes regularly practice both modalities.

Artistic/figure skating

Artistic roller skaters use either quad or inline skates. The sport looks very similar to its counterpart on ice, but it is more affordable in warmer climates. Inline figure skating has been included in the world championships since 2002.

Fitness/recreational skating

Recreational skaters usually skate on roads, bike lanes, or paved trails. They might be skating solo for transportation, fitness, skating with friends, or participating in an organized event. Because urban areas tend to have more hazards from traffic, many cities have organized social groups to make skating safer.

Fitness skaters tend to skate more frequently and go longer distances. Fitness skates typically have faster bearings and larger wheels to generate speed and cover ground more efficiently. Skaters in this category tend to skate on average. Some challenge themselves to feats of endurance skating for over .

Freestyle skating

Freestyle skating is a form of inline skating performed on flat ground and refers collectively to the disciplines for which competitions are organized by the International Freestyle Skaters Association. Currently IFSA has defined three disciplines which must be offered by any competition they sanction: freestyle slalom, speed slalom, and free jump. Two additional disciplines, high jump and jam, are also defined, but are at present considered optional.

Hockey

Roller in-line hockey is performed in a special rink on inline skates and was originally thought of by ice hockey players who wanted to continue training in their off season. Hockey rollerblades have wheel sizes generally between 72–80mm. The toe end of the boot is characteristically squared off. The feel of the boot is generally the same as ice skates, so the switch off between hockey skates and hockey is diminished, leading to better in-training simulations of ice hockey.

Off-road skating

Roller soccer

Similar to soccer, roller soccer involves five players with skates on each side and takes place in an indoor sports hall or outside space with appropriate boundaries. Players need to score as many goals as possible with a soccer ball, and the team with the most goals wins the match.

Speed skating

Also known as inline racing, speed skating is the sport of skating (usually on flat surfaces, such as roller rinks) with the intent to beat the opponent's time score or get to the finish line first.

Wizard Skating

Wizard Skating is a progressive style of inline skating that emphasizes fluidity, edge control, and creative movement. Unlike traditional aggressive or urban skating, which focuses on grinds, jumps, and rigid tricks, wizard skating incorporates deep carving, edge transitions, and dynamic footwork to create a smooth, flowing style.

The discipline was pioneered by Leon Basin, the founder of Wizard Skating and Wizard style frames, a specialized rockered frame system that enhances maneuverability and control. Wizard skating blends elements of freestyle slalom, artistic skating, and urban exploration, allowing skaters to navigate open spaces with seamless, dance-like motions.

Since its rise in the early 2010s, wizard skating has gained popularity worldwide, attracting skaters from various backgrounds, including aggressive, urban, and freestyle disciplines. Its emphasis on edge control and fluid motion has made it a distinct and evolving art form within the broader inline skating community.

Vert skating

A term used to refer to inline skates on a vert ramp–a half pipe with some vertical in it–usually between . Vert skating is a form of gymnastics performed with skates. The purpose of vert skating is to ride higher than the coping (which is the metal pipe on top of the ramp) and perform spins or flips. It focuses on complicated hard aerial maneuvers, such as spins and flips. The intent of the skater is to build speed until they are of sufficient height above the edge of the ramp to perform various aerial acrobatics. In competitions, skaters have limited time, often less than a minute, to impress the judges by landing numerous difficult tricks. Vert skating may occur in competition and was once part of the X Games. Vert ramps are also present in many skate-parks.

Brands

Many brands have entered the 4.08 Billion dollar (2024) inline skate market, taking part in a very active consumer-rate guarantee.

= Rollerblade

=
Rollerblade, the first manufacturer of inline skates, was founded by some two Olsen Brothers in 1983.

The company exploded quickly, as the inline skating fad was becoming a complete craze. Over the course of the 80s and 90s, Rollerblade took over the inline skating market, peaking at a 40% market share in the mid 90s. The terms "rollerblading" ,"rollerblader", "blader", and "blading" have become the standard terms when describing inline skating.

= K2 Sports

=
K2 Sports, started in the early 1960s by Bill Kirschner, manufactured the earliest Softboot inline skates. First released in 1992, Softboot skates became an important stepping stone for the inline skate industry. While Hard plastic molded boots are more common today, the Softboot counterpart still have their place, as most beginners and casual skaters prefer the more padded option.

= Powerslide

=
Powerslide was established in 1994 by Stephan Gohl and Matthias Knoll. The company only took off when they started manufacturing inline skates under Universal Skate design, their first official brand name. They became the first manufacturer of tri-wheel inline skates, a more speedy version of the typical quad-wheel configuration.

See also

* Wakeboarding

References

External links

{{Authority control

Roller sports