About Rollerblades

Rollerblades are skates with its wheels (usually four, but sometimes five) arranged in a line. Rollerblades are what most people refer as inline skates. While most commonly used for recreational exercise, some rollerblades are used for hockey, free-form slalom skating as well as speed skating. Rollerblade, like Kleenex, Escalator and Xerox, is a trademarked brand name, but is commonly used to refer to all inline skates and the act of inline skating.

History

Rollerblades are the descendant of the traditional roller skate. Though they were devised long before the inline skating craze, it wasn't until the late1980s that they became a household item. Brothers Scott and Brennan Olson of Minneapolis first produced the inline skate, originally devised for ice skaters to be able to train year-round, in 1983. The company has changed hands several times over the years, and the latest owner is Nordica, based in Italy.

Features

Frame and wheels

Although there are many brands of inline skates, there are several features that all models share. The boot is similar to a ski boot, and there are both hard and soft varieties, and is most often closed using a buckle. The frame, usually made from aluminum, is the apparatus that attaches the polyurethane wheels to the bottom of the boot. The brake is attached to the back of the frame, or the heel of the boot, and the skater engages it by leaning back on it.

Types

Free-form rollerblader

There are different types of skates, for different types of skaters, levels and age. The difference between various types depends on the skating style. Most aggressive skaters prefer a high, hard boot, and a smaller diameter wheel. Larger wheels are preferred for recreational skating, while the choice between a hard and soft boot is usually a personal preference for casual skaters.

Benefits

Rollerblading is a very good physical activity, because it provides an excellent aerobic workout. In addition to that, it has become a social activity as well. There are clubs where members skate in groups, and in many urban areas, there are paths in parks that are dedicated to rollerblading.

Warning

Wrist injuries are common among rollerbladers

The biggest danger connected with rollerblading is injuring yourself. At one point during the 1990s, the most common emergency room visit was an injury received while rollerblading. Helmets, knee and elbow pads, along with wrist guards should always be a mandatory part of rollerblading.